Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-13
BRINGS INFANT HERE
REV. U. 3. SMITH, suPERINTEND.
EMIT OF AMERICAN HOME FIND
ING ASSOCIATION, RETURNS.
Brought Forty-eieht Hour Old Child
From Des Moines Recently-TWelve
Boys, Five Girls and Two Widows
at Rev. Smiths Home.

Rev. U. B. Smith, superintendent of
the American Home Finding associa-
ton, has just recently returned home
from Des Moines, where he secured a
child. which was born Just forty-eight
hours before his departure for this
city. Rev. Smith has now in his pos
session at his residence in this city
twelve boys. five girls and two widows
ready for disposition. In speaking
about Rev. Smiths recent visit to Des
Moines, the Capital has the following
to say;
Superintendent u b. Smith, of the
American Home Finding association,
visited Des Moines recently in the in
terests of his association. taking back
to Ottumwa with him a babe to be
placed in the home there. The child
was born to IS gir-mother only forty
eight hours before Rev. Smith depart
ed for Ottumwa with 1t and the wee
bit of humanity reposed comfortably
on the seat in front of Rev Smith
during the journey, never once rails
ing its tiny voice in defense OF the ira
ditions that little babies should be
covered up warmly and left in dark
ness and to the quiet of mothers arms.
This baby was dressed in poor, cheap
clothes, but it was warmed by sew
eral thicknesses of a soft, fleecy
shawl which Rev. Smith carries with
| him /; ways The superintendent also
carries in his grip complete outfit
of infants clothing for some poor baby
/ whose mother is found unprepared
| to start her child clothed in the battle
| of life.
"Rev. Smith stated that this was the
eighth child he had taken to the OF
| tumwa home from Des Moines in a
! period of less than nine weeks. These
| children's ages averaged about forty
eight hours when they ware turned oy-
er to the care Of the association and all
but one were Legitimate. The ba-
bies arc taken to the home at Ottumwa
where they are given the best of care
until home is found for them. There
is a great demand for small babies as
childless people who adopt children
like to take them into their homes be,
fore they are old enough to know the
! difference between the real and adopt
4 ed parents. Expert trained nurses
give their undivided time TO the atten'
| ton OF these tiny and unknowins
waits and illness is infrequent in the
| home unless the child comes into the
world handicapped by some inherited
disease. But these cases are rare. II
! is strange condition that the children
of the poor and unfortunate are uni
formly bright and healthy and it ex
plains the often remarked fact thai
\ adopted children often prove a srea
/ blessing to foster uarentS
Rev. Smith Talks.
\ when asked to tell something Of
/ his nine years work for this associa
ton Rev. Smith said: There is very
little to say. ! gave up my life work
as minister in the Methodist church
to enter this field and it has grown t.
1 be my central ambition We take al
kinds OF children of all ages and VIZ
4 find real homes for them with people
) who come to us recommended by re
! sponsible townsmen When a child
:. is sent out from our home an entry il
made on an immense book kept by III
: to follow the careers of our children
and whole page is given to him. TIL
adopting parents are required by con
tract to report to us every tire
months the physical, moral and menta
: development OF the child and ever.
change of residence We have sys
TEN whereby we will know at once
one of our children is being abused b.
its adopted parents and the aid of tn
courts is invoked to recover control o
I the child in this event. The work i
Il filled with pathetic incidents. No
I long ago ! was called to home in a
Iowa town to take charge of a chill
a just born to an unfortunat
$ girl The matron of the institution
I informed me upon my arrival that tn
child had been adopted to her by tn
4 parents of the mother because of tn
e fact that they were intimate friend
/ of mine having been members Of m
7 congregation and did not wish me
know the identity of themselves an
S daughter. ! accordingly adopted tn
e child from the matron and shall neV
d er know who its mother is.
h ADVERTISED LETTERS.