The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-19
ADOPTED BABY
WAS A MULATT0
Wealthy Brooklyn Couple Have
Had Little Girl Six Years.
she KNEW NO DIFFERENT
Was Sent Back Once but Now Foster Pa
rents VIII Make Her Their
Hslrsss.
she KNEW NO DIFFERENT

New York. Sept. is-Residng in the
home of prominent and exclusive
Brooklyn family is an eight-year-old
mulatto girl, who up to few days ago
believed she was OF white blood.
In the home where she was reared as
q loved adopted child II was not known
che was OF negro descent until she grew
old enough to take on the unmistakable
physical traits of the African race. IL
was a startling discovery to the childless
couple that had taken her as their own
daughter to bear their name.
From a home OF refinement where all
had been happiness and ease. she was
sent back 10 the cold forbidding Charities
building on Livingston street, where
nearly eight years before she had been
a waif. For seven days. In which the
girl cried herself thin and wan. she walt
ed In the care OF the Charities department
for some one TO take her and give her an
other home.
Then her foster parents called TO claim
her and tawe her back into their home.
Despite the bar. they loved her and had
missed her 80 much that they could not
endure the loss They took her with
them and told her that everything would
be as before. But though she sits AT
the table as one OF them. she knows now
that. whatever they might make IL APP
pear, she is nothing but a negro girl
The whole story was told yesterday 10
q reporter by Commissioner Of Charities
Charles f. Teale in Brooklyn. He related
everything except the names OF the
family and OF the girl.
l1 BABE APPARENTLY WHITE.
II was eight years old when a peaked.
pale faced baby waif was picked up by
No. .ha rfr A
few weeks before that time a chihdess
couple. well known In Brooklyn. had re-
corded their application at the charity
department for a baby 10 be adopted
by them. They were summoned TO look
at the new founding.
When they sawS the little half-starved
baby. the wife snatczned II up in her
arms and said she would take IL with
her right away. Her husband signed
the necessary papers and the child was
legally adopted. A nurse was secured and
the child soon became fine healthy baby
under proper care and with good food.
The baby was as white as any child.
There was no sign OF negro blood Its
thin hair was as straight and light as the
fairest white baby in all the land. But
'after few months the nurse was surprised
TO note certain peculiar traits. which she
knew did not belong 10 one or pure white
blood. She kept her own counsel and the
IOSteT parents, KNEW uOlhllB OF ntT SuS-
picions.
WILL RETAIN NAME.
It was two years later before the child
grew so black and it's hair took on such
an unmistakable kink that the foster
parents were compelled 10 believe she was
OF negro blood Then the nurse told them
that she had known IL for many months.
At one period in It's life the child's skin
was dark enough for almost anyone 10
detect its negro parentage, but as she
grew older the negro characteristics were
less pronounced
The foster parents wanted to get rid of
the child. but they felt under moral obn-
cations TO keep It, and. besides they
were very fond OF n. They kept the girl
up TO three weeks ago. She was given ev-
cry advantage that would have been Civ
en- their own daughter But finally the Sc
cret became burdensome and the foster
parents determined 10 give her up.
They sent the girl TO Commissioner
Teale. telling him they would have TO re-
woke their adoption obligations on the
ground that the girl was negro. They
raid that the girl must change her name.
as they would not have 1t borne by one
of her blood
Now they have reconsIdered and have
taken the girl back. She will continue to
bear their name
IL was said that the child would he the
only heir 10 her faster parents, and would
not only inherit their name but would
have their entire fortune bequeathed 10
her.