The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10


tT81tI checked. notwithstanding baby.
~--@@-~ appeared at the Office of Superin-
tendent Reagan. of the Indiana Chidren's
Home Society. and inquired if that was the
place where they found homes for children.
When told that IT was. she said that she
wanted to give her baby to the society.
She explained that her lot in this world had
been anything but pleasant one, as her
husband had deserted her and the baby,
and she wanted to get rid of the child, be-
cause she could not find work as long as
she had IT, The superintendent explained
10 her that IL she gave the child 10 the So
ciety she would never see 1t again. and If
he was in her place ne would try and keep
IT, He told her that the society would take
and board the child until she could get
started, and after that she could pay for
its keeping But she was determined 10
give the child up. and superintendent Rea-
gin told her to call the next day; in the
meantime he made inquiry and found that
what she said was true. but that she cared
so little for the baby it would be better il
ft taken away from her. The next
day she called and signed the surrender of
the child 70 the society without a tremor.
She handed the infant TO the superintendent
without even telling 1t good-by. and turned
and left the office, apparently very much
relieved.
1.-THE above incident" said superintendent
Resgin, rs only one OF the many that come
under our notice. Since the day that
woman left the baby she has never been
here TO inquire how IL was getting along or
20 ask anything about 1t, and yet she is
right here I'm the city at the present time
! and has a place that is paying her very
well.
II will say IL was truly pathetic TO see
how very little regard this woman had for
Der child. We took IL and found a home
FOR IL in the family OF old farmer. and IL
one could see the baby now he would re-
alize that to take IL away from the mother
was a kindness TO both. This farmer who
has the child thinks much of it as If ii
we're his own: there is nothing too good
FOR it"
The Children's Home Society is a nation
al organization but ia only complete in
twenty-six States. 1t is. however, being
pushed in all directions. and u is said that
1t viii not be many years before every
State I'm the Union will have a society Of
this kind. The organization in Indiana was
incorporated by the General Assembly on
March IL. 1898. for the purpose of securing
approved family homes for neglected,
abused or dependent children and since
that time II has grown until now ii is ex-
tended in every town OF any size in the
State. The Indiana Chfldren's Home So
ciety is an auxiliary to the National Chill
dren's Home Society. This organization
originated with the Rev. NJ. V. b. Van
Arsdale. of Illinois, I'm 1885, who conceived
the idea that TO raise orphan and neglected
children in good home surroundings was
the proper thing to do to make good men
and women OF them. He started this work
on a small pan. but gradually enlarged it.
until now hundreds of people in the States
where it is organized are engaged in 1t.
COST OF MAINTENANCE.
To maintain the local organization last
year took something over $1,000. and this
was largely donated by the people of this
State In the smaller towns there are in
stituted what are called advisory boards,
which are composed of the leading people.
both men and women. 1t is their duty to
look after the interests of the society in
their respective localities. These members
learn of families who wish to take children
into their homes and they also look after
the subscriptions. The people of this State
are very enthusiastic over the work and
many prominent women are engaged in it.
Another way OF receiving revenue is that
this institution takes dependent children
from every county in the State and from
the county sending the child 1t gets Is
cents day for it's maintenance. There is
however. a large per cent. of the children
that do not come to the society as the
charge of any county and for whose
keeping nothing is received. Often the
children become sick and then the So