New-York tribune., 1904-10-05
SOME OF ITS PROBLEALS.
Modern Conditions Philanthropy
Mast Face-Brabmin's Ideas.

The transition from the family 70 the individual
as the unit Of society without corresponding ed-
sustEnent q the individual . the new conditions
is 81 the bottom of & great part of the problems
Of philanthrophy. according 20 the Rev. Anna
0arIin Spencer.
IN the patria-chal stage of society" satd Mrs.
SPENCER a. the School OF PhIlanthrOphy yesterday
Enorning 'au marriages were Ike those OF princes
and prinoessss. They we're family sdatrA Con-
tracing parties were responsible 70 thetr families
and their families were responsible for them
To-day men and women marry when and whom
1hey please. bring as many children into the world
ss they can, and. II too many cases, manage 20
SIP out of The resulting Obligations. Boys take
upon themselves the responsibilities OF Haiherhood
without realizing what they doing. and when
the burden becomes too heavy for them they take
themselves OF. confident that society VIII 70 II
that tie mother and Children do not starve.
Under the older social system such people would
probably have behaved themselves fairly W.
They would have been kept n the right track by
an external conscience. just some people have
been kept there by the environment OF q New
England village, though they Gste-ward proved
unequal 20 the freedom of mining town. The
increase of liberty n modern society has not been
accompanied by corresponding Increase IN wisdom
and moral power. This is why we have so many
thousands OF deserted wives and children and
the State has 20 take care OF aged and .aaru
parents. Such conditions would be impossible
under the patriArchal constitution OF society, and
are wholly inexplicsbls 70 those who are accus-
toned 20 The patrtarchal system
"A few years ego distinguished F3rahrlin
visited this country tOr the purpose Of studying our
phlEnthropic ana educational institutions. II was
ny privilege 10 accompany him on one OF his
tours OF investigation. and cannot convey 70 you
any adequate idea of his shocked sense OF con-
cerunhuon when he saw our Institutions fun OF
old people and little children. Where were the
fathers and mothers OF these children he asked
Where were their uncles and auuts and cousins?
II would be impossible in his country. he said.
1sr any family 70 allow 1.-The most remote relative
q be cast upon the public care
Yet ours IS the better way. The evils are those
Inevitable 70 transition and should unduy dis
O.. -rage Us We cannot 60 back uaediavaI
systems, but can educate people Up 10 the
standard required BY the new ones and We can
eoopt the Roman method Cf requiring that II a
man does not wish 70 1--we with his wife he shall
elll continue 20 support her and her children" ="
While defining the individual as the unit of
eoclery ArE Spencer pointed out that for the
phi.anthroDlo worker the family the practical
The family is the organism" she said. through
which individuals educated fOr social relation
sLips, @nd no smallest detail should be under
lesen Lor one member % the family without con-
kloe5lL-g ne others Some Cf Efforts Il IS TO
pe reared, lead 70 the disiuregrattOn rather than
10 Ele DllA1lng Up OF the family