New-York tribune., 1904-10-09
As 70 UyDERFED SCHOOL CHILDREN.

As TO UNDERFED SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Sir John Gorst's appeal. at the recent meeting
Of the British Association - behalf OF the I'M
derfed school children OF London, started dis
cussion whose echoes have been heard In Super
intendent MaxwelIs address in st. Louis and
in the advocacy by some persons In this city oI
the idea Of free luncheOns or free breakfasts Tor
our school children. The number OF school
children In London who are described as under
fed-a very elastic term, by the way-is vari-
ously estimated at from 10000 to l22.Oo0 For
the relief Of these the only aid SO far given IS
bv the London School Dinners Association.
which relies on voluntary contributions-the
only aid given TO it by the London County
Council being the granting Of room in the
school board offices on the Embankment; and
even this slight encouragement has recently
been withdrawn.
III Chicago the Board Of Education has adopted
the policy Of fitting up luncheon rooms IN the
school buildings and granting concessions, with
out compensation. TO restaurant proprietorS, who
are supposed TO furnish good food practically
az, cost to the pupils; but the assertion that
concessionaIres In Chicago are feeding the chill
dren at cost is seriously discredited by the fact
that they charge I'VE cents for pie and five cents
for coffee the greatest liberality they have yet
been credited with being the exchange or three
dougbnuts for Ave cents. Ia the latter case.
however much depends upon the dOughnuts.
great many people are Of the opinion that
dOughnuts are dear at any price, and certainly
their inclusion in the bill OF fare in the Chicago
school restaurants can scarcely be defended
from a dietetic point Of view.
Leaving all the minor but interesting ques-
tons as to the health giving and health sus-
tanning power Of dOughnuts and frankfurters to
be wrestled with by our new set OF philan-
thrOpists, we venture to ask IL these we'll mean
ing persons take any thought as TO the moral
and intellectual effect Of their scheme upon the
future life OF the proposed recipients OF public
bounty. The mere pecuniary cost Of furnishing
free breakfasts or free luncheons, or both, to
the pupils Of public schools in New-York, for
instance though large. might be small in COM
parisOn with the other interests involved. Where
is the process to STOP or is there any stopping
place? If free breakfasts and free dinners are
to be given To school children, who are merely
the raw material from which the State recruits
its citizens, why not free breakfasts and free
dinners to the actual, underfed citizens? Is the
material in making more valuable than the fin
ished product? That the State in furnishing
free schools, free teachers, free books and free
lectures has gone as far as il can 20 without
great risk Of encouraging the bacillus of pauper-
ism is now maintained by many thoughtful edu-
Gators There is a point at which help defeats
its own ends. The old hOmely maxim God
helps those who help themselves is one that
may be said to lie at the basis OF republican IN
sutudons Any help that tends in the sIightest
degree TO diminish this seIf-help is and from
the nature OF it must be. hindrance TO indi-
vidual development instead of an aid We do
not believe America is yet ready TO acknowl-
edge that methods which have heretofore an
swered their purpose admirably have suddenly
become inadequate and obsolete. Over the door
OF every schoOlhOuse IL writes the golden word
Opportunity" and points the way 10 success
along the old paths Of frugality. self-reliance
ana self-respect Can It safely do anything else7