New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-12
WAITS OF A GREAT CITY,
Homes Found for Them ON Western
Farms and Ne5o and Useful Life.

While much is said about the steady influx OF
young men and women to the great cities, move
1nent which is estimated to add more than one
hundred to this city's population every day. little
IS said OF the counter current which is taking the
waits Of the metropolis good homes in the Middle
West The institution which does this work is the
New-York Juvenile Asylum For years it's gray
stone buildings have been landmarks in the upper
part Of the city at 176th-st. and Amsterdam-ave.
These buildings will disappear within the next year,
but the work is to be continued in a home with
better surroundings. at Dobbs Ferry.
In the last fifty years the Juvenile Asylum has
placed six thousand of it's wards in private homes
IN the West. and this work is regarded by Super
intendent Hilles and the directors the most
valuable that the institution performs, for 1t has
been found that of the children placed in wholesome
homes in the West over IS per cent grow TO be use
fui and respected citizens, while OF those who re-
main in the city only % cent turn out equally
well.
There are many thick volumes at the Juvenile
Asylum made up OF letters from youngsters who,
Western farms. gaining firm foothold and
outlook upon life OF course mistakes some
times occur Not all the homes good, not all
the children thankful The asylum depends its
visitors, who inspect several times each year the
condition OF its wards 10 discover any case OF Ill
treatment and to remove any who is not proper
~ taken care Of Last year FIVE such instances
were brought to light Two of these sprang from
q deliberate attempt to induce the wards young men
nearly eighteen years old. to desert and conse-
nearly eighteen years DID, 10 desert and con-
sequently abandon the $50 and new suit of
clothes which were due to each of them on his
eighteenth birthday. The boys wrote that while
they had hitherto been treated we'll recently there
had been complete change. A visitor discovered
the reason for this and the wards were taken from
their homes. In the farmer was compelled
10 pay the boy $40. besides letting him take away
sl4 which he had put in a toy bank In the other
instance the farmer paid $24 and the sale of pet
calf formerly given TO the boy brought $s6 more.
clothed that his feet were frozen. The man who
had charge of him sued by the asylum authori-
ties and judgment of so secured against him
The asylum's official visitors that the ward
IS well treated. but there is sure way OF seeing
that the ward treats his guardian we'll In the
majority OF cases. however the children are anxious
TO please and as grateful as could be asked Not
3nfrequenty on pathetic letters of self
accusation. The following is from hfteen-year-
old girl:
have never 5 TegTstted coming West and think
90 almost all kinds OF homework, except nice
same house nearly thrfy-eigt years shall stay a
in my home after am Of age II my guardians are
but II seems doubtful; and make so much trouble
IS trying ordeal for NV sIardia6 to Ese est y
sometimes think wifi never come to any good.
Warren thinks very slOvenly and she gets out
always left to run loose IN ny Ion sn ,b;g
was pat in the asylum
Mrs. warrens view OF the case was not quite 80
black She wrote:
Annie has improved In ability to work and i've
IN hopes that she win do better she grows older
bhe has good education, and can wrttA a very
gooo letter but she has saucy tongue that is very
trying TO endure.
Instances OF asylum boys whose names are nov,
wei known in many parts OF the country are
frequent For example in the last contest for the
Illinois Governorship John J. Brown. County Judge
OF VandalIa County, prominently mentioned as
candidate 10 run against Governor Yates Mr..
Brown was sent TO yandalia County by thu asylum
3n 1861 and placed with William Henrninger pros
porous farmer. Mr. Hemminger's two sons de-
slined their fathers offer to send them TO college,
and instead he sent young Brown. After gradual
sng Mr.. Brown studied law and became active in
State politics The rector of OF the largest
churches IN Brooklyn is an old asylum boy and one
OF Chicago's best known lawyers declares that he
got his start IN life when six years old by stealing
apples from pushcart the BoHery-a crime for
which he was sent TO the asylum.