The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-10-27
DRAPER LOSES CHILDREN
Good Will Farm Trustees Wouldn't lei Him
Adopt His Band Members.

l.
Crystal Falls people generally were
greatly interested in the band of twenty
children that visited this city abont
two months ago under the management
OF ex-Superintendent Draper of the
Good Will Farm. who advertised that
he was giving concerts for the purpose
Of gaining funds 90 take the children
70 Washington where he proposed to
enter them in AN orphans industrial
school he proposed 10 found in the
west Mr.. Draper was taken at his
word when he first started ont and the
attendance az his attractions was very
large and big money was made, the
band clearing something like $li6
above all expenses In this city. His
long delay in heading west created
suspicious that finally eliminated in
the band being brought back 10 Hough-
ton The whole affair is best told in
the following item from the Mining
journal
]
the Good will Farm a. Home Finding
association. held in Hougthon yester-
day morning IL was decided 20 take
from the control Of II. NJ. Draper,
former superintendent of the farm, The
twenty one children which he has had
on tour for the past month as "A juvenile
band and concert company. The chill
dren we're brought back from COrruna,
this state, by r. T. Looney, a Hough.
! ton attorney. who was sent after them.
4 Mr.. Draper accompanied them back TO
Houghton, the party arriving Saturday
night
The trustees decided that the chill
dren of the band who had been inmates
OF the home as boarders shall be return
ed to their parents, ana the orphans
shall be retained at the home for adop
ton. on the same basis as the other
children now in the institution, restor
ing them Ia the condition prevailing
before Mr. Draper started on his tour
H. NJ Draper was superintendent
Of Good viii Farm for something over
two years, and in that time had great
success there. He developed the nusi
cal ability of the children to the extent
that he soon had "A children's hand, "A
musical organization, which was not
entirely without ability. This band
he used rs means Of increasing the
funds ~ the house However the
trustees became dissatisfied with his
methods they coming to The belief
that he was making the purpose Of the
association subservient To his children 4
band. He retained the children too
long In the home in order 20 keep MP
the band il WAS contended, with the
result that the purpose OF the associa-
ton. that Of providing a temporary
home for children until they were
adopted into families. was nullifed.
lowing 10 this conflict Of opinion
Mr.. Draper resigned his position Ms
superintendent and gave ont that he
would establish "A childrsn's industrial
school at Ollala. Wash. He secured
the consent OF the directors of the as.
ISOLATION 10 take with him twenty one
of the children from Good Will Farm.
who constituted his hand and concert
company, and since Aug 10 he has been
touring the county, the upper PENN.
sula. Wisconsin and lower Michigan
with them
The trustees recently became sus-
piciour Mr. Draper was not making
very steady progress toward Washing
ton, and they finally &c 'ided that they
could no longer permit the children TO
lead this Gypsy sort Of life. So the
children were brought back here with
the result as given above. Whether
Mr.. Draper will stick TO his purpose Of
establishing the school IN Washington
il not known He could not be seen
yesterday In any event he will not
have the Good VIII Farm children with
him a. nucleus Of his school He
Intended originally to legally adopt
the children. but the trustees OF the
association VIII not permit tins whole
sale adoption.
There has been no expression Of
distrust Of Mr.. Draper intention 10
take the children to Washington, but
the trustees did not like the manner in
which he was carrying ont his plan
He * said 70 have used the name Good
viii Farm in connection with the
entertainments which he hss been
giving since ne nas been on tour, and
this also was distasteful TO the associa.
tioL. as ne has had no connection with
the farm since Aug rs.
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