The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-18
AN EPIDEMIC 0F
WIFE DISCRETION |
live Cases of Juveniles Left
Destitute BY Rcncgade-Hus-
bands Reported.
is IA MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM
Dcscrtions, Says Mr.. buchanan,
Occur Almost Every Week. and
Are a Menace 10 Society.

E y . e u ~
Few people are aware of the multitn-
diious problems that every day confront
The Associated Charities, and tlle,ynrious-
ness and wide scope of the work. From
one point or another in every Stun dis
trict of the city the signal of distress
flies every day, and each case must be
I worked out on its own individual basis
and according to its own merits and
needs And how to meet thcie hundred
and one cases and how to work out
some plan of salvation that will work for
The bctternent of the aggregation Is tho
question that confronts the Associated
Charities to-day.
Not only is the Associated Charities
graphing with the problem OF houseless
men and women. who through disease
or death. inability or shiftlessncss, are
K unable 10 win their bread; but also, and
perhaps more seriously, with the prob
+ le,ns of the family that is of families
which have been left destitute and with
out the means of sustcnnnce by rene
gadc husbands and fathers. How serious
this problem is may be shown by the
fact that not less than five cases of de-
sertion were reported to Rev. james
buchanan, general secretary of the AS
sociated Charities. last week. And about
tMtHtS-HNe SUN Eases iltNc DUH
10 his notice and have appealed for his
lfelp since the beginning OF the year.
Happen Very Often.
according to Mr.. buchanan these in
stances are BY no means rnritios. They
are common occurrences, and not n week
passes by but does not add It's quota to
The Increasing number of wives and
mothers and little children left without
the mcisns of physical support Mr.
Buchanan sets forth that 1t is one of the
most serious and aggrlcating problems
which the Associated Charities must solve
In its effort to uplift the lower strata
OF society to n higher plane of morality
AS the fact becomes known that such
conditions do exist, 1t is easily seen that
it forms II most serious menace 10 soci-
ety. the fearful extent of which few
people arc aware. And so. how best 10
bnld up the character of home life. how
to elevate its standard of purity and mo-
i r;tlity, and how to make of the home an
abiding place of virtue, instead of being
the seat and nursery of vice, says Mr..
Buchanan is one of the chief and most
Nexatious problems with which the Assoc
ciated Charities has been confronted with
md is being troubled with to- day.
Last week this condition Of affairs
MAS brought more sternly to view by the
fact that no less than five cases of deser-
ton, were brought to the attention OF
Mr.. Buchanan. and all OF them We're in
need OF Immediate aid The worst and
most pitiable case of this inhuman form
of cruelty was the case of family. con-
yisting of q wife and seven .children.
whose husband and father had deserted
the;n and left them entirely without
mems of maintenance. Hc,left them last
Sunday, and yesterday n distress warrant
was issued, and the mother and her little
pnes were about to be turned adrift on
HE street--homcless The mother Is u
woman of fine and undoubted character.
She now has herself and seven children
TO care for, the children's ages running
frnm four to seven years.
When Mr. Buchanan was apprlsed OF
the circumstances the family was about
to be launched forth destitute and starv-
ing on the streets. AS Il representative
4 of the Associated Charities he paid he
rent then due, and guaranteed 1t until
The mother and elder children could be
found work afford;ng them means of
support. She has already been found q
position as u nurse. and the two eldest
boys have also been secured work. This
case is typical OF the constructive char
ity of which Mr.. Buchanan is such a