The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-08-24
THE CI11I.DREN's HOME.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox Says Something
About 1t.

The following article from the pen
OF Ella Wheeler Wilcox in the inter-
est of the Children's Home at Sioux
Falls recently appeared in the col
umns of the New York American
Journal Examiner:
If New York woman were 10
meet a stranger and learn from con-
versation that she had been reared IN
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. the New
Yorker would instantly feel secret
sense of superiority. If asked to eX-
plain this feeling, she would proba-
bly, say that, while the Dakota woman
was as good as the New Yorker, she
could not. in the nature of Things,
have enjoyed the same advantages OF
culture which life in the metropolis
Affords That her mind must lack
the friction with the great arts and
great artists and great events which
are part of a metropolis.
But meantime something is being
done in Sioux Falls. which is greater
in it's magnitude than anything of its
kind done in New York. Greater
from the fact of its influence upon the
future of the nation.
1 received not long ago the follow
ing card. 1t read
Help us depopulate the peniten-
tiaries by surrounding the dependent
children of the nation (the material
from which criminals are made). with
pure moral Influences"
With it came a booklet which !
read with absorbing interest, because
the subject was one which has been
treated over and over in this column.
1t was a joy to know that practical
application of cherished theories was
being applied in the far west with
more wonderful results than had been
imagined.
At Sioux Falls is established the
National Children's Home society, and
er than that of all the churches in all
the states of the union in practical
evangelization.
The society is organized to seek and
save the unfortunate children of the
land and to find desirable homes for
them. Not only to find homes but to
watch over these children after they
that they are properly treated.
There are twenty-seven branches OF
this society. but, oddly enough, not
one in New York or any New Eng
land state.
The booklet received makes this
truthful statement:
There is not a city in the land
but has its quota Of young hoodlums
who are q menace to the peace and
welfare of the public, as Well as a
heavy burden on the Taxpayers by
reason of the large police force need
ed to keep them under control. In
the large cities they number several
thousand. A few years ago the po-
lice department of Chicago reported
over 1900 arrests Of this class in one
year. If the Children's Home society
had sufficient means at it's command
SO as to be able to transplant these
lawbreakers while in embryo into the
pure atmosphere OF the country, this
undesirable element in the citizenship
of the nation would in fifteen years be
would be honorable, industrious
young men and women, blessing an6
profit to society,"
New York clubmen waste enough
money every week in cards and wine
and cigars to endow this society with
five hundred new branches.
If the really philanthropic men Of
49,
being accomplished by this Nationa
Children's Home society, I have nc
doubt they would raise q fund for its
extension in one sitting.
Surely Mr.. Carnegie ought to real.
lze how much more useful is the work
OF such an organization, for making
good citizens, than the establishment
of 80 many libraries.
Nlnety-five per cent of the children
taken by this society turn out we'll
The stories told by those engaged il
the work are more marvellous thar
any tales of fiction.
Read what one Of the chief worker.
has to say about the result of theil
effort:
Does it pay? Put your ear to tn,
phone and let the field workers an
swer. Let Superintendent o. S. Nor
row of Kansas have the line: his an
swer to the inquiry is: A profligat,
woman Of no reputation abandoned
little five-year-old girl at one Of tn,
child was turned over to the publ,
authority and placed in the count,
poorhouse. Here the association
were SO bad that nothing but life o
Ignorance, impurity and crime wa
before her. The authorities gave he
to the Children's Home society an,
she was placed in a family of superio
advantages and plenty Of wealth; bu
the child was so high tempered ant
absolutely uncomfortable that thi
family, after more than years trial
gave her up and said it was no use
they never saw such ungovernabl
temper. Then another family triet
her, but she was too much for them
and she was returned again to US
Then she went to the third family
who were more fully equal to tn
task, and our girl improved so fas
that within a year she was PRACTICAL,
beyond my knowledge. The progress
was continued until now she Is
young lady eighteen years Of age
beautiful in features and more beau
tiful In character, q sunshine an,
daily benediction to her foster par
ents. a universal favorite and bless
ing to all her companions"
Would you know moro of this work
Write to w. B. Sherrard, national su