The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-07-04
BABIESFOR ADOPTION
DEMAND GREATER THAN THE
SUPPLY, ASYLUMs REPORT.
Statements That Exhibit the Consid-
erations That Influence New York
ers in Adopting Children-One
Couple Have Taken -Four.

is uot uulIoIIlly opposeu W udNluS
| o child or children In the house,
Notwithstanding an impression to the
| contrary, says the New York Sun.
| A clergyman lately returned from
| Germany told of German woman Of
more than average education and
culture who said to him pityingly;
II und erstand that In New York
| there are no children"
The other side Of this story is that
| In New York there are hundreds of
chtldless homes which would gladly
welcome child could one be had
for adoption. The mistress of such
| home naturally Ia not willing to
care for child during its tender
years only to have is snatched away
by legal guardian when he or she
reaches u bread winning stage. Peo-
pie prefer to adopt the child legally
| or to let 1t alone.
Surely" II is often urged, with
all the orphan and half orphan and
founding asylums New York sup
ports 1t Is the easiest thing in the
world to get a child to adopt" But
is it7 This assumption certainly can't
be proved by the managers of these
institutions. A chat with half a
dozen Of them shows that there is an
Increased demand from New York
women for children to adopt, and
most of them admit that they cannot
supply the demand. This is espe-
cto tr,,
For instance. at the State Chart
ties Aid Association, whose office is
In the United Charities Building, the
secretary showed bundle of ap-
proved applications-seven of
them-for children under two years
of age, and another bundle Of twenty
two applications not yet investi gated.
and no prospect of being able to fur
nish a fifth of the number of child
rem asked for. In the last year this
society furnished fifty-three children
for legal adoption by thoroughly re-
sponsible persons Of means. thirty
four of whom live in New York city.
At the Female Guardian Society
and Home for the Friendless, which
takes care of more than 200 child
rem. 1t was learned that only thirteen
children. could be provided for
adoption in the last year Said
the secretary here:
I'VE get many letters asking for
q small child to adopt and 30 sure
gel orally Is the writer that there Is
large assortment from which to
choose that she goes on to tell what
co.or eyes and hair is preferred.
generally ending with the announce
mont that she wishes a girl of two
years or under. It Is seldom that
any one wants legally to adopt
child over two years old, conse-
Quently this reduces the number of
available children. Again the ma
jority of those who are of suitable
age have a grandmother or aunt or
cousin or other relative who object
to giving up all his or her rights
to the child though not able to pro-
vide for it."
Much the same state Of things Is
experienced at the New York Orphan
Asylum. 1t Is rarely, the manager
said, that child can be handed over
for adoption owing to the reluct-
ance of relatives to part altogether
with him or her.
Blood is thicker than water and
perhaps 1t is Just as well to hold the
orphans in trust till they have reach
cd an age when they can choose for
themselves or help support them
selves in the home Of a relative" was
his opinion.
The matron at the Nursery and
Child's Hospital shook her head.
I'VE are often approached" said
she, "by persons In search Of a child
to adopt but 1t Is rarely they can be
accommodated here The majority
Of our babies are born In the house
and 1t is the exception to find
mother willing to part with her in
fant no matter how poor she may
be-"
At the New York Infant Asylum
the superintendent made this sur
prising statement: There are ten
able child We can furnish. We have
125 children in the house, we board
out nearly 400 more and out of that
number last year we could furnish
only 90 for adoption. At this mo-
ment l have SO applications for a
baby girl of any age under two and
one half years. Gtrls are decidedly
the favorites with those seeking q
child to adopt but not finding a
girl most of the applicants win take
a boy.
But we can't furnish either boys
or girls enough. am surprised, In
fact, at the demand for children from
New York women and the unselfish-
ness many of the applicants show.
For instance, there Is one young
married woman who told me she
was going to give up her saddle
horse 80 that she could adopt
eacnnJ cbt1f Roth xha ana l~o- 49,.