The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-10-16
to $4,000 each. The total value OF
these homes Is 1000.

to $4,000 each. The total value Of
these homes Is $685.. 900.
The growing appreciation Of the
value of this society's work lie indi-
Gated BY the number OF men eminent
in philanthropic lines whose names
are connected with 1t as officers and
directors. The president Of the soci-
ETY. is Prof. Charles r. Henderson, OF
the University Of Chicago; ex-presi-
dent OF the National Conference OF
Charities and Correction; ex-presi-
dent OF the National Prison Associa-
ton and a recognized authority on
philanthropic work. DR.. Hastings II.
Hart, one Of the directors and secre-
tary of the National Children's Home
Society, is superintendent Of the ILL
nois Children's Home and Aid Socie-
Ity. He was for IL years secretary Of
the Minnesota State Board Of Correc-
lions and Charities, and for seven
years general secretary Of the Ma
itional Conference OF Charities and
Correction.
An impressive fact that one can not
fail to observe in a study of this work
of the National Children's Home So
ciety is the conviction in the minds
of many workers of long experience
that for young children home train
ing in well-selected homes is able to
conquer and set at naught the most
vicious influence of heredity and
early association. AS time goes on
and fuller records become available
it will perhaps be capable of demon
stration that the wards Of the Chill
dren's Home Society have not only
an equal chance in life with the av-
erage child, but a better chance. The
average child does not have the help
of expert advice in selecting its home
and the advantage of the society's
child on this score more than offsets
his original handicap of misfortune.
The fact is that Children's Home So
ciety workers grow enthusiastically
skeptical Of the law Of heredity. The
venerable superintendent Of the
South Dakota society, after lifetime
of service in children's charities, the
ripest years of which have been de-
voted to home-finding work in our
| state, declares emphatically that
there is no such thing as bad child.
Such doctrine has indeed a whole
some sound. These workers, with
their faith in children and their faith
in homes, possess key of perennial
hope for the redemption of society.
A significant fact of recent occur
renee was the action of the New York
| Children's Aid Society IN uniting
with the National Childrens Home
Society as one of it's constituent So
cieties. This organization, the oldest
of it's kind in the country, which last
year, in addition to it's aid work,
cared for 600 children on the plac-
ing-out plan, was the forerunner, as
has been said, of the National Chill
dren's Home Society. 1t now joins
its strength and experience to the
latter organization and becomes a
part of it. The Boys and Girls So
ciety of Oregon still more lately has
become a member of the national
federation.
These facts point to what is be-
coming more and more evident to the
Children's Home Societies, namely,
the value of their national organiza-
ton. A family with whom child
has been placed not infrequently
moves to another State, yet there,
the same as before, the guardian So
ciety is at hand to continue to look
after the welfare of the ward. In
fact it would seem that on the &C
count alone OF the migratory charac-
ter of our people, the home-finding
plan of rescue work demands ma
tion-wide organization. 1t is clear
also that the individual societies can
be helped in time of difficulty, and
encouraged and strengthened in their
work, through their connection with
the national organization. 1t is be-
lieved, moreover, that the National
Society, especially If it can secure
funds with which to work, is capable
of great service to the home-fnding
cause throughout the country in the
way of influencing legislation in be-
half of children.
The most serious single cause of
the increase of misery, crime, and
dependence is the neglect of child
hood. Devine, of New York.
You will see by the article on the
National Home Finding Society that
A.. ~