The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09

Nothing illustrates and emphasizes
this point better than the statistics OF
the San Francisco founding asylum.
opened in. the pioneer days and OF
which there is nothing now but a we'll
ordered cottage where abandoned ba-
bies may be left and where they re-
main but few days until they are
gwen to a foster mother who keeps
them until they are adopted.
Under the old regime more than so
per cent of babies left at the asylum
died and the few who battied success
fully for their lives were rickety or
otherwise i'll. A healthy baby was a
curiosity there. Under the foster
mother system, the mortality is not
over or 10 per cent Nothing more
happens to the foundlings now than IL
they were babies welcomed IN some
expectant home.
Babies have to be "mothered."
Under the new system. the babies get
that attention and the states $3.50
is actually expended for them Form
erly, the greater part OF the s12.50
child had to go to the upkeep OF the
institutions, including the salaries OF
attendants. The utilization OF the
city's mother love IS one OF the great
est forces for good ever secured IN this
city. That does not have to be paid
for. There Is no price on It.
Recognizing this. Judge Murasi<y
commits the delinquent children to ths
Associated Charities instead OF to in
stituttons as formerly. which means
that they are almost Immediately pus
under home Influences. This individual
use OF the states money makes possible
the keeping together OF many .
mother and her children. There havs
been cases where a deserted mother,
who could not feed and house her chill
'dren unassisted. has been able to keep
her family together by being made =
foster mother. The Judge instead oe
awarding her child TO an institutions
awards IL 60 her. A few more children
are given to her and she keeps her
home together. This Is q most satig-
factory phase OF the great economy
that is working for the benefit OF the
individual and the state An account
OF this stewardship Is made by tho
mother to the Associated Charities.
which in turn Is responsible to ths
court.
In closing the founding asylum. the
directors and the Associated Charities
knew that they had to maintain soma
place for the reception Of foundlings.
Great is the pity. but there are always
some OF these bits OF humanity to Be
looked after. When the rambling
building on Point Lobos avenue was
closed the Associated Charities built q
cottage out of refugee shacks on one
corner OF the property, thereby retain
ing title to the land as well as making
necessary provision for the work The
cottage is in charge OF two nurses, who
assume all responsibility. the only con-
dition made by them being that they
have four babies at a time for the
states allowance. This cottage. called
the 'sBaby's Aid" has a sheltered porch
where the cradle of tragedy with the
electric warning bell is conveniently
placed. The babies left. are mothered
tenderly. receive a medical eXamina-
tion, and If in good condition are given
to foster mothers until they are adopt
ed The Associated Charities finds al
most no trouble in securing free
home for every well baby under two
years Girls are always first choice.
In placing children. the Associated
Charities take the greatest care in see
ing that they are given to families OF
the same religion that into which
tney were born This e =lmOst always
possible with the committed children
as something is known Of the paren-
tage. or the children are old enough TO
tell what church they or their parents
attended. This rule is strictly adhered
to- the association desiring to bring
the strongest possible spiritual In
fiuence about the children.
Boys over or years Of age
are boarded on ranches whenever prac-
ticaI- This plan is found to work bst-
ter for them than placing them In free
homes Miss FELTON, says: Boys are
apt to be neglected. There is less
sympathetic attention for them. whiles
IN truth. they are nearly always more
in need of it than girls"
The attitude OF the right kind OF
institutions has changed absolutely.
Formerly, they never thought of get
ting a home for boy or girl until ths
state allowance ceased when II was IA
years of age. In contrast to the old
condition, the Associated Charities Is
now the central agency for Is institu-
tiOnS.
The Associated Charities lays the
greatest stress on the value Of decent
dressing and uses every available ave-
nue. for securing good clothes for the
hundreds OF children within its juris-
diction. 1t has been found that the
first step toward success I'm handling
wayward children Is to dress them
we'll 1t is another proof of the old
contention that people live up TO their
clothes.