New-York tribune., 1909-06-20

and so-,e are followed in hot haste by their
parents, whom recent Law has enabled TO calI oul
a child their own recognizance. some parents
are in no hurry to get their children holding that
e. will do them good TO be shut up while Some
of the Italians don't mind the absence OF an oIder
child because there are plenty OF little ones COMING
on in the family, and boy or girl IN the clutches
OF the law won't be missed
The bathing women wash the little children, but
If it's boy or girl of fourteen or fifteen they MI
the tub send the child into the bathroom to un-
dress and when he she is IN the tub take the
clothes away 10 be examined leaving the more or
less willing candidate for cleanliness to DO the
scrubbing To do them justice, they generally scrub
pretty faithfully
There are always many more boys than girls in
the building of the Gerry society, and clear days
the big playground for boys on the roof is well
tenanted The day the reporter called more than
fifty boys were sitting or lying on the benches
around the edge. A few had books but the ma
jority were doing nothing.
.eTl9ev play bail sometimes Mrs Clunn said
but they get riotous, and cannot let them play
all the time They're pretty good though "hat
surprises me about the boys who come here IS not
their badness but that they are so good Just think
what trouble they could make for If they set
out to do it
You have women to oversee the playgrounds|'
Yes I had a man for q month once, and he
didn't do a all A won't take word from
boy and he gets into trouble The women simply
talk long when the other person doesn't answer
When there's an offense TO be punished the cul-
prit put what the staff calls The retreat
and the boys the CELL It's a windowless
and the prisoner has no amusement but cut
ting his initials on the wall. OF they are
allowed TO take knives into retreat" but It's
a resourceless boy who can't dig up buckle or
something from his clothes TO initial with.
The night watchnan for the big boys dor7nitory
IS a woman. too.
She never had any trouble but once Mrs
Clunn said. "A negro boy, who was more than
sixteen I know and oughtn't TO have been sent
here. had managed 10 smuggle a pistol in. He
fourished It the WatchwOman IN the night, but
in the dim light she never suspected II was pistol
and she Just told him 10 lie down and go to sleep
and he did In the morning, when she found out
what had been pointed at her, she nearly tainted
and we had hard work to persuade her to go on
watch again Oh, yes. took the pistol and the
boy went TO the Tombs'
In the throngs of children who pass through this
building who have terrible things
His father killed his mother" She's here be-
cause her mother killed herself and her father
went insane" Again and again you hear things
like these in going through the place. One little
German girl who there last year her
father cut her mothers throat and the tragedy
made such impression the child that she
couldn't get over IT, When she fell asleep she
dreamed Of It. and woke crying out in horror
Mrs. C1unn and her helpers tried to interest the
child in games, took her out to walk but IT was
long time before the shadow lifted. Not all the
children feel so deeply Mrs. Clunn says that as
a rule. she thinks they get over their troubles
quickly.
Three times day, OF course the small boarders
march TO the dining rooms and eat In the morn
ing 1t is bread and butter and coffee at noon pork
and beans, or something ike that; at night bread
and tea
Il know" Mrs Clunn said most people would
say we oughtnt to give these children tea and
coffee, but it's what they're used to in their own
homes. and many OF them won't drink milk As
for cereals most Of the boys decline TO touch them
Now and then you get child who begs for some
thing stronger than coffee. The other day we had
a mere baby who sat up in his chair and demanded
cocktail for breakfast"
DO you have any sort OF school for the chill
dren?
NO. They come and go so quickly It would be
impossible We give the boys little chores to do
to occupy them and the girls sew-rags for rugs
and simple things like that"
Lost children are great feature at the head
quarters Of the Gerry society Never day passes
that they are not brought in-lttle creatures who
had wandered from hons been abandoned on
the streets Some restored their distracted