New-York tribune., 1910-03-25
IN INTEREST OF HOME LIFE
Payment and Supervision Of Poor
Widows Raising Children Suggested.

Payment and Supervision Of Poor
Widows Raising Children Suggested.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Everywhere we see the manires-
tation OF a deep and growing concern Tor
the welfare OF the child. Everywhere Is
there a striving 20 a better understand
ing OF the destructive and disintegratins
forces that beset the child In the large
city.
Without seeking % minimize the nu-
merOus other noxiOus elements. MAIN
tain that the primary cause OF the ehilds
danger IS the home. Those who are most
seriously threatened. namely. the ones
who hive ana herd in our tenement
houses. are entirely lacking IN home life.
Nor can there be any homo life in a be-
draggled rookery. dark. dirty and with
air befOuled: In dingy rooms that are
indecently Overcrowded. It is In these un-
inviting. unlOvely. unsacred surroundings
that obtain among the poor to-day that
the vicious. immoral. dangerous class OF
tomorrow Is being reared.
Existing charitable agencies have done
much TO improve these conditions But
existing agencies do not always raise the
objects OF their charity to a higher stand
ard OF living. Philanthropy IS usually sat
lsfed TO relieve physical distress. to. tide
over a period OF depression and 20 give
an occasional helping hand. This IS well,
but II IS not lasting or constructive.
Earnest women are convinced that there
IS need OF a phhanthroDhy which, taking
its base on the moral sacFedness and So
cial necessity OF the home. will aim TO
better II. Such philanthropy should not
measure its efficiency by numbers. but IN
the lasting quality OF its benehcence.
To my mind there are none whose need
is more urgent, whose sad plight IS more
deserving Of attention. than that Of the
fatherless family. When the breadwinner
IS taken from the family by death the
home Is In danger OF being disrupted.
the children dispersed among institutions
and the mother set adrift 70 shift fOr her
self Then this new charity OF whicS
speak may step IN. become the bread
giver, not IN the shape Of aims. but as
remuneration to the mother for caring for
the children and rearing them 70 clean
minded. healthy. strong citizenship. This
puts tho mother on the same basis as
the teacher IN thu public school. who
IS paid for work toward the same end.
The mothers part in the education OF the
child IS every whit as important as tho
teachers.
Having done this. paid the mother 20
bring up her children. the new charity
may advise. dsrect and enforce. IL need
be. Just as the supervisor IN the educa-
tiOnal system. the manner IN which the
children may be reared TO their best ad-
vantage. The right 10 do this VIII. IN
most cases, be unQuestioned. for the su-
pervisiOn must be tempered BY patience
and love
Finally. having assumed the respon-
sfbility OF properly maintaining the home.
the new philanthropy must not be i'm
patient 20 unburden ITSELF for the func-
tiOn OF the new charity IS not 20 patch
up hole. but Greats a new structure Il
should procure training for the future
breadwinner at a trade or his choice, that
he may. at the proper time. launch into
our competitive system an efficient arti-
san.
II the proper standard OF decent condi-
tions shall have been maintained during
the growing years, there IS every likelihood
that the child will not recede' from the
acquired standard. Thus the new charity
not only builds up the ono family, but
lays the foundation for the family which
IS growing.
Ny contention Is that the fatherless
rightly or Justly. We have been too prone
70 sanction the wrecking OF homes ana
the crowding OF our asylums with halr
orphans There are enough wholly or
phaned children 70 people the asyIuma
That section Of the philanthrophic fields
might be segregated and treated according
70 the idea OF conscientious and thorough
charity The object TO be aimed at IS not
to give institutional care. which reaches
only the Individual. but 20 reclaim tho
family and 20 place It permanently On a
higher level
Pay the widowed mother 20 bring up her
children properly and a large part OF tho
child problem that confronts the nation
solves itself
MRS. WILLIAM EINsTETN.
New York. March %. 1910.