Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-11-25
H0MEOF THET0TS:
SOME INTERESTING MATTERS IN
RELATION TO WORK AND
49, MANAGEMENTa
CHILDREN OF CHARITABLE

These Little Waits, the FIotsam of a
Tide of INDECENT or Indifferent
r are Cared for by Free
Will Offerings
Some people may have the idea that
the work of the Children's Home is
mere child S play; but even the casual
visitor will notice that a tremendous
amount of work needs be accomplished
daily in order that the constant wants
of the steady stream of incoming and
outgoing children may be erly
looked after. Infants of a month and
over, boys and girls from three to
fourteen years are ever demanding at
tention. ever if every real need is sup
plid. Too vigorous play, or careless
actions often being little hurts which
must be soOthed. Among a group or
thirty children, one will find tempera-
ment of all shades. Not only the
modest, retiring child who fails to as
sert his right, but the pugnacious lit
tie Andrew Jackson is in evidence.
The little chap who has an abiding
faith in his divine right to possess ali
that his eyes survey is sure to find
here another with a like faith, and
quite naturally a difference OF opinion
arises. A skilled governess, however,
soon decides the divine right p OBJ
lens and speedily settles all questions.
To satisfy boundless appetites of some
thirty children with good wholesome
food easily taxes the skill of a cul-
unary artist. The question of SANTA
ton, never to be forgotten, demands
constant attention. Rooms and hall
ways, beds and clothing must be free
from contamination of any sort. Clean
liness, therefore, is the best disinfect-
ant or preventive. In dust particles
may Turk some %insidious disease, con-
sequently dust accumlations must not
be allowed to gather. The matron who
is a model housekeeper, has long ago
been convinced that, cleanliness is next
to goodness" In the nursery the tiny
infant, neglected and u~nwanted, may
give evidence Of the unnatural moth
er's lack of love. but no amount of care
is wanting to infuse the life God in
tended it should have. Its physical
condition and its greatest needs are
studied and every means used which
medical skill and trained nurses ex-
perience can command, to develop the
strong child. -
Sometimes, it is true, all the en-
deavors seem useless, and the infant
babe which should have been the darl-
ing of some mother heart, passes up
to the great author of life. Several
hundred visitors generally interested
friends, are shown through the Home
each week, whole delegations come in
at one time to see the children and
inspect the conditions. Everyone is
cordially welcomed and really shown
all there is to be seen. The board
of charities and corrections dropped
in not long ago., as is required by law,
for the purpose of making a thorough
investigation of the Home prior to III
ing its annual report. One may judge
what Impression was made upon them
by the following reference made in
the report to Governor Wesley:
I'm conformity with the law of the
state this board has at various times
visited and carefully inspected he
Ch%ildren's Home at Sioux Falls. Under
the able and efficient supervision OF
Superintendent and Mrs. Stuckeman
the Home has improved and enlarged
in it's usefulness. We have only
words of commentator for the man
agement, after having examined its
workings outside the Home, as we'll as
in. The Home is certainly n tied to
the confidence of the charitably in
cIined Ieople of the state"
In the ONCE the typewriter is click
ing information, giving advise. an
swering queries. or making arrange
ments for placing or receiving chill
dren. Reports, histories of children,
legal papers, and records must be
properly filed. The tremendous re-
sponsibility which rests upon the SUI
~perintendent in deciding the veal or
80. - n obiId,u $,,$y1ro Ia nof assumed
lightly. Due consideration OF he
child's welfare and strict examination,
OF homes offered Is surely necessary.
Through ten hours of each day the
problems Of the needy homeless child
is absorbing the attention OF those
upon whom the responsibility Of place.
ment rests. Numerous calls for aid
are answered and many a child's bur-
den has been lightened and kept In
school, of which no mention Is made
in the reports. When family troubles
arise or sin has entered to disrupt the
sacred ties which should not be broken
and the child is left homeless or has
| become burdensomc, this institution
hastens to the relief Of the distressed
child, caring for 1t, till a new mother
may be found who will take the boy
or girl into her sheltering arms. What
q pity that into their innocent young
lives distressing, hea~rtbreaking expert
ences come. but what gratitude should
not the people feel that the South Da-
kota sChildren'ss Home Society Is yer
ready to assist in overcoming the eff
fects of those experiences by giving
timely attention to the unfortunate
little ones. Some stories told are
pathetic indeed. Little Eva ami her
brother were victims Of parental
faithlessness. Her mothers affections
had entirely disappeared end son and
daughter had really become burden
homesteader's Family Distressed
Pierre-A pitiful case OF destitu-
| e1o.~ 10 voN0r$nd Frnu CfanIoy coi1n.