Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1910-12-02
HOME OF THE TOTS
SOME INTERESTING MATTERS IN
RELATION TO WORK AND
MANAGEMENT
CHI6DREN OF CHARITABLE
Jhsss Little Waits, the FIotsam Of a
Tide Of INDECENT or Indifferent
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 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 properly
looked after. Infants of a month and
over, boys and girls from three to
fourteen years are ever demanding at
tention. even if every real need is sup
plld. Too vigorous play, or careless
actions often being little hurts which
must be soothed. Among group of
thirty children, one will find tempera-
ments of all shades. Not only the
modest, retiring child who fails to as
sert his right. but the pugnacious IT.
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 like faith, and
quite naturally 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 Gull
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 d.sinfect-
ant or preventive. In dust partic, es
d may Turk some insidious disease, con-
sequently dust accumlatiOns must not
be allowed to gather. The matron who
is model housekeeper, has long ago
been convinced that "clealiness is next
to gOdliness." In the nursery the tiny
infant, neglected and unwanted, 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 sho3ld 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
ing of some mother heart, passes up
to the great author of life. Seve'al
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 theytonditions. Everyone is
cordially welcomed and really shown
all there is to be seen. The board
of charities and corrections dropped
in not long ago, ns is required by W,
for the purpose of making thorough
investigation of the Home prior to fl
ing it's annual report. One may judge
what impression was made upon them
by the following reference made in
the report to Governor Wesley:
"In conformity with the law of the
state this board has at various times
visited and carefully inspected the
Children'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 it's
workings outside the Home, as we'll as
in, The Home is certainly ent tied to
the confidence of the charitably in
clined people of the state"
In the Office the typewriter is click
ing information, giving advise, an
swering queries or making arrange
ments for placing 81 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
woe of a ch;id's future is not assumed
lightly. Due consideration of the
child's welfare and strict examination
of homes offered is surely necessary.
Through ten hours of each day the
problems of the needy homeless chl!d
is absorbing the attention OF these
upon whom the responsibility OF place.
meut rests. Numerous calls Tor AID
are answered and many ch1ld'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 burdensome, this institution
hastens to the relief of the distressed
child, caring for it, till new mother
may be found who will take the boy
or girl into her sheltering arms. Whit
a pity that into their innocent youns
lives distress ng, heartbreaking expert
ences come, but what gratitude should
not the people feel that The South Da-
lxota Children's Home Society Is ever
ready to assist in overcoming the ef-
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 and son and
daughter 40 really become burden