Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-11-10
CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY,".
Great Work Being Done in State by
This ORGANIZATION.

sioux FallS.-ElSnleen years aSo
there was begun, in a very small a
the work of the South Dakota Child
ren's Home society. Under the a
agement of w. b. Sherrard, with head
quarters at Sioux Falls. AS can be
easily imagined, there was much oppo-
sition and Indifference on the part OF
those who had no real understanding
of the nature of the work. Through
the trying times of development the
society was guided by a master hand,
supported by a strong board OF dlrec-
tors and a constituency growing larg-
er from year to year. In 1905 the
present receiving home was built
which, together with the real estate
surrounding it. is estimated at a value
of $45 1000. This property is a splen-
did testimony to the generous hearted
South Dakotans. However much the
accumulation of valuable property
may speak of accomplishments, this is
but a very small part Of what has
been done. Buildings and real prop
erty had but a small share in the real
work for South Dakota's homeless, de-
pendent, neglected and unfortunate
children. Hours, days, and years or
toll into which heart n soul have
been thrown with %unseltish energy,
gives forth a history that would read
like a of thrilling rescue of
children from filth, vice, degradation
and humiliation. The histories of the
1856 children dare not be written for
the public. To drag their former woe
into public gaze would never beneht
them nor those who read their stories.
Not a child has come into the home
but has beer the victim OF misfortune
brought on by someone else. SAD
pictures are brought into the home at
Sioux Falls. One may per chance be
at one of the depots on the arrival of
three or four children who are being
brought in. Their wild, frightened
look convinces that their lot has been
a sad one. The evidences of former
filth and degradation may still be
seen. Their parents may have desert
ed them or cast them aside as Is only
to often the case or the only living pa
rent is on account of i'll health and
repeated misfortunes, absolutely un-
able to provide for these little ones.
Where could they go if the Children's
Home were not open to them? Boys
and girls who through parental neg
lect have become unruly are often
given shelter to save them from the
training school or prevent them from
being a menace to the community.
Last year 1874 of all ages up to IT
years found aid, protection and a
home. Out of the conglomerate mass
of little humans, apparently ~undesira-
BILE, the Children's Home is making
citizens who will be a credit to the
state. On their reception an outward
regeneration is begun. Soap and wa
ter is applied and the principles OF
cleanliness inculcated. C~leanness OF
speech SO seldom found among de-
pendents, and c]leanness of action is
insisted upon. The proper conduct at
table and about the home is taught.
Externally and internally a refOrma-
ton is attempted, fitting the child to
enter a family home, there to become
one of it's members. The ~unoffending
babe, unwelcome to its own mother,
unloved becaused of the added burden
and responsibility it brings, find in
the nome the tenderest car until
some mother heart is opened to re-
ceive it as her very own, where in al
most every case it grows into the i'm
age of the foster parents. "Nobody's'
child, the unwelcome child, the abused
child, the dependent and homeless
child, are received and home provid-
a5 Thncn Uh0 hovn hann in p1ncaCt
touch with this charity are most en-
thusiastic in their support. Investiga-
ton is always welcomed. 1t has cost
lots of money to keep tbs work going
but every dollar has brought it's re-
turns in rescued boys and girls.
Sixteen hundred and eighty-six
children is no small number to care
for and supervise in IS years; besides,
the condition of at least n thousand
South Dakota children have been i'm
proved by intervention and temporary
aid. Every person in the state should
have a share in this work. No collec-
tors are sem around to importune one
into giving. Voluntary contributions
alone have kept up the home for 1S
years. The Thanksgiving and Christ
mas seasons are times when this char
ity is, and should be, remembered by
substantial contributions. In every
town and community some general ac-
ton should be taken to supply the
home with funds SO that the aggre-
gate income will be sufficient to ex-
tend aid to every child in need for the
coming year. The home needs money
now to meet the demands of the un.
fortunate child.
Plan for Meeting.
Pierre.-State Superintendent Law
renee and those in charge of the State
Educational association meeting to be
held here the last of November pre-
dict the largest and most successful
meeting yet held. Mr.. Lawrence says
that from present indications there
will be 1000 in attendance. The big.
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