The Detroit times., 1912-06-08
BY z. c. RODGERS.

CHICAGO, June 7.-When Floyd
Keefe aged seven, and his brother
Kenneth, age three, woke up the ether
morning they We're poor. their play
ground was the alley upon which
their home stood, their piaymates
were the children OF the alley.
Then came big automobile and
carried them away.
In the corning they were the chill
dren OF a poor working woman; in
the evening they were the wards Of
a multi-millionaire.
sounds like fairy tale, doesn't it?
But II is true. II had its beginning in
a speech DIR. A. Lois Lindsay Wyne-
4. coop made at the national mothers
congress. She said that bachelors
ought to adopt children to raise
When she got back to Chicago, Dr.
Wynecoop found five applicants for
children. One OF them was Cor lou
Strong, millionaire Chicago real es-
tpte man.
pr. Wynecoop had list of ready
to-be-adopted youngsters read.
She knew the Keefe boys. Their
mother. Mrs Nora Keefe. sells lace
in a department store for small
wage.
Il wouldn't have given my boys
away for anything in the world bit
FOR their own good" Mrs. Keefe told
me, between calls for a cash girl and
selling lace remnants TO a bargain
hunting crowd of women. "a rich
man like Mr.. Strong can do every
thing for them; can do nothing-but
give them up. They've got chance
now"
ITO give the boys a chance, that is
Why | took them" said Gordon
strong. MY plan is to take two
more boys this year, and then add
one each year as long as | live.
like children, boys especially. will
send them TO my home on Sugar Lear
mountain in Maryland
II do not mean TO adopt them l., E
ally. They will retain their own
nsmes, and their parents may see
hem. shall provide for them. edu-
cate them. sending them TO college
when they are prepared for It. and fit
them for the vocation in life they are
best suited for, whether that be rhysi-
clan, merchant, lawyer, preacher or
farmer.
why? Because that's the way l
thoose to spend my money"
While DR.. Wynecoop Is the crigina-
tor OF this "bachelors-adopt-a-b
movement, the real credit belongs TO
Mary Louise.
Mary Louise is two years old. Once
Mary Louise was one OF those friend
Jess little mites cast adrift in this
wide world.
DR. Wynecoop already had .1ree
little ones OF her own, but she saw
Mary Louise, and Mary Loulse-she
didn't have any name then-became
sister to DR.. Wynecoop's little Gather.
inc.
Il had long urged the adoption OF
babies by childless couples" DR..
N-ynecoop explained, "and to speak
ftom experience my husband and
adopted Mary Louise. She was an
immense success right from the start.
II noticed that baby girls we've in
greater demand than boys, possibly
because the childless wife longs for
the embrace Of baby arms more than
the husband. On the other hand |
noted the large number Of wealthy
bachelors passing through life miss
ing the great responsibility, and still
streater honor, of parenthood So II
was that suggested the idea OF bach
elors adopting children.
II have recently arranged for sew.
eral boys who have been taken by
ealthy unmarried men. I'm every
city like movement is needed. Why,
| have letters from mothers ard chill.
dren from New York TO San Francis
co begging me to find homes foi little
ones.r
ITO give those bachelors a taste OF
what home is by placing with them a
child. urge this movement"