Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-20
can they not be treated as our own are?
What parent would forbid his child to go

can they not be treated as our own are?
What parent would forbid his child to go
out of the house yard until he was
fourteen. except on an occasional automo-
bile ride or picnic given by some kind
hearted person? Why are not these poor
children allowed to take walk every
day even if teacher did 60 along? 1t
would still be All outing and change OF
scene l am more and more astonished
when / read the list of lady managers.
that not one of them ever seems to realize
that the pupils sent out from these
asylums. the boys at fourteen. the girls
at eighteen are only equipped Tor the
most mental positions. Why is it, that
no matter what artistic musical genius
IA child may display. it is never encour-
aged? Poorly educated. timid from long
confinement behind high walls. the boy
steps out to take some poor job, the
CIR. usually as nurse or servant. Are
doing the best for the child? Has not the
state. city private individuals who
supply the funds Il right TO better returns
on their investment?
One Of the largest orphan asylnms in
Baltimore permits it's children to attend
and advantage. Why not here" Why
pay extra teachers when you could get
! far better teaching outside for nothing?
And you. lady managers. are you sure
your wards are properly fed: In one
orphan asylum ] knew the children re-
ceived every morning bread molasses
and salt mackerel. while the matron
oreakfasted on oatmeal. eggs. coffee.
cream. butter. etc, with the children, cs-
pccially the little ones. looking hungrily
on.
If | had my way. no orphan asylum
should rear it's prison walls in our land.
You ask what | would substitute there
for? This query has been partially an
swered by the state of Missouri pension
ing poor mothers. by Illinois and Massa-
chusetts having pending legislation along
the same lines. but 1t does not answer the
query as to what to do with those COM
pletely orphaned or deserted. My reply
is to take the women who need en-
ployment and give then the children of
one family only, at the expense OF the
state, and give these little ones a home
in the fullest sense of the word. This
tearing apart OF little boys and girls from
their brothers and sisters should be stop
ped and stopped at once. l have no
sympathy whatever with those charity
workers who 60 into deso!ated home.
find the mother place as charwoman at
81 a week, take the baby to an infant
asylum. the boys in one institution, the
girls in another. all homesick ami long
ing for death. Oh Christianity, what
deeds have been done IN thy name.
Our orphan asyiunls have rarely been
| the home of a great man. | trace the lives
OF our great back to the streets as news
boys. bootDlacks. or even to SUM homes,
but never to the orphan asylum eN-
| c.usivcly. No, the fact remains that
these asylums are Jewelers. of individu-
ality, stampers-out of genius. makers of
menials. No nation derives greatness or
| power nom G3si-slaves. prisoners Of
menials. Tile time must come when every
| orphan asylum. with it's herding together
of different classes of children indis-
crimnately. will be closed. In late years
| there has been much hue and cry about
| the iails throwing its prisoners together.
| SO why permit IL in the asylums? This
| closing of the asylums will he an economy
| for the state. not only in the matter or
| money. hut in the saving Of human life
and intellect. Take the 100 orphans At