New Britain herald., 1914-04-09

these are the hardest of all. Some of the home problems are economic small wages necessitate cheap rents, few clothes, cheap food and little medical attention even when it is most needed. The children go to work at fourteen and the little boys must sell papers on the streets. Years of factory work, perhaps from four teen years of age until her marriage, have often left the mother ignorant of horne-making or child-training. lAs a result we find many miserable, un- happy, poverty stricken homes
 At present. We know of several fam flies where the physical and moral environment of the children is bad. In some of them we have worked long and earnestly to improve con- ditions; lack of time has prevented us from devoting the necessary atten- ton to others. But what is to be done for the many little children in those families? Even if We were to go into the business of breaking up homes wholesale we should still meet our fourth big child welfare problem lack of suitable institutions.
 Better state provision for the de- pendent, defective and delinquent is a very pressing need. In several cases where, without question. the homes ought to be broken up and the children placed in care of the state we are blocked because there is no place for children under four years of age except in homes where board must be paid.
 Legal Aid Needed.
 h@ 1,1, 1T .f ,,nsolved problems that makes im- passab1e a few of the roads that might lead some Of the under n our- ished, overburdened, delinquent chill dren out of their wilderness. If I go on to name other problems you will think me a pessimist and beg me to look upon the bright side. 1t is not pessimism that leads me to dwell on these topics, but an optimistic hope that when these needs are them. ...as .4. a.
 Among the more miscellaneous needs might be mentioned the de- sirability of plan by which we could secure free legal aid for some of our families. There are times when the rights of a girl, or child must be protected by an appeal to the courts and there is no money to pay lawyer In any case there should be some way of taking the matter up and seeing 1t through.
 "Mr. Johnson has said much about the necessity of woman probation officer and we ought to join our voices with his in asking for the ap- pointment of such a woman. MT. T@S about our lack of womans re- formatory; we are helpless, practic- ally, in dealing with delinquent young women over twenty-one years of age.
 "One of our principal efforts as a social agency ought to be in behalf of the constantly arriving immigrant. Who meets him at the station? Who sees that he is not exploited? But more important still. who sees that he is introduced to the right kind of American customs and Is put on the road to becoming a citizen?
 ''If began on the health and hous- ing questions that confront us in al- most every family I am afraid that You would be completely discouraged In our street directory we are keep ing card catalog of the houses which are really unfit for human habitation and we do not keep any account of the houses which are almost unfit. We are hoping and trusting that some day most of these houses will be condemned and that philanthropic people will see their opportunity and provide better ones.
 "A comprehensive view of all these things that are, yet ought not to be, makes one long to get to work hard CT than ever. If the Charity organ ization is to be for the Hove and ser- vice of all misera bles,'' as poor foreigner once said. it must not let its work end in attempts to benefit q few families.
 Respectfully submitted,
 "(Signed) MARY s. LABAREE,