The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-27

During the ear a number OF schoo
girls have been sent to us for protec-
ton. many have been in bad surround
ings, and were neglected and in great
danger. 1t has seemed best to care
for them before they got into serious
trouble. AS in years past the extreme
youth has seemed appalling. The
youngest girl cared for was IL years
Of age. Twenty-seven girls under Is
years Of age. ten IS ear old. six 16
years old, seven Is years, four IL
years, two 10 years and two II years
with an average age OF 16 years. One
girl was a mother at IL years OF age
and one at Is. There were several
cases of incest, and twe~nty-seven
cases of rape.
We have cared for during the year
sixty-eight children, there were
twenty-five births, seven deaths,
two premature. Mrs. Decker has been
greatly missed in our nursery. She
had been with US five years, her one
thought was the training and the car
ing for the babies, whose start in the
world is so handicapped. The help
less little child appeals to US and
touches the hearts Of all, but the ap-
peal Is doubly strong, when the weary,
saddened, heart-broken mother stands
with a nameless child in her arms
asking us to give her a chance to care
for 1t, to love 1t, and be a real mother
and MOI be ostracized by the world.
The mother love is so strong, that no
matter what condition the child may
come into the world under, she many
times is willing to face almost any
thing in order to care for her own
child. And although the child may
have a better home were it placed in
some family, yet what about the
mother? Each mother is encouraged
and helped to care for her own child.
Making a total Of 119 girls cared for,
and sixty-eight children during the
year.
Religious Work.
We have made q strong feature Of
the religious side Of the work. Spe-
cial services nave been held during the
year by the ministers of the different
denominations. Sunday school every
Sunday afternoon, Bible class study
once a week. At the present time Mrs.
O'Dell is taking charge Of this work.
A number Of the girls have confessed
Christ, and are earnestly trying to
serve Him. We may build up q girl
morally, and she may be worth more
in dollars and cents, to her employer.
when we a recommend her as being
honest, faithful and true, but unless
we can give her an object in life, and
show them the Christ, u work has
been in vain. The work is strictly IN
sectarian, Catholic, Jew or Greek are
taken in and each individual is allow
ed and encouraged to think and decide
for themselves. One hundred thirty
eight services have been held in the
home during the year, aside from fam
lily worship.
Have you seen the prettily furnished
room on the third floor. made possible
by the Christian Endeavor society Of
1912, Of the home? AS a girl comes
into the home heartsick, out Of work,
or the old girls return for a short stay,
here they find a bed awaiting them.
One night not long since a girl ran
away from her home because Of Ill
treatment, and her family being deter
mined to take her child away from her.
Her only place Of refuge was the home.
Juvenile Court Cottage.
During the month of January q cot
tage for the juvenile girls who have
been sent to us by the court was OPEN
ed. Mrs. Maud Oemig, who has work
ed SO faithfully and untiring for five
years, is in charge. This was an adj
vance step, one that it seemed doubt
full that we could support, and care
for, an added responsibility to our al
ready overtaxed resources. Eight girls
under 16 years of age have been shell
| etred and cared for. They have been
taken from homes Of squalor and filth.
where many times immortality reigned
supreme. It has taken time and prayer,
to overcome the early training, but
with two exceptions every girl is max
ing good. The results are marked and
we have been fully justified in going
on with the work. We not only have
the normal girl, but the girl who is de-
| fpnfiVa q 1npnnpYqta nn1 GNn1nfiron 90
vicious, but they also have failed in
one Of the supreme tests of woman
hood. Unfortunately in our beautiful
state Of North Dakota there is no pro-
vision made for the girl who is the
first offender. A minor offense has
been committed, she is not a criminal.
she has made a mistake, and needs to
be handled carefully, and wisely: not
committed to the reform school, where
as she goes out into the world she has
the thought before her that the law
knows all about her, but a chance in
an Industrial school where she, II
taught 30 live a normal life s 10 that
she may go out a se~lf-respecting wom-
an, is able to care for herself. A great
need for a vocational school in our
| state, where the girl or boy who does
not care for blocks can be taught to
use their hands. And 30 our problem
grows deeper and deeper. We are try
ing in this cottage to teach the girls
the common everyday things Of life,
and we hope the time Is not far dis
tant when the cottage or cottages will
be where they can have some ground
where the girls can work in the gar
den, etc. Only two Of the juvenile
cases are a problem. They can do
nothing in school, and were they al
lowed to be free they would be easy
prey for evil-minded men.
o.. Donations.
We are very grateful to the friends
Of the work, who have been so liberal
and thoughtful to our needs during
the "a Walter Reed Of Armenia very
kindly sent US a half car of vegetables.
Henry Schroeder fifty bushels of pota-
toes, MI. Welter fifty bushels Of pota-
toes. These are only a few Of the
splendid things that have come to us
during the yea We wish it were
possible to name each individual
merely a word Of appreciation to
those who have SO nobly helped; to
the various doctors, for their con-
tinued help when called upon; to the
newspapers and for their publications;
to Mr.. Strate for taking care Of our
drayage for the past five years, send
ing us a receipted bill each year. Mr..
Knight Of the Knight Printing Co.. for
his generous donation Of stationery;
the Interior Lumber Co. for coal. tc
the merchants for the discounts which
they have SO generously given, and
many others who have SO kindly
assisted us in a material way. Amount
Of donations received 1928, SO.
Self denial week, was observed dur
ing the month of November. Each
wear If ha0 hoan tho cy1Sfnpo IN ran,