Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-27
SEEKING KIDS FOR ADOPTION
Search for Extraordinary Young
sters and the Tests They
Undergo.

In response 20 the demand for children
to be adopted there has arisen class OF
workers who make Il their business 10
search for extraordinary children. a few
months ago the Children's Aid society OF
New York had orders from three million
aires for children. Two of them wanted
girls and the other a boy. After long and
palnstaking search the choice finally mar
rowed down to twenty candidates. none Of
whom would do. One Of the miilionaires
finally began TO make the rounds OF
orphanages and other institutions. He
finally found a little girl who filled the
bill, but before he and his wife took her
they looked at thousands of little girls
from TO years Of age. This age " con-
sidered the safest, for in that time the
child, has not gained permanent impress
sions OF It's home. parents. or the institu-
, ticn where it was reared. and IL u has
any traces OF disease or bad temper they
are likely 10 crop out at this age. Sympa-
thy or pity play little part In the pre-
| Iiminary stages OF modern methods OF
child adoption.
After a cursory examination OF the
child shows that its legs are straight, its
back and chest are we'll formed and nor
NAL, It's head IL we'll shaped and It's gen
erai proportions are about right for
child OF its age, Il IL sent to clinic, where
! II lie examined for tuberculosis and kin
bred ills, and especially for traces OF
hereditary faint IN the blood. Its eyes.
ears, nose, throat. neck and chest are
thoroughly examined. Some of the dues-
tions which must be answered are; How
is the gait of the candidate? Is he well
balanced or shambling7 In he pigeon
toed or are his feet ewerted? IL his fore
head high or low? Are his ears well
placed7 In ne cross-eyed7 Are his teeth
regular or IRREGULAR Are the fingers long
/ or short, Has the candidate any exag-
gerated egoism. any excessive seif-eon-
scIousness and ill-bajanced mental ac-
tivity? The childs mind Is then sub
jected 10 simon-Binet tests in order to
determine its general intelligence. After
child comes through this ordeal, the
weli-to-do prospective parent then sends
Il 20 a specialist In ehildrens diseases
who makes a final report OF the canoi-
dates physical condition.
At this stage the process has Just pc
gun, for the child must be placed unoer
observation to determine whether II VIII
respond 10 the kind Of training which
wealthy persons give to their chiidren.
II the child IL adaptable ~ VIII sooh Aels
into the ways OF It's foster parents. II
It's parents have been persons OF rough
habits there is a chance that the chiiu
will fall short of the position which MS
new life will bring TO him. Children VINO
have happy smile, habit OF pratthns
and climbing about, and signs OF gooo
nature and initiative are most In demand
These. "a well as similar traits. are usu-
ally discovered by close contact with the
child in the horne which Il may occupy.
Then. before the court proceedings a
great deal OF money must be spent IN
order 10 make sure that swindiers. black
mailers and other criminals will not come
forward and pose as the real parents Q,
the child This precaution IL necessary
not only 70 protect the foster parenss'
but also the child when II shall nave DO
come OF age.--Indianapolis News