South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-27
DAY NURSERY.

women Tor the future IN the Better
South Bend"
DAY NURSERY.
The Circle of Mercy Day Nursery.
though established but the first Of
this year. has. by its earnest, far
reaching work, placed itself among
South Bends workers for better
babies.
In choosing the present location,
299 5. Chaplin St, the organizers felt
that the people of the western sec
ton Of he city were in greatest need
OF a safe, sanitary place where their
children might be cared for during
the day while the parents themselves
were otherwise employed.
The home is in charge of a
capable matron. whose duty il is to
look after the children's welfare
while they are in her care. For the
sake Of all her charges as we'll as
for the sake of the individual child,
she looks after the physical condi-
ton of each one to guard against
contagion or infection. as we'll as TO
give each little one the best chance
possible for normal development.
The institution is aided by other
charitable organizations interested
in child welfare and by a physician
who volunteered his services to the
nursery charges.
From the three children brought
TO the nursery a few days after it's
opening, the number has steadily in
creased until the daily attendance
now fluctuates between Is and %.
The enrolment for January was
AZ; for February, 2S4; March, 347;
April. 267; and so far during the
month Of May, 321 children, making
a total of 1,26S. These represent
Slavish. German and American par
entage.
The nursery is in no way a hospi-
tai, so that the children who are
very apparently i'll, are sent home as
soon as possible. The first aid"
box. however. is always near at
hand for cuts and bruises, and for
minor ailments the volunteer physi-
clan prescribes.
been referred to the Children's Dis
pensary. one of these cases was
that of a boy who is suffering from
a nervous disease which, if properly
cared for, may be overcome in time,
but which. is neglected, might have
developed into permanent and very
serious af1ictiOn. A second one was
that of a very young child, whose
eyes are badly diseased The dispen-
sary sent him 10 an 'optician and
now he is daily cared for at the
nursery.
As a matter Of child welfare this
work done by the nursery is espe-
c;ally valuable in that such affec-
tons as those described might never
otherwise be discovered, as their
symptoms are very often not rec
ognized by the parents of the chill
dren. and if noticed at all are neg
lected as matters of minor import
apce.
Only in one case were the parents
ungrateful for the services of the
physician, but after the child's con-
dition and the possible results were
explained TO the mother. she saw her
selfish attitude though the father
remained obstinate and impeded the
work.
Every effort is made TO teach the
children to distinguish between right
and wrong, and to bring them up as
carefully as though they were under
the watchful care of thoughtful
Parents. Many Of the youngsters
are possibly even batter off at the
nursery than at home where sani-
tary conditions may not be all they
should be. and where mothers are
too busy properly to attend 10 the
wants and needs of the little ones.
For the nominal sum of 10 cents
for one child from a family and five
cents additional for every other
from the same family, the child re-
ceives the care of the matron and
wholesome meal of soup, meat, pota-
tees and bread and butter at noon
and a lunch Of bread and milk in
the morning at $50 and in the af-
tcrnOOn at 8.