Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-20
Prescription Calls for
Constant Association
With Youth, Which Means
Youthful Environment. ," -
DR.. Charles Gilmore
kerley Declares

dignihed. confortloving and resent intru-
sion or disturbance OF their daily routine
Place child b q home as described
above, and what change takes place
not only in the home. but In the occu-
pants! have repeatedly known the
advent OF an adopted child In q child
less home to cure neurasthenia, desmond
ency, and habitual crouch, particularly In
men. am able 10 give q very effective
prescription against premature old age,
and the prescription calls for constant as.
socfation with youth. which means youth.
fui environment-and environment Ia the
great determining factor in human e1-
istence. not excepting heredity.
The adopted child or children OF the
old young people will have friends and
associations Of similar age. BY this al.
ISOLATION the parents are permitted 10
see the world through the eyes OF youth.
There are the surroundings of activity,
happiness. and noise. There are the
everyday plans and surprises The old
young couple again become young and
are drawn together by means OF q vital
Interest in something outside OF their
own little narrow sphere with it's rnagni.
fed cares and troubles
But 1t is argued that children cause
care. anxiety. and trouble. Surely they
do. and little trouble is good for most
people. II takes them out OF them.
selves and removes the seifcenter II
was David fIarum who remarked: Fleas
are good for dog, because they keen
MIN from broodin' on being dog The
home that never has been entered with a
whoop, yell, or q bawl is a sad place.
There are hundreds of normal, at.
'ract,ve children being brought up in
nTen institutions who would, If allowed.
be the brightest spot In as many dull
homes.
feature OF no small consequence is
the vast benefit that would accrue to the
State II these children could have the ad-
vantage OF private home care-and this
does not imply in the homes Of the
wealthy. There are hundreds OF good
homes for children throughout the coun.
try where wealth never enters that would
De ideal for homeless children. The saw
Ing OF life alone would be very large.
Babies do not thrive we'll In infant
asylums and protectories Of various
kinds. Under the best OF Institutional
management there will always DE large
"oi laiiL!, HoL because the children are
neglected or badly treated. but because
they are living under conditions that are
abnormal for the young human being.
When baby enters q public institu-
ton, heavy handicap in the struggle for
life IS placed upon it,
There are many who feel the desire
for parenthood, with home associations
with the young. who are deferred from
taking step in the direction of adoption
for fear OF that great bugaboo, heredi-
tary influences. John Rowands, OF very
humble origin, was abandoned by his
mother and placed in the st. Asaph Union
Workhouse, where he remained for sew
eral years. AS Sir Henry M. Stanley he
Is known known to every schoolchild
Stanley was adopted by an American
merchant. Henry Stanley.
All children. regardless Of their social
status, are very much alike at birth. All
children are born Observation-Disclosures
They do not actually become adults be-
fore the seventeenth or eighteenth year
or life. There is thus at least sixteen
years of growth and development, with
all that development entails. In the
lower animals the reverse is the case.