The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-25

these problems is obvious. 1t consists
in bringing together the mothers and
the motherless. For this business the
plant already is established every
where. 1t is the state orphan asy-
lum which by a few simple changes
in spirit and management, can be
converted into a receiving home for
dependent mothers and dependent
children
An orphan asylum in this day is
an anachronism," she replied. states
have provided for their orphan chill
dren nice shiny white beds all in a
row, clean blue aprons all alike, three
meals day to which the orphans
must march in and out-all because
they are orphans.
NO normal baby cares much
whether his face is clean or whether
his clothes are clean and mended- He
is all rigl so long as he isn't hungry
or sick and has mother to love HIM.
And why shouldn't he have mother
as well as three meals and a shiny
| bed at night?
What l should like to see accom-
plished as soon as possible" Doctor
DeVilbiss admitted frankly, lis the
conversion of the state orphan asylum
from a more or less permanent insti-
tuition for children into a receiving
home and temporary hospital for or
phans and for dependent mothers and
their children.
THUS orphans would be brought at
once under the care of women who
have the talent of motherhood. The
mother power of the state would be-
conserved instead of being wasted in
industrial occupations. And the moth
ers would have the chance to learn
from suitable instructors modern
methods of child care.
There would be a childrenS spe-
cialist and specially trained children S
scientific management the work of
caring for the material wants of the
children would be reduced to min
imum of labor and friction, and there
would be ample time left for the nee
essarv mothering. The ultimate So
luton would include the getting of the
! children and mothers back into homes.
"A child deteriorates in the average
institution" reiterated DR.. DeVilbiss.
THE longer he remains the less de-
sirab he becomes and the fewer the
| chances for his being taken into a
| home. There are sufficient childless
homes in this country to take every
/ orphan who is suitable for adoption
But to get these children into MONIES
/ they must be made attractive, and
nothing will do this but proper meth
ering.
| bringing mothers and children to-
i gether will give to dependent mothers
/ their own job and may easily make
/ them the most valuable employees OF
/ the state. Which is infinitely better
| than teaching these mothers to run a
! drill press or to make soldiers uni
! forms while leaving orphans to be
nursed by political appointees."
7 y
4 New York is planning an army ant
navy bazaar, and those in charge are
! asking women all over the country te
assist in furnishing materials for it
The following notices of the coming
event have been sent out:
Three thousand women relatives
sweethearts and friends of the boys ir
khaki are wanted at once to do theil
bit for the huge army and navy ba
zaar to be held at Grand Central Pal
( ace, New York, October 27 to Novem-
I Der 3, under the auspices of the army
and navy field comfort committee, o.
/ which Mayor Mitchell is honorary
chairman An urgent appeal ha!
been sent out by Manager Baldemal