The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-17
Interesting Program at Yes
terday's Session of Brat
tlebOrO WOman's Club
JEFFREY SPOKE ON
WORK IN VERMONT
There Are 1,4OO Children in the State
Under Is Years of Age Who Are Be
ing Supported by the Poor Depart
ments of the Towns,

ments of the Towns
The program of the Brattleboro
| Woman s club yesterday afternoon III
the Unitarian parish house was devot-
ed to a consideration of the delinquent
and dependent child, and was largely
attended
The first speaker was Miss Bernice
futile, chairman of this committee of
the state federation of women g clubs
Miss futile spoke briefly of what the
women s clubs can do for the depend
ent child and urged club members to
look especially after eases in their
own community. Miss futile brought
message from the Women ; Council
for National Defence, an organization
which IS clearing house for informa-
ton as to relief agencies and methods.
A new department has recently been
| organized, known as the Home Service
for Civilian Relief. This department
Of the Red Cross is organized to look
after the various needs of the families
OF dependent relatives of men in serv-
ice.
The second speaker was w. H. JEFF
frey, executive secretary of the state
board of charities and probation. This
commission was created at the 1917
session of the legislature and largely
as result of agitation by the state
federation of women S clubs. George
l.. Durham was chairman Of this com
mlttee until compelled to give up his
poaltlon owing to i'll health
in OPENING his srIh iect Mr. ToTro,.
SAID that the matter of the dependent
child IS the greatest SINGLE question
which eonfronts our PEOPLE at this
time Some people have been sur
p1sed that the work of probation is
connected with this department. bu.
this is closely related to the dependent
and delinquent child. Tle probation
law has been on the r. atute book, for
come wears, that is, that persons in
court charged with some offence are of
ten placed on probation. On Jan.
Mr.. Jeffrey had go men and women
| IN his charge who were on probation.
HIS work Is to help them t. make an
other start to find tAeir places in the
community and to support their fami-
lies. lie cited an instance of a man
VINO had been in the house of correc-
ton Tor drum kenness who had been par
dohed and Isl now making good.
mere are 400 children in this state
under lo years of age who are being
supported by the poor department Of
our towns. This number represents not
over one-third of all those children in
me state who belong in this class. Mr..
Jehrey gave several instances of eases
investigated III various parts of the
state which show the need of pushing
ne work of thi9 department. In one
place VISITED were seven children, the
Oldest girl Of Is. The home. if such
IL could be called, contained three
chalrS with the backs gone, no dishes.
no supplies except a few withered car
rots, turnlrS and potatoes and small
amount of one or two other staples.
me l2-year-old girl ana one younger
were sleeping on an old fashioned
lounge, which was turned with the
'front.' to the wall and with a bao OF
rags upon IT. Filth and vermin Of all
KINDS abounded. The ovarseer of the
4 poor would take no action as the man
j had little stock but conditions have
4 been since remedied through the state :
attorney
The problem of the feeble minded
- closely related to that of the delin
quent. Forty to 60 of the children al
Nergennes are feeble minded. In one
famlly the mother and five children
were feeble minded. Another instanc,
was cited of a mother who died at tn,
g age OF "a who had given birth to l.
h children. In the house when the cas-
n was investigated and cared for Their,
n was no dish, no bed, nor any food 0.
a any account Another family wa
found consisting of father. mother an,
four children who were living in ON
room and keeping boarders. In anoth
n er instance there were found Iivino i,
one-room house IL feet square IN
q parents. an lSyeaI-old son and -
b year-old daughter. These two childreI
3 who had the intelligence Of childreI
under 10 were placed at Brandon Tw
y little girls, aged two and FIVE wear
II respectively, have just been placed j
h a hospital in this state SUFFERING fror
venereal disease contracted fro,
their father.
These instances are a few ont O
n many which are on record or While
8 might be found in Vermont. The
b should have the moss serious considers
n tlon OF every citizen in the state. Tni
y department, IN whose charge this wor
q Is, should have the loyal help and SUI
port OF every community in our bo
ders The same consideration Shout
be given 10 the stock III the house.
The children may be so referred to. 4
IS given to the stock in the barn
Miss Florence Hemenwav Well
3 chairman of the committee of the loc:
club on social and industrial condition
q followed Mr. jeffrey She urged II
need Of thoroughly trained aud cor
h netent woman to be employed BY Il
b town, who would give her time to i
n vcsti2ating eases. advising with mot
n ers as to the spending Of the limite
incomes, the care of the children al
other vital matters, and advising wit
the town authorities as to the eivir
or withholding of relief. Miss Wei
mentioned fav, ont &c -.