Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-05
ONE FAMILY ADOPTS
EIGHT WAR KIDDIES"
Catholic Children's Bureau Tries
to Find Temporary Homes
for 1000 Wards

Taking eight children into the family cir
Gle all in one grand swoop is almost more
than most people can imagine but that is
what several Catholic parents have recently
done at the appeal of Bishop McCort
The problem Of an increased number OF
dependent children because of war condi-
lions Is being partially solved by parents
OF men in service. Homes that have been
left desolate and lonely because the boys"
have GONE over there" are being enlivened
by orphans children left temporarily de-
pendent upon society.
The Catholic Chldren's Bureau of tPhila-
delphia today has under its protection more
than 1000 little wards. who have been given
temporary homes till their fathers come back
from war or their own homes are re-estab"
ished Besides these, many have been adopted
through the medium Of the bureau during
the last few months. In accordance with
the fundamental Catholic principles the bu-
reau strives to preserve the family as unit
of society.
1t tries. first of all. to reunite parents.
to hnd work for the unemployed and to plan
methods whereby the family may be kept
together But If this Is impossible, the
bureau takes the children, and. in placing
them In new homes, still keeps the brothers
and sisters together Some times there are
only two or three in the family. but there
have been many cases where there were six
children and several in which there were
eight.
Bcause many Of the children are left to the
care of the bureau only temporarily until
the mother or father becomes well can get
little money ahead system of boarding
out has been arranged. Instead Of legally
adopting the little ones, parents take them
into comfortable homes temporarily. For
this they are paid board.
''Of course, cannot pay these parents
for the home love and the intrinscaliy VAL
liable things that come with it," said Miss
Leslie NJ. Foy, in charge OF the case depart
ment of the bureau. But do pay small
sum. which covers the cost of food consumed
by each child. This money is furnished by
the Philadelphia County court for its desti-
tute children Clothing is also furnished by
this means. From the time the children
are brought to us by their parents until they
are returned to their original homes or else
legally adopted, they are directly under our
supervision. no matter what homes they may
enter Our workers visit every child at least
once a month to see that he or she is we'll
cared for
stare between the worst and the best in the
childrens lives. Some Of them come to us
from the very worst imaginable places we
teach them the beauty Of cleanliness and
try to instil in them the common courteses
~ m. before sending them into homes. We
are lust as sure OF the character of our chill
dren before placing them we must be of
the families into which they e. Our aim is
,o mace the right child In the right home.
In many cases the girls and boys come from
excellent families and some of them have
fortunes which they will inherit when of
age.
y.s brought TO us recently Her parents are
a.,d and she is alone in this country. But
shs has relatives and large estates In Hun
gary which will be hers II there is anything
,eft after the war. In the meantime she Is
ns,ns cared for by a splendid family here
Two of the most beautiful children in the
care Of the bureau are the son and daugh-
,sr of a man sentenced to twenty years In
~. nenitentiary for killing his Wife The girl
ts eight and the boy Ave years old Most or
the children arc left destitute by sickness
or death,
..rn,ine whether a dull child is backward or
ts.hje-r,nded" said one of the bureau drec-
tors "It Is unfair to place a feeble-minded
child with normal children, or the child OF
had habits and much evil knowledge with
hiIdren of innocent minds. Even with normal
ehiidren the bent Of the mind and talents
must be known for proper placing. Yet we
ana that wonderful changes are made in
children by placing them In proper sur
~owndinrs More and more we realize the
power Of environment and daily framing.
"Truly It is a deep study in human nature
IN nick up these children. learn their traits OF
character and find for them homes where
they win develop into the best types OF man.
hood and womanhood'
children between the ages of four and six
teen are admitted to the care OF the bureau,
and once taken inscharse they are given
every care possible till they become OF age
EVERY nationality Is represented and the
institution strives to place the boys and girls
according to nationality
"There are undoubtedly more dependent
children because Of war conditions and the
number is steadily increasing" said d.
rector Because Of this Bishop McCort has
urged parents to do their bit by taking care
of some of these little ones"