The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-04-18
PLEA FOR NEGLECTED CHILDREN
Covered with vermin-They Must
Have Shelter.

Secretary w. H. Jeffrey last evenin:
spoke TO the Montpelier Woman's club aHC
Board of Trade and other guests to th'
number of 55 persons, in the high schoo
building of Montpelier. He gave an in
teresting story OF the work which ha'
been done and then, in reply to ques
tions, explained several matters. lie said
that the board would like to have the
children home, of which mention has
been made, located near Montpelier, but
stated that he bias been offered PROPOSE.
tion in southern Vermont. very salts
factory for the care of children, but not
suitably located.
"The most serious problem which con
fronts the board of charities and proba
tion is, when we have brought into court
children covered with vermin, some dis.
eased, some deformed, all ragged neg
lected and dirty, and the court in it's
wisdom has deereed them wards of the
state, what shall do with themy May
bring them to you? Where shall take
them, that they may be cleaned prop
erly clothed and properly trained and
made fit for homes among the people,
There is no appropriation available
or provision of the law that makes it
possible for us to meet and solve this
condition. 1t is absolutely necessary that
the state should be provided with tenn.
porary receiving or shelter home, to
which we may Immediately commit these
children for the process of preparation
for their future homes. We must have a
place where they can be cared for, some
for month, some for two or three
M, ha EaSs 80 Il
fill the homes, which / am sure can be
readily obtained for them. and in most
instances without expense 70 the state,
Il now have many applications for
children and with thousands OF children
in desperate conditions. ] have no chill
dren who are available for these applica-
tions, for the sole reason that am un-
able to give them that first necessary
aid, training and care that will make
them satisfactory when placed in homes.
"For some time there has been move
toward securing such shelter home for |
dependent and neglected children and the |
locating of this home in this vicinity. A |
part of the necessary funds |
ire available The time is at hand when |
this phase OF our work must-Feceiye Sc
-iols consideration and definite action. /
We must meet this problem in a sane,
big hearted and generous way, After
his dreadful worlds n4r ends we must
ave men, men who are strong and able
% take the places made vacant by the
owed ones who have gone "over there"
lever to return. Every neglected and
dependent child must be regarded as of
rital worth to the state. They must be
aved and made fit.
Vermont and her people must give
very consideration to the building,
moulding and shaping of the lives and
haracter OF the dependent children of
o-day. These unfortunate little ones
nust not be abandoned to fill our aims
ouses, our industrial school, our work {
ouses and prisons. They are here, and
re must face and meet the problem, no {
,orse in our state than in others, but J
evertheless bad enough. 1t was the
laster who said that 'inasmuch as We !
ave done it unto the least of these my '
rethren, We have done it unto Me-"