New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-09
New Department of
State Charities Aids
Mothers With Babes

When a woman with baby has been
thrown on her own resources it has
heretofore been felt that her chances
of securing employment have been
greatly lessoned on account of the
child.
The mother, herself, believed this
and usually BOARDED out" the baby
or placed it in an institution of some
sort. The Department of Mothers and
Babies of the State Charities Aid was
organized to find situations for home
less mothers with babies, so that they
can keep their children with them.
1t also gives them advice, information
and temporary assistance.
When the name Estate Charities Aid
Association" is mentioned one invol-
UNFAIRLY thinks of grim institutions
and perhaps grim executives-the kind
generally associated with the old
fashioned idea of charity and its ad-
ministration. But there's nothing grim
about Miss Mary R. Mason, or nothing
grim about her pleasant little suite of
offices, and certainly nothing at all
grim about the work she has been do
ing for the past twenty-five years.
Miss Mary Mason is superintendent
Of the Agency for Assisting Mothers
With Babies of the S. C. A. A. Dur
ing the past quarter century she has
been instrumental in helping nearly
1000 mothers keep their babies with
them and give them the chance in life
baby is entitled to. Although more
than 10000 positions have been found
for women with babies, the agency
does other things besides. Convalescent
care for young mothers, helpful advice,
perhaps a reconciliation between wife
and husband or wife and parents, as
hop
few of the kindly, humane Offices
Miss Mason has been able to perform
through the agency for homeless, I'M
fortunate women.
Up on the seventh floor of the State
Charities Aid Building there are five or
six rooms that belong entirely to Miss
Mason, mothers and their babies. Be-
sides the waiting room and her private
office, there is a doctors Office, where
mothers and babies are examined and
simple treatments given; special
room with cosey chairs, cradles, toys,
and plenty Of tubs where baby may be
bathed, and another Office where are
filed records of all the 1000 babies and
their mothers the agency has dealt
with. On her staff Miss Mason has in
all about fifteen workers, including
two physicians, nurse who is in daily
attendance at the Office, visiting
Nurse ana a court worker.
Homeless mothers, married or I'M
married, come to Miss Mason for help.
Sometimes they have been deserted
and must support themselves and their
children; sometimes it is illness which
sends them to the agency. But what
ever the cause the agency, without red
tape, at once stretches out a helping
hand.
"The effect of war conditions is be-
ginning to be felt now" Miss Mason
told Tribune reporter yesterday. "a
thin limo of wax babies has passed
through the Office during the past year.
This we think will be greatly increased
during the next few moaths. There
have been more unmarried mothers
lately, but when the woman Is in good
health it has never been difficult to
get work for her where she can keep
her baby"
ave have lost some old EMPLOYERS
through the breaking up or doubling
OF households, but have gained many
new ones through the exodus of maids
to munitions works. The demand for
women, even if they have q child, Tor
domestic service has been so great that
the agency has had no difficulty in
placing its applicants.