Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-14
CHILDREN AT'THE
INDUSTRIAL HOME
GET LITTLE AID
Director Says Only 800 Per-
sons Have Helped the
Institution
64 DOWN WITH THE FLU
at Nineteenth and
Swatara Ancient and
Crowded
NURSERY HOME IN NEED
DR.. Keen in Charge of Influ-
enza Cases at Former
Place
NURSERY HOME IN NEED

"A shame and disgrace to Iar-
risburg," is the way one of the di-
| rectors of the Children's Industrial
Home Association to-day identified
the cooperation of citizens with this
admirable activity. OF n population
of some 10000 in the city alone. only
three hundred persons help to sup
| port an establishment which is even
now in the throes of taking care of
/ siXty-four children influenza victims.
| This home for orphan children takes
care of boys and girls throughout the
county, also, and the county is just
as reprehensible.
! Every person who has travelled
( about Harrisburg has noticed the
| conspicuous building which arches
! its cupalos high on the hill at Nine
! teenth and Swatara streets. Few per-
sons have the humanity to inquire
as to how these destitute children
of the metropolis are cared for. The
| same may be said of civic help for
the Harrisburg Nursery on Cameron
street, and the suggestion imme-
! diately comes up: Why not combine
these two institutions and set them
on u farm where the children may
| raise fruits and vegetables, thus
partly supporting themselves and at
the same time getting wholesome,
robust life.
Building Crowded
| Walking up the steep approach
to the present Industrial Home the
visitor sees a rather sinister build
ing with ancient efficiency. There
are three dormitories. In No. l are
forty babies; in No. 2, fifty boys
and it is to be noted that boys are
more numerous than girls; No.
contains forty girls. Crowded is nc
name for this. Many of these chill.
dren are being supported by sheer
charity. AS an example it may bt
= pointed out that the very consider
able coal heap has been supplied
by a few charitable citizens. bu
! there is no standardized way of be
ing sure coal will be supplied.
p In the present influenza catastro
ply all praise must be given to Dl
c. E. l.. Keen, physician in charge
the other attending physicians bein
7 Drs. V. II. Eager and John FageI
Jr. The demands were strenuous
Some of the medicine needed cos
S13 an ounce. The Red Cross wa
foremost in helping out. furnishin
Y nurses and supplies. The Harris
burg Hospital was right in tn
swing. and the Visiting Nurses gav
splendid aid Also, should be men
toned many volunteer nurses VIII
helped take care of these homeless
. children But help is sadly needle
u in the kitchen, and in short. the cit
It is not backing up this activity whic
: aims TO make sturdy citizens of I'm
= fortunate children.
{ Only One Death
e In spite of this congestion an
V lack of support on the part of 5000
Harrisburg citizens but one deaf
: has so far been registered. but TIN
d nurse in charge said to-day tina
il there would probably be anothe
death due to parent taking ava
the child against advice. Four wer
e sent to the Harrisburg Hospital
i the great bulk were attended by d
: Keen
: The object of this institution is t
0 take care of child without fathe
t or mother, or both. Harrisburg ha
d not helped either this activity or tn
d Nursery Home: nor helped an lot
= compared with its generosity to fol
: eign nations. The city goVernmer
gives nothing.
Help is scarce, too. at the Nuf
sery Home. Miss Laura BeltZ, hea
nurse, has gone good work. it is sait
Only one case of influenza has occur
red there.
The Rotary Club has shown vas
concern in this situation and til
Industrial Home is now credited TO
purchases at .Bowmans store, sam
to be paid by the club. 1t is rumoi
ed that as soon as war activities de
crease a cooperative effort VIII b
made to combine the two Harris
burg charities and establish them o
a farm near the city.