Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-20
MANY CHILDREN LEFT |
ORPHANS BY EPIDEMIC
6urvey of a Part of the State,
as Reported by Miss Sybil
Pease, Executive Secretary,
Reveals Some DepIorable Con-
ditfOns in Vermont

snnne idea Of the hardshIps which the
kecant ephaemic Of Influenza left behind
h in Vermont was gained Tuesday at
the meeting Of the Vermont emergency
chtffren's aid committee, when Miss
Syen II. Pease, executive secretary made
her report of a survey Of a part of the
Etate> The conditions in some cases
Ncre found to be deplorable. In one
kr~up in Barre q widows were found to
be getting along as best they could with
n children. Large number of chill
6ren. both motherfess and fatherless.
h-vre found. with many others in unfor-
tunate circums tances.
Miss Pease's survey does not give all
pf the details as many Of those applied
10 did not take the trouble to look up
She matter very thoroughly. Conditions
Are known to be worse than reported.
but even the known facts are alarm
ang.
The committee has started things
Along and viii do it's utmost to have
eome provision made for the little ones
who have been left helpless by the
disease. A mothers pension is one of
the greatest things advocated and an
other thing is the Inauguration OF a
system whereby third person can for
d period keep some tabs on people who
edors children and look after the little
ones welfare. Few people in Vermont
fs,aiizc the terrible side of such an cpl
demic, but the cold facts unearthed by
this charitable organization, which is
only one Of the many branches Of the
Red Cross, tell at least part OF the
story. and that automatically.
Tho information which was obtained
by Miss Fease was gained from the
health oficers and Red Cross branches
IN different places and a pretty generous
response was made to the questionnaires.
Only So places have not answered and
they represent population of but
1e,3D.
The number Of widowers who were re-
ported and who were not in a position
20 give their children proper care.
although they could furnish the means
In every case. was found to be 20 and
they had IS children. Nine we're being
Jared for by institutions, % by relatives
Ind q were at home with their fathers.
OF the number being cared for by rela-
tives II were known to be improperly
treeted.
FYfty-nine dependent widows were
found and they were doing the best they
could for 162 children. OF course in this
instance 1t was more a case of obtain
ing the wherewithal to support the chill
dren than it was in giving them care.
They we're living as best they could with
aid from individuals and institutions.
Nineteen of these children we're under
two years of age. 1t Is here that
mothers pension would be needed and
could perhaps keep the family together
instead of the inevitable separation
hinder the present scheme.
Another group was found not wholly
dependent, but in such shape that the
slightest adversely would make it So.
There were 16 such families. with Al chill
Aren. In most cases savings had been
Accumulated to the amount Of few
hundred dollars which were being ex-
pended as slowly as possible. Sometimes
It was the possession of house or an
Insurance policy.
Perhaps the saddest cases are those of
The orphans, for the influenza epidemic
left 81 children without father or mother.
There also were six more children whose
Fathers deserted their wives before the
sickness came on and the remaining
parent died. AS the fathers in the latter
bases are in parts unknown the chill
hren are in as bad shape. Twenty five
Of these children are now temporarily
with relatives, 10 with private families,
three have been adopted. one is in an
institution and nine remain in their own
Families. where older brothers and sisters
ere doing the best they can for them.
c. w. Wilson. chairman of the COM
Nnittee, presided at the meeting and
those present included the Misses Ber-
oice futile and Sybil Pease Judge e. c.
Mower, G. G. Groat and A. r. Clifford
As a result of the meeting two resolu-
lions were adopted. Miss Pease was
authorized to seek to secure relief fol
khe more serious cases discovered and
The Vermont conference of social work
was requested to call a special meeting
10 secure the organization Of some per.
fnarent children's aid. This meeting will
be held April 2. probably in this city.