Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-25

or perhaps he is having trouble find
ing a job and cannot support his
family.
'Sammie." a blue eyed, curly haired
youngster with large freckles and an en-
gaging smile. was brought to s. p. G. @.
headquarters today by one of the socie
tvs agents. Not yet four years old,
Sammic was turned out on the street
with no place TO 60 and no one to
claim him. He had been in three po-
lice stations today before he reached
the S. p. G. c. office.
Clad in n neat looking. though much
soilcG. blue linen sailor and black straw
hat, Sammie stood before Mrs. Erskine
and jingled several pennies.
My names Sammy" he lisped.
I'D like to play"
Bless your heart. you may play
Just as soon as you get a nice BATH
hcamed the agent who had brought
him in, 'and all fresh clothes, and a
nice hot meal. Then you'll feel like
romping sure enough"
The engaging smile came into evidence
then and. realizing he was to be ia
vorcd. Sammic proceeded to offer enter
tainmcnt by tipping his hat at rakish
angles and posing, while the agent ex-
| planned
Mother Deserted Child
Il haven't thoroughly investigated
the case" she explained. but it seems
the father just came home TO find his
wife gone. She had left the child. Hus-
Band refused to have anything to do
nm to whore the wife was staying and
Ictt him. She turned him out, and the
enid had no place to GO"
/ 1t was just one Of hundreds of similar
cases. but it. like all the others. was an
individual situation and had to be
treated as such.
NO matter how much alike cases
may Seem,' said Mrs. Erskne. leach
must receive special and individual at
tentlon. Conditions differ always. We
never make an arrest or separate mem
bcrs of family unless we are certain
there is no other alternative. Our doc
trlne is prevention. and we consider the
agents do their best work when they
can settle the problems without legal
ald. Reports of cruelty pour in on
US from all quarters. Many of them
are anonymous, but we answer all calls.
Often the anonymous reports are the
most important.
y world of tact is needed on the
part of the agents. They can't reach
the root of the difficulty unless they
win the friendship of the family and
hear the truth. That isn't always an
easy matter. The agent not only in
veStigates the case. she stays on the
job till the family is again in condi-
ton. Sometimes she finds it would be
best for the family to move and she
helps them find new quarters: or per
haps she prescribes a Wholesale clean
ing up of the place. She is preacher,
teacher, advisor. friend and often
maid of all work in her efforts to solve
the problem and give the children a
decent place to live.
Wherever possible children are kept
with relatives. We have sent children
to Ireland and to Canada so grandpar-
ents or relatives might care for them
in proper homes. Our S. p. G.. C.. in
those countries investigated the homes
there before the children were sent.
We have children of all ages and all
races; families small and large, in vary
ing degrees of poverty and dirtiness.
And it may be surprising that our
agents. coming in contact each day as
they do with the evil and the sorrow
and awfuness of life, are the cheeriest
sort of persons with broad minded OPP
timsm that stands out through all their
prOblcms.'