Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-02
Children's Aid Society
Helped Famous Ones

New j OFk. lee. ol.-<AItlcllCd Il
land of opportunity even for street
waits, orphans and foundlings was
recalled by the recent death in Sitka.
Alaska. Of John C. Brady. former
governor of that territory, and the
fact that when q child young Brady
had been taken from an aimshouse
and placed in the custody of the Chill
drens Aid Society of New York which
educated him and placed him on the
road to fame and fortune.
Hundreds Of other cases similar to
ex- Governor Brady's it is said could
be cited by the organization which for
more than half a century has been
taking homeless boys and girls of
city streets and sending them to
farms in the West where they grew
up to be self-reliant. trustworthy and
honored citizens. A certain delicacy
surrounds the publication of the
names of the more noted OF these for
| mer waits, but the report of the Chi
dren's Aid Society for 1913 shows the
following harvest of careers" up to
date:
One governor Of a state, one gov
III llOI VI lCl NJollll bI dOJ
Of Alaska): two members OF Con-
yress. two district attorneys, two
shcriffs, two mayors. L justice Of the
supreme court, a federal judge. four
state judges, two college professors,
seven high school principals. two
school superintendent, an auditor
general OF state, nine members Of
state legislature, "A clerg.'nlcn. one
cashier of a life insurance company,
two artists. Senate clerk. six rail-
road officials. eighteen journalists, 81
bankers. 10 physicians, IS lawyers. IL
postmasters. 3 contractors. 81 teach
ers. civil engineers and vast
number of other business and pro-
fessional men, clerks. mechanics,
farmers and their wives and others
who have acquired property and filled
positions of honor and trust
Among the American forces sent
overseas. it is pointed out in the re-
port, are twelve commissioned Of
ficers and about 1000 soldiers and
sailors who were once wards of the
rhildren's Aid Society. All were
/ rescued from the streets or from
asylums and corrective institutions.
The society. since its foundation in
January 8, 1855. has placed 32.O31
orphans and deserted children in good
homes in the country whcrc many OF
| them were later adopted. Jr addition
SLATE older boys and girls have been
sent to farms in the West where they
have been put on their feet and. be-
coming owners Of ranchers, have
shown their appreciation in later
years by taking orphans into their
homes.
1t has been estimated that the cost
of salvaging a child from the streets,
according to the plan of the Society,
is $50 which not only defrays the
cost of placing the youngster in a
comfortable country home but pro-
vides for supervision so long as it is
necessary. The society keeps in
touch with the boys or girls thus sent
out and has on file thousands Of
grateful letters written by them
after they have grown to manhood
and womanhood.
An instance of this gratitude was
afforded in the report for 1918 of Ed
win G. Merrill. treasurer CT the So
ciety. who acknowledged q Request of
$4,000 from the estate of DR.. Michael
A. Jordan. physician and educator
Of Logansport. Indiana. DR.. Jordan
many years ago was a friendless
orphan in New York City and was
befriended by the Children's Aid So
ciety. Many similar legacies from
former wards have been left to the
organization in the past.