The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-04
Many Big Men
Began Life AS
Street Waits

America as land Of opportunity
even for street waits, orphans and
foundlings was recalled by the re-
cent death in Sitka, Alaska, Of John
G. Brady, former governor Of that
territory, and the fact that when a
child young Brady had been taken
from an almshouse and placed In the
custody of the Children's Aid Society
of New York, which educated him
and placed him on the road to fame
and fortune.
Hundreds of others 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
off 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
former waits, but the report Of the
Childrens Aid Society for 1918 shows
the following harvest Of careers up
to date:
One governor of a state, one gov
ernor of aterritory John G. Brady, of
Alaska,) two members of Congress,
two district attorneys, two sheriffs,
two mayors, a justice Of the supreme
court; a federal judge, four state
judges, two college professors, seven
high school principals, two school su.
perintendents, an auditor general Of
a state, nine members of state legis.
latures, "a clergymen, on cashier of a
life insurance company, two artists,
p senate clerk, six railroad officials,
eighteen journalists, "a bankers, 10
IS lawyers, IL postmas-
ters, contractors, 81 teachers, 4 civil
engineers land a vast number Of
other business and professional men,
clerks, mechanics, farmers and their
wives and others who have acquired
and filled positions Of honor
and trust"
Among the American forces sent
overseas, 1t is pointed out in the re.
ported, are twelve commissioned off,
GERS and about 1000 soldiers and sail.
Drs who were once wards Of the Chill.
iren's Aid society. All were rescued
from the streets or from asylums and
institutions.
The society, since it's foundation
On January 9, 1856, has placed 32,OS1
orphans and deserted Achildren in
good homes in the country where
many OF them were later adopted, In
SLATE older boys and girls
have been sent to farms in the West
where they have been put on their
'eet and, becoming owners of ranch.
ss, have shown their appreciation in
alter years by taking orphans into
heir homes.
1t has been estimated that the cost
II salvaging a child from the streets.
to the plan Of the society,
s 800 which not only defrays the
'ost of placing the youngster in a
comfortable country home but pro.
'ides for supervision as long as nee.
'ssary. The society keeps in touch
With the boys or girls thus sent out
md has on file thousands of gratefu,
etters written by them after thew
lave grown to manhood and woman.
lood.
An instance Of this gratitude was
'forded in the report for 1918 of Ed.
vim G. Merrill, treasurer Of the socie-
y who acknowledged bequest Of
5000 from the estate Of DR.. Michael
!. Jordan, physician and educator
u Logansport, Ind. DR.. Jordan many
ears ago was a friendless orphan in
'ew York city and was befriended nv
ne Children's Aid Society. MANY
iilar legacies from former wards
ave been left to the organization In
he past.