Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-03
SOCIETY FOR AID OF
VERMONT CHILDREN
Steps Taken Towards It's Organ.
ization by Some of States
Most Prominent Social and
Philanthropic WOrkers-De-
plorable Conditions Revealed


and the first steps were taken in the
project yesterday afternoon at a meet
ing of some of the States most prom
inent social and philanthropic work
ers held in the roof garden Of the Ho-
| tel Vermont. The sentiment was to
make all haste in the organization on
account of the dire need of 1t at pres
ent and incorporators were chosen who
will elect officers soon as the legal
| steps to incorporate are taken.
The formation of the organization
| received a big impetus from the re-
port of Miss Sybil H. Pcase, who has
been making survey of the situa-
ton as regards to children left in dire
straits on account Of the epidemic, and
her report was one of the most mpor-
tant features of the meeting.
The survey was made at the
the work now passes to the new
by private means and no money
has been raised thus far
| At the meeting yesterday, which in
augurated the society which Is to help
care for Vermont's children. Prof. X.
r. p. Flint of Norwich University pre-
sided. Two of the strong adherents of
the organization were c. w. Wilson,
superintendent Of the Vermont In
dustrial school. and w. Fl. Jeffrey. sec
rotary of the board of charities and
probation. Mr.. Jeffrey was very
heartily In favor of the project. He
spoke of the benefits to he derived from
the cooperation of private organi-
zation with the state board. This
organization would not have the le-
gal limitations or other restrictions in
the work and could do much good with
It's more flexible powers. Others in
u favor were DR.. c. F. Dalton, Thomas
Magner. Charles Tuxbury Of Windsor,
members of the State Board of Chari-
ties and Probation. and Judge e. C.
Mower
The sentiment of those present was
so unanimous in favor of the new So
ciety that. on motion of Judge Mower,
the work of organization was begun.
A committee of 10 was chosen to in
corporate a Vermont Children's Aid
society. The incorporators are A. r.
Clifford. Dr. c. F. Dalton, and Judge f.
c. Mower of Burlington, Charles Tux
bury of Windsor, the Rev. A. w. Hew-
1T of Plainfield. John e. Weeks Of
Middlebury Charles N. Smith of Rut-
land. Prof. X. r. B. Flint of Mortified,
Miss Berenice r. Tuttle of Rutland,
Miss Emily ID. Proctor of Proctor, Mrs.
James Hardness of Springfield and Mrs.
Charles NJ. Cone of Hartford.
p. r. II. Pierson of Bennington, chair
man Of the State board of charities and
probation. urged all haste in getting
things in operation Miss Marian E.
Rowe. field supervisor of the Red Cross
Home Service In Vermont, said she found
two great branches Of social work which
have chance to develop in this State.
They are children's work and public
health nursing. She said the Red Cross
division In New England was heartily in
favor Of the new society In children's
work
Professor Clifford read draft Of a con-
stitution and bylaws and it was voted
to use this as a basis for the organiza-
ton. Judge Mower and Professor Clifford
will take steps at once to file the articles
of incorporation. Later, the election of
officers will take place.
The report of Miss Sybil Fl. Pease,
executive secretary Of the emergency
children's aid committee. was of great
value. Her data. 80 far as completed,
shows the conditions in 1877 of the towns
and cities Of Vermont and all places of
more than 5000 inhabitants The survey
was primarily directed at the results of
the influenza epidemic, but other cases
were heard from as the reports were
made more complete.
The results of the epidemic in other
states have been such as to prove the
need of special effort to meet conditions
here and there was no reason to think
that conditions would be any different in
Vermont The disease was found to he
more complicated as regards dependency
than the war. as It left children mother
less as we'll as fatherless OF course the
in To-
which are In operation all the time such
as desertion. tuberculosis. intemperance
feeble-mindedness. etc.
The additional information since the
! printing Of the committees bulletin
brings the total children about whom re.
: ports were received up to S11 in 32i fam.
lilies. In 120 families with 81 children
other causes than influenza were re-
: ported. There was one group of l6 fam.
lilies with 81 children where tuberculosis
was the chief factor. In one city there
D were nine deserted wives with SO children
receiving aid from the city or private
Y funds In the influenza group there are
40 children and 9O4 families OF these
there are 90 widows with 267 children, A
. widowers with 100 children, and 6
4 orphans.
n The methods used to meet the situation
III
e device. Care by relatives or remainin,
s parent does not by any means Away,
l., prove proper solution. Some of tn,
. most serious conditions reported were n
y | this type. One Of these cases Is wber.
q IA ten-year-old child was staying at HON,
= from school to keep house for three me,
A and three children. Her cousin, aged "a
q who alternated with her I'm this service
r has since died In a hospital with tuber
. culosis.
a In cases where the town was aidin,
!. the nome, there was much evidence O
. the inadequacy of the aid and the neces
N sity OF experimenting 1t from some otbe
q source. In one case donations wer
4 soiicited to meet the large deficit: in an
- otner the case of pregnant woman an,
a mother or three children. 1t was reporte,
mat she was In need of food. althoup,
the town was helping her. There wer
', many cases where the children were lief
u In deplorable shape.
MISS Pease's report demonstrates the i'm
). portance of care in the placing of children
some were given in adoption by thei,
months when the disease swept away thei
revenue. Orphans were In every cas-,
+, put one separated. Children wer,
!. placed by guardians when there was n,
/: interested guardian. Children were tori
\, apart and placed In different institutions
= MISS Pease's report says further: 9Th,
"a placing OF children is such n delicate, Sc
II rious matter and experience has shown q,
~ clearly the dangers which result from