The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-05-19
GIRLS ARE SPARED
STIGMA OF PRISON
N. Y. Protective Body Success
full in Redeeming Many
Before Too Late.
2,6O4 CARED FOR IN YEAR
Urgent Appeal Issued for
Funds to Remodel the Wav-
erley House.

The New York Probation and Pro-
teotive Association cared for 2'6O4
young girls last year. according to the
annual report OF Miss Maude u. Miner
It's secretary. made public yesterday
Most OF the delinquent young women,
who were In danger OF moral wreckaRe,
were less than nineteen years old and
the parents OF two-thirds OF them were
born In foreign countries. About n
third OF the girls themselves were Tor
eign born--largely natives OF Russia
Austro-Hungary or Italy
"A significant fact about these girls.
says Miss Miner, "ls that most OF them
have been discovered before their de-
linquent tendencies or their dangerous
environment have brought them to the
point requiring court action. There is
greater chance to help them because the
stigma OF court and prison does not
rest upon them"
Missing and runaway girls demand q
large share OF the associations atten-
tlon.
Back of their sadden disappearance
from home" Miss Miner says. Tie hid
den the Misunderstanding, the quarrels,
the disappontments the unfulflled am
bitions, the warnings and the tragedies
in their young lives"
One sixteen-year-old Italian girl who
had run away from home asked Miss
Miner with bitter resentment; "Why
should my mother beat me with strap
just because | do not stay in the house
every evening and embroider like they
say young girls do in Italy? Why
should my brother beat me IL / do not
come in early and call me bad nartoG
and say I'm bad woman? W.
should my mother hit my sister and
make her marry man she does no,
love?"
GlrIa' Stories True.
when you have proved that every
one OF these statements is true. you are
convinced that the girl was justified in
running away" goes on Miss Miner.
And then you suddenly realize the
meaning OF that great gap between for
eign parents with European traditions,
manners and customs and their Ameri-
can born children, who are determined
to have the freedom and the rights OF
other American girls who work beside
them in the factory"
Girls who require n longer period of
training than is possible at Waverley
House. which Is maintained by the as
sociation in the city, are sent to the
800 acre Hillcrest Farm in Connecticut
Tor from six to eight months Here
they go TO the pasture for the cows,
Feed the pigs and chickens, work In the
dairy. plant and weed the garden and
gather vegetables pick fruit, husk corn,
pitch hay and thresh wheat. They take
immense pride in keeping the farm
mouse clean and neat and learn to do
all kinds of housework. Old thoughts
and habits gradually slip away and new
ideals and interests are developed.
In each OF six districts in the city
the Girls Protective League has
worker whose duty 1t is TO help difficult
and runaway girls. A worker visits the
girl IN her home and helps to adjust
difiiculties there. The girl in need OF
medical care is taken to a hospital or
clinic and the girl who is out OF work
Is referred to the leagues employment
exchange. As many girls as possible
are linked with neighborhood clubs and
recreational activities.
Prosecution of Men.
or the sixty-seven court cases in
vesHgated by the association last wear
nfty-seven convictions were obtained
and six cases are still pending. Miss
Miner says that the prosecution of men
involved In the exploitation Of Young
girls is an important means Of pro.
tectlng others. The leagues protective
officers discover girls in moral danger
In or near amusement places. in dark
corners OF parks and vacant lots. In
subway stations and in tenement house
Railways. Last year 2,0S3 such girls
were dealt with.
An urgent appeal for funds Is con-
tanned in Miss Miners report. A fund
of $500 is needed for the remodelling
of Waverley House to meet increasing
needs. A gift of $4,000 has been
promised on condition the remainder is
raised. To keep Hillcrest Farm open the
entire year $4,000 is needed and s75 700
more is wanted for clubhouse for the
Girls Service League. Additional gifts
TO the s50.000 endowment fund recently
established by Mrs. Georgiana Wright
also are sought.
George w. Alger Is president of the
SALES AT AUCTION,