The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-23


need for colonies. where feeble
minded men and women can be
confined, 80 that they will not prop
1Kate feeble-mindedness to the det-
riment of the race and The nation.
was strikingly brought out in an
interview with Miss Stella Miner.
who with her sister. Maud Miner.
is at the head Of the New York
Probation and Protective associa-,
ton. f
These two women probably know
more about the problem Of the de-
linquent girl than any other wom-
en- in New York. And one OF the
things they know is that girls who
have been examined by psychia-
trists and found to be feeble mind
ed, and who have given proof OF
their feeble-mindedness by BRING
ing two or three illegitimat6 chill
dren into the world. are constantly
turned loose by the courts to breed
more feeble-mipded children. A
Judge will hardly ever turn such a
girl over to the authorities II she
has. q pretty face, they say.
You see, the city hasn't any
place to put young, delinquent
GIRLS" Miss Miner explained. while
their cases are being investigated.
unless it puts them in the Tombs
or in the cells over the Jefferson
Market court. And, as many of the
girls are not immoral. or at the
most are first offenders, it isn't at
all desirable that, they should be
placed in such quarters. together
with seasoned prostitutes. A de-
tention house was authorized and
then forgotten years ago., and 80
until some proper provision is
made-f it ever is-Waverley house
is maintained by our association to
I've get girls from the bureau
Of missing persons Of the police de-
partment, and from 80 different
New York agencies. interested in
the protection of young women
Most OF them are runaways from
home, largely from other cities, but
many Of them are New York girls,
who need help. At Waverley house
they are sorted and classified, in
terrogated and investigated. and
adopted by our association until
our probation officers or q city
magistrate can decide what to do
with them. Waverley is really a
clearing house-a clearing house
for hayward girls"
This unique institution is at the
end of a row of old-fashioned
houses on West Tenth street, in
Greenwich Village. On the second
floor was a large cheerful room
with white-curtained windows. q
piano and victrola, and a long table
about which a dozen girls were
seated, sewing. All Of them were
noticeably young and some of them
were quite pretty. in spite of their
harsh calico uniforms.
Teach Girls to Work.
This is the sewing class" the
matron explained. and led us in to
examine. the garments the girls
were making. And here are some
other things they make" she add
ed, taking out of . cupboard a pile
Of attractive Indian baskets.
The work serves to keep their
minds occupied" she continued
when We were once more in the
hall, and it is of great practical
value. Many of the girls are able
to make their own clothes after
their instruction here. We don't
keep them long enough to give them
important vocational training, but
we do what we can"
"The girls don't stay long. then"
NO." said the matron, some oil
them only a few days. Others
whose cases need much investiga.
ton. or who are waiting to testify
in trials. are sometimes here for 8
month or more"
Across from the sewing class
were the mental clinic and medical
department, in charge OF an expert
psychiatrist and physician, whose
reports are used as a basis of all
rehabilitation work. The mental
examination is considered particu.
larry important. Not all Of the
girls stopping at Waverley house
are examined in the mental clinic
as they leave for their home towns
before an examination, can be given
them. but of 466 girls SO examined
during the last year, 80 per cen,
were mental detectives. Many Of
these. although unmarried, have
had two or three children before