Evening star., 1921-11-24
APPLYING GOLDENRULE TO SAVE
FUTURE OF UNHAPPY MOTHERS
Kindness First STANDARD: at House of Mercy
in Caring for Unfortunate Girls Blame
less Children Fitted for Life.

the necessary qualities. the officials OF
the home fill the gap. No child is per
mitted to miss the personal attention
the petting. the mothering that al
little ones are entitled to and without
which their lives are empty. indeed.
Some Mothers Children.
But there are no signs that the
petting Is carried to an extent threat
enins to spoil" the child. On the
contrary, it is evident that a stric,
though kindly discipline prevails In
good weather the children from one
the playground outside the home. In
bad weather in their playroom, and
always In charge Of one or more
young women trained to allow free
stinct. but to check undesirable inn
pulses The nurses with their rows
Of cribs (the mothers, though permit
ted to go to their children at night
sleep separately. the bathrooms, din
ing rooms and working apartments
are models for neatness.
The mothers are harder task than
the children. Many of them are en-
tirely undisciplined when received al
the home; many are bitter at life and
and hopeless. With them two OBJ
jectives present themselves: First. to
teach and If necessary enforce sell
control: second, to build up hope; Ie
accomplish the former without physi-
cal restraint or appealing tS fear re.
quires control by character of rare
strength; to bring these unfortunates
that hope without which no progress
toward regeneration is possible re-
quires an unusual instinct 'of psy-
chology.
Some Mothers Children.
And these mothers are even children
themselves. Bad? Well, there Is moth
IN ~ ind trof0 if-vOaln0 pirJS learni1a
to cook, to sew. to iauIider. to take car.
Of children as they should be cared for
talking and LAUNCHING quietly over theil
work, flushing prettily at a word OF
praise; in brief. learning with earnest
ness to be capable housekeepers OF
house servants, learning to respect
authority, human and divine, learning
self-restraint and industry, learning
the unforgettable luxury Of persona
cleanliness and the appreciation OF
beautiful surroundings.
The results are shown by the fact that
in the last ten years. since the presen,
home has been occupied, there have
been only three deaths-all infants;
that most Of the young women who have
left have kept in touch with the home
by correspondence: that the majority OF
them are now happily married. others
usefully employed and contented, and
that many of the children have been
adopted into families Of self-respect-
ing and. well-to-do citizens.
r. System Of Human Salvation.
The whole system is one Of human
salvation, working on life's most diff
ficult fotsam. 1t is a fine, practical
charity and is surely worthy of q
helping hand. Contributions of money
and household supplies are always
needed and will be gratefully re-
ceived. The home also offers for sale
aprons. children's clothing, hemmed
tablecloths, and other plain sewing
made by the girls.
This home for the care and train
ing; of unfortunate girls was estab-
lished in 1884 by the Episcopal
diocese in Washington. Its present
director is Bishop Alfred Harding,
president of the board of mine trus-
tees. In more direct contact with the
operation, of the home is a board of
lady managers, whose president is
Mrs. Henry B. Brown. Complete su-
pervision of all house activities is
intrusted to Deaconess Lillian NJ. Yeo.
The Episcopal churches in Washing
ton maintain the home.