Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-23
Waverlcy House
Ry rrederic J. Hasl<in.

New York. Feb. 23.-The need TOT
colonies, where feeble minded men ana
women can be confined, SO that they
will not propagate fceble-mindedness 10
tho dctrimcnt of the race ana the ma
ton, 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 Association.
These two women probably know
more about the problem Of tho delin-
uucnt eirl than any other women in
New York And one Of the things they
know is that girls who have been ex-
amined by psychiatrists and found to
he fecbIe-n,iuded. and who have given
proof Of their feeble-mindedness by
bringing two or three illegitimatc chill
drrn into the world. are constantly
turned yoose by the courts TO breed more
feeble minded children. y judge viii
hardly ever turn such girl over to
the authorities If she has a pretty face.
they SAY
You sec the city hasn't any place to
put young. delinquent girls. Miss
Miner explained. while their cases are
being Investigated. unless it puts them
ia the Tombs or in the cells the
Jefferson Market Court And. rs many
II the girls are not immoral. or at the
most are first Offenders. il isn't ut all
desirable that they should he placed in
Such quarters together with seasoned
prostitutes. \ detention house was
authorized and then forgotten years
ago, and SO until some proper provi-
son is nade-if il ever is WaVerley
House is maintained by our association
4" fiji the gap
got ,riy
Missing Persons Of the Police Depart
tn,ut. and from 90 different New York
accucics. Interested in the protection
of Young women Most Of them are
runavays from home. largely from
other cities but many Of them are New
York girls who need help. II Wavcrly
lIuas, they are sorted and classified.
iuterrogated and investigated. and
adopted by our association until our
probation officers or a city magistrate.
can d,.idc what 70 DO With them.
W4vevly is really clearing house-a
c..ariue house for waywnrd girls
Thus unique institution IS 1t the end
oi row Of old-fashioned houses on
West Tenth street, III Greenwich Vii
lsC, ON the second floor was a large
cheerful room. with white curtaincd
windows a piano and Nictrola. and a
Ions table. about which dozen girls
were seated sewing All Of them were
roticyably young and some of thcm were
quite pretty. in spite of their harsh
cameo uniforms.
Teach Girls to Work.
This is the sewing class the ma
t..u explained. and led us in to exam
lr., the garments the girls were making
Nnl here are some other things they
f.lke.' she added taking out uf 4 cum
laark pile Of attractive Indian bas-
l>ets.
The work serves 10 keep their minds
occupied. she continued when we were
once more in the hall, and il is of
great practical value. Many of the
girls are able 10 make their own clothes
after their instruction here. We don't
keep them long enough 10 give them
important vocational training but we
do what we can"
The girls don't stay Ions them
No" said the matron some Of them
only a few days. Others. whose cases
need much investigation or who are
waiting 10 testify in trials. are some
times here for a month or more"
Across from the sewing class were
the mental clinic and medical depart
nlent. in charge OF an expert psychia-
trist and physician. whose reports are