Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-14

HEEH ~ ~ IN z NSE u fSS
GIRLS AT CROSSROADS
HELP AT TURNING
The riddle of evil at the cross
roads! When? Where did these
forlorn little unfortunates, who come
to the Salvation Army for refuge,
first take the wrong turning?
There's no mystery about the be-
ginning of some of their woeful stor
les: A bad home, or weak and
thoughtless parents, a wi1ful child
hood, a coarsening and hardening of
mind and heart, the lure of pleasure,
temptation, wavering-disaster!
But these others, often as sweet and
fine as your own sisters and daugh-
tiers! What was it? Love that
seemed honest, the wrong place or the
wrong friends, the call of an innocent
escapade of a summers night,
swimming of the head, a yielding
perhaps a brutal outrage; and then,
the lonely, helpless battle of months
with fear and terror! The tragedy
of the young girl who is an unmarried
mother!
1870 of Them From the Country
The vice of the cities does not ac-
count for their numbers; for a full
seventy-five per cent. of them come
from rural communities. They come
from almost every condition of life,
and find no bar of creed or color at
the Army's Rescue Homes. There are
waits in rags and the daughters of
i f.,T
them are little girls of sixteen and
seventeen. And there in the Rescue
Home that receives the girls from
Maine-the Salvation Army has thir-
ty-one such homes scattered through
out the United States-the motherly
women who care for them see them
nursing their babies, dressing them,
loving them just as they did with their
own dolls, so short time before.
Child mothers! And fifty-four per
cent. of them so poor that they are
unable to make any contribution
whatever to the cost of their care.
1t is about dusk that many of them
come, timidly, hesitatingly to the
door begging for help in their misfor-
tune. Some in their desperate plight
are hard. resentful, challenging. But
most, with heart breaking sobs, tell
their sorrowful story of error, re-
morse and suffering urging the
pathetic plea of childhood: Il didn't
know"
Finding the Refuge
Why have they come, often from
such distances, to the Rescue Home?
Their home town may have been too
small a place to hide their shame, and
in agony they have sought a way of
escape. Then, one evening, perhaps
they passed an open air meeting of
the Army and heard another girl
singing, to the soft throbbing of a big
drum, the promise of the hymn 81
Have a Savior" or 70 Love that will
not let me CO." Then, soon. this
refuge was discovered. They may
have written to the Matron. Or they
may have come furtively, telling no
one. But all know that here their
sad secret will be jealousy guarded.
Their names and the facts of their
trouble are given in no reports; no
one knows about them but the officer
to whom they first 60 and the Mat
ron. They know that here they will
find understanding, love and the
greatest care. Best of all that here
in some way. they will find the
precious chance ito come back"
ITO come back" Stronger and bet
ter able TO face the problems of new
crossroads! But those problems be-
gin at once. The little eXpectant
mother often has the fixed idea of
having the baby adopted and getting
ii out of her sight as soon as she can.
She may have bitter aversion for it.
1t is only sometimes that marriage
can right the wrong. for the father is
often utterly unworthy, and surpris-
ingly often a difference of religion
prevents it.
The Right Turn at the Gross Roads
But these wise and experienced
women of the Army are no advocates
of having nameless babies adopted by
strangers. They believe that the
mother and the child belong to each
othar. and that to separate them
causes a physical and moral damage
to both. But it may take long pa
thence to impress upon the young
mother her new responsibility of car
ing for her own. This first problem
is often solved when she consents to
nurse the baby. Then. usually. the
natural mother love soon asserts it
SELF and enduring responsibility for
the new life is accepted. And, then.
planning the future, it takes ingenu-
ity and long patience to find the So
luton for each case, for each is diff
ferent.
The weeks that follow baby's arriv-
al are often the most critical of the
girls whole life. The Rescue Home
does not allow her to leave until there
is assurance that she is fully able to
care for herself and her child. For
many the first step is to find posi-
tions for them, so that they may
work during the day, while the bab-.
les are cared for at the Home. Help,
when needed, in one way or another
is always found. and it is continued
just as long as it is needed.
OF course it takes time! These
poor little unfortunates often come
weeks, sometimes months, Before the
expected arrival of the baby. And
often they remain for many weeks
afterwards. In the sewing room
they make the little garments for their
babies, as well as the hospital sup
plies-dressings and bandages. that
are needed in large supply. And they
help with the work of the Home as
far as they are, able, in the hundred
and one tasks necessary to keep so
large an institution in proper running
order. For the Home must always
be managed with the strictest econ
omy.
$50 Successfully Started Again
It's amazingly successful work!
SO successful in getting the girls to
accept definite wise plans for their
future, with a new vision of right
and of duty, that u full eighty-five
per cent of them are established in
life that is normal, making them
self-respecting, self-supporting men,
bers of human society. They have
the new start and the right start
coming back"
Girls at the cross roads! The