Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
Investing in Childhood

into Detroit to establish our citywide
system of parks and Fairgrounds.
Now it is obvious that those children
who are standing around, not taking
part in the games, are unSocial children.
Why are they so? 1t may be due to
some physical defect. 1t may be due
to some condition. in their homes. 1t
may be their parents, fault.
We should like TO find out as much
as possible about it. Something may be
learned. something may be found out
which can be pointed out to parents to
help them 10 keep children out of diff
culties in the future.
One of the first things we have in
mind is the establishment of a research
laboratory and clinic in connection with
the Children's Hospital in Detroit, with
especial application TO the teeth of chill
dren.
Fund for Ex-Service Men,
My attention was called to that line
Of work some time ago, and we got into
1t IN a roundabout way. 1t was like
this -
Some years ago a veteran of the
World War came into see me. He
wanted to- borrow some money to %
into business. He made a deep impress
sion upon me. And laid aside a trust
1und to be used for the purpose of set
ting eX-service men up in small bust
neSSeS.
We tried 1t out for several years. But
we seemed to have no means of de-
termlning mans aptitude for his pro-
posed work. Some of them succeeded
Many Of them failed. SO, finally, we
transferred that fund to a department
iCf fry frNp. H.
we gave absolutely free dental WORK
And there. again, we had some ex-
perlence IN this question of decentrali-
2atlon an Off work for children.
| Inc question arose of setting uu the
oenCaI laboratory under this fund 7
spoke OF. It was opposed to it at first,
l Ieit that 1t meant duplication of re-
Seareh. But IN practice We became
convinced that the individuals worked
peCter with the fresh clinical material
day to day
We are extending the study of chill
orens teeth and observing all sorts of
condItionS Of the mouth and proving
constantly that much trouble of adults
Is due to those improper conditions in
children.
Mother Love Often Handicap.
Yet after the most scientific care and
study have offered their best the help
less child may not benefit to the fullest
measure. Obstacles arise. One is the
tlmldity-n We may call it such-of
some parents. Perhaps 1t is fairer to
cali 1t mother love-" though it is a
mistaken love.
Nearly every mother loves most of
all, her crippled child, her handicapped
chlld. Her fear often seems to grow
IN proportion to her love- 1t is not so
much fear of what may happen to her
child as sort of nameless terror of
his absence, a dread of parting.
II such mothers can only see for
themselves how much a few months
separation accomplisheS for other Wom-
ems children, under the scientific care
OF modern institutions, they will gladly
suffer the pain of parting, even the
dread OF an operation in the true
mother way, for the best interests Of
their own little ones.
To give them such an opportunity to
learn. for themselves it will be neces-
sary to spread the knowledge of this
kind as widely as possible throughout
the community.
Hundreds Can Be Cured.
With the dissemination Of such
knowledge, hundreds of cases can be
/ completely cured by being taken at
once, and hundreds of others can be
so greatly alleviated as to seem to the
unhappy parent almost cure.
BY working through existing agencies,
by increasing their efficiency adding to
their resources and broadening their
scope. much of this dissemination can
be attained.
While the foundation we have estab-
lished is called the Children'S Fund Of
Michigan, that does not mean that its
functions are to be entirely limited by
State lines. The trust instrument itself
reads:
For the health. welfare, happiness
and development of the children Of the
State OF Michigan primarily"
Provision is made that the entire
sum be spent and the trust be closed in
25 years. This is arranged with a view
to making sure that 1t does not as so
many beneflces have in the past. out
! live the conditions which made its es-
adjustment advisable.
The May day proclamation Of the
President has given point to the oppor-
| tuntty, then, to announce a project
which has been growing and develop
! ing for many years. 1t is out Of our
| own personal observation that we have
| come to believe that all the future
| progress Of humanity marches, as the
| President has said, Upon the feet of
! little children"