Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-27
FOUNDING GIVEN
HOME ON HOLIDAY
Institution Child Adopted on
Thanksgiving-65 Babies
Await Parents.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

Thanksgiving day, 1881, was a men,
orable one for two-year-old Billy, for
Billy received a mother and daddy and
real home, just like other little boys
and girls have.
Billy has spent all but a couple of
weeks of his not very long life, at the
Washington Home for Foundlings,
Brandywine and Forty-fourth streets.
where he was placed by mother who
didn't want him, shortly after he was
born. He is a sturdy, red-cheeked
little boy, and he is assured of love
and kindness from his new parents,
who, the superintendent of the home,
Miss Elizabeth Thomas, says have been
so anxious for the baby boy to come to
them that they have kept the telephone
wires busy daily asking when the for
malities would be concluded so that
they could call for Billy.
Billy bade farewell yesterday to q
little black-eyed girl, Ruth, who hopes
that before another year has passed
she also will find some one who wants q
little daughter as much as she would
like to have a mother and dad.
Two fat little boys, also years old,
and to remind him how lucky he Is.
For neither Tommy or Bobby have
been called for" despite the fact that
one of them has had recent frequent
visitors, who have had considerable
conversation with Miss Thomas on the
subject of taking the little boy home.
All the children at the home had a
jelly holiday, with a Choking dinner"
A month ago the little ones at the
Washington Home were treated to
their first real chicken dinner with all
the "hxin'S."
TWO groups of children, ranging In
fxNv IN
served their holiday feast in two din
ming rooms.
After the dinner 20 Of the older chill
dren, from 2 to years old, were the
guests Of the KallipoLS Grotto at
specially arranged entertainment in the
ball room Of the Raleigh Hotel.
The Washington Home for Found
lings, like innumerable institutions
throughout the country, has felt the
pinch Of depression by the record
number Of applications made to place
little ones in the home.
I'VE already have four more children
than we are prepared to accommodate,
explained Miss Thomas, the kindly
superintendent, who is mother to each
of the 81 children placed under her
charge.
Since the depression, 1t seems in
creasingly difficult for working mothers
to care for their little Ones" she said.
With the approaching Christmas sea-
son, however, Miss Thomas expects that
several of the babies at the home will
find mothers and fathers to take the
place Of those who either did not want
them or could not care for them.
I'VE always have requests for children
around ChriStmaStime, she explained.
"It seems that the Christmas spirit is
frequently. demonstrated in the desire
for little ones by childleSs couples. How
ever, the trouble is; the adoption Is
usually deferred until the last minute,
which makes it difficult to place the
children in their new homes by Christ
mas day, as certain legal formalities
and investigations must take place be-
fore we can permit the children to leave
the institution. Our babies are all fine,
healthy, little ones and we must be as
Sured that their new parents can take
care of them and provide them with
proper homes"