Charities for Children in San Francisco [pp. 78-101]

Charities for Chiildren in San Francisco.
The Massachusetts method includes a and when found, if the little applicant is ragged and
very complete method of putting chi dirty, ignorant of all decorum, and profane in speech,
dren out in families, under strict super- he is not readily admitted, and some preparatory
dlren out in famliles, und~er strict super-..'
chare, care and training are necessary to make him eligible
vision of the State board of chari ties to a desirable home.2
The first paper read before the recent
Conference of Charities described the Elsewherein the same address hepoints
experience of Massachusetts with very out that the last census reports over 50, young children by this method, and the ooochildren in orphanages,foundlingasy great decreasein mortality that followed lums, and children's homes, and over
on its adoption. I I,ooo in juvenile reformatories; this ex *The principles of the New York Chil- clusive of the deaf, blind, idiotic, or oth dren's Aid Society (after which, as I erwise defective among the children
have said, that of San Francisco is mod- thrown upon the public care, who
eled) are "defined as the absolute neces- would bring the number far above the
sity of treating each youthful criminal 6I,ooo. These figures, especially taken
or outcast as an individual, and not as in connection with the proportion of
one of a crowd; the immense superiority half-orphans, throw a strong emphasis
of the home or family over any institu- on what Mr. Smiley says of the disposi tion in reformatory and educational in- tion of parents to shift upon charity the
fluence; the prevention of crime and consequences of their parenthood; and
pauperism byputting almshouse children the need of some such law as was intro in separate homes; and most of all, the duced in our Legislature, to do what it
immense advantage of'placing out can toward holding them to their respon neglected and orphan children in farm- sibility. Mr. Letchworth says:
ers' families. The records of the city
police courts show how these principles More stringent laws should be enacted to lessen
work in practice. While in thirty years illegitimacy, especially directed against the crime of
the city's population has increased from unlawful paternity. I say crime, for such in time it
about six hundred and thirty thou sand to will come to be regarded. Next to the awful responabout six hundred and thirty thou sand tow
nearly a million and a half, the number of sibility of taking life is that of bringing it into exist ence; and the responsibility is indeed of so grave a
girls committed for petit larceny has character that public opinion should require that
fallen from over nine hundred to less it is not evaded by either parent, and weighty penalthan two hundred and fifty. In the ties should be inflicted when it is ignored. There is
same time, the commitments of female a humiliating sense of weakness in a society that
Vagrants have decreased from 5778 to holds in honor and equality one who does not rec vagrants hvderaefrm78toognize his own offspring, and leaves to others the
2565., burden of its education, training, and support.
On the other hand, I have read that
the regions to which these children are There is an endless quantity of litersent complain of increase of disorder; ature on this general question of "child
and all experienced writers speak of the and state." The general principles that
reluctance of really suitable families to limit the right or wisdom of state intertake such neglected and often vicious ference, even to help or benefit, in the
children. Mr. Letchworth, president of affairs of the individual, cannot apply
the New York State Board of Charity, in fully in the case of children. The prothe very act of urging that "the family found question, touched on in one of its
is the natural place for the true develop- aspects by Mr. Letchworth, of how far
ment of the child," adds:
But homes aff*rding these opportunities, where 2 Children of tho State. An address read before the
But homes affording these opportunities, where
real safeguards exist, are not always easily found; National Conference of Charities, s886. QuotedinCziU
and State.
1Science, quoted in Child and State, January, x887.
1890. ]
87