In 1890 (Sec. 3140-2) in Ohio, a Truant Fathers' Act was passed which sentences a deserting father to imprisonment in the workhouse unless he is willing to pay such sum as the court decides for the support of his family. Mrs. Ana Garland Spencer said, in a recent lecture here, that the officer in Ohio who collects this money received in the year 1896, from nine hundred and thirty-seven fathers, $14,000, to be sent to the families to whom it was due.

However, in Ohio, they feel their law is incomplete, and are attempting to have the crime of desertion raised from a misdemeanor to a

felony, in order that the delinquent father may be followed to other states, as the Hebrew Charities in New York wish to do.

The October, 1899, edition of the "Principles of Decision" of the London Charity Organization Society, gives the following reasons, which seem to show clearly that in their opinion it is not wise to give private or public outdoor relief to women deserted by their husbands:

The wife is frequently in collusion with her husband.

It is most desirable that every effort should be made to punish the

husband.

Many who will not hesitate to allow their family to fall back upon charity or out-relief will scruple to take a step which will oblige them to go into the almshouse.

In England, the Poor Law authorities have the readiest legal means of dealing with deserting husbands.

The London Charity Organi

zation Society are mindful of the fact fact that there are exceptional cases where the ordinary rule would defeat its own object, but believe that exceptions should be carefully made by persons of experience, and specially considered and dealt with as exceptions.

The Rosary Magazine for August has an article on Industries Taught at the New York Catholic Protectory, by Ruth Everett, from which we take the liberty of quoting the two opening paragraphs:

An English sociologist, on a visit to the United States, made an inspection of the poor tenement house disFrom these he went to several institutions tricts of New York city. in which the state, more or less aided by private charity and the unsalaried services of various religious orders, steps in and assumes the care and education of children with no parents or, worse yet, children with bad parents. Having completed his round, our cousin from "across the pond" voiced his conclusions in these words:

"It seems to me that the biggest mistake a tenement-house child can make is in not being born an orphan. It sounds harsh to say this, but just look at it for a moment, will you? On the one hand, the child experiences dirt, drink, hunger, abuse; on the other, perfect cleanliness, enough to eat and kind treatment. They are too poor to be properly clothed for admission to the public schools, and there is an equally small chance for them ever, without assistance, being able to learn a trade at which they could earn an honest living."

GRAND

STREET.

200

MULBERRY

A part of a "disease map" exhibited at the Tenement-House Exhibition, showing the beneficial effects of a park. This is the Mulberry Bend Park, which has replaced one of the worst slums.

There were in all ninety-four maps of this kind-forty-seven in the "poverty" series, and an equal number in the "disease" series. They were so arranged that the same blocks could easily be compared in the two series. It is a striking fact that one house (not shown on the maps reproduced) has

registered as many as one hundred and seventy-five cases in the Registration Bureau of the Charity Organization Society represented on the map by thirty-five black dots. This is of course a tenement house in which there are at least twenty families at one time and the records cover a period of over fifteen years.

Another series of sixteen maps in the Tenement-House Exhibition showed desirable locations for new small parks with many of the particulars regarding population, etc., that especially justified the selection.

PARK

STREET

A FORWARD STEP IN INDIANA.

The Press takes keen pleasure in commending the methods pursued by the State Board of Charities in enforcing that provision of the new poor law looking to a paternal care on the part of the state exercised over homeless orphan children. From time immemorial almost the lot of "the bound boy" has been synonymous with hardship and humiliation, though there have of course been plentiful instances where the milk of human kindness was the food of the fosterchild. Indeed, this has been true in the majority of cases, but the utter helplessness of the foster-child, and the wide opportunities for mistreatment, make the subject one that appeals peculiarly to the best sentiments of humanity.

Under the new law the state board is empowered to employ a child-saving agent, and it is made his duty to visit and look into the conditions surrounding children placed in families all over the state. He is given discretion to readjust matters where conditions are not right. It may be that the environment is bad, that the child is unfitted by nature for its surroundings, that the foster parents are unfitted by temperament or experience to assume such responsibilities, or that one of various other conditions may be present to produce unhappiness or prevent the proper development of the child into a good

man or woman.

All accounts agree that the agent selected for this delicate and important work is a man that understands children thoroughly and sympathetically, and has the tact to carry on his work without friction with people whose management of children requires correction. The law places power for almost unlimited

good in his hands, and it is a pleasure to know that it is being used in the spirit in which the statute was conceived.-Indianapolis Press.

FRAUDULENT SOLICITORS AT WORK.

The officers of the Edgewater Creche, the summer day nursery for feeble and ailing children, are informed that some well-dressed women have been soliciting contributions for the Creche. The Creche employs no canvassers, and all solicitations are fraudulent except those made by the trustees personally. The Creche has been overcrowded

during the summer, often receiving 200 to 400 a day. Consequently its resources have been overtaxed, and it needs further funds. Contributions should be sent direct to the Creche, 1123 Broadway.

Classified Advertisements. Advertisements under this head, two lines or more without display, 5 cents a line.

HE CHARITY ORGANIZATION

THE

SOCIETY

asks for $150 to pay the board in the country of a young married man who is comsumptive, but may be benefited by a change of air. He has promise of work from a former employer as soon as he is able to return. He has been unable to work for a year and his savings are exhausted. There are no relatives to help. HE CHARITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY asks for contributions to pay the rent of an old German couple, who have lived in the same house for twenty-five years. The man had one leg amputated nearly ten years ago. and the woman, now seventytwo years old, has been the breadwinner until her strength gave out, and she can now only earn the food needed. There are no children or relatives.

TH

Any money for these cases sent to the Charity Organization Society, 105 East Twenty-second street, will be duly and publicly acknowledged.

A

А

MIDDLE-AGED NEW YORKER, of good address, courteous, reliable, energetic, and trustworthy, of irreproachable habits, good family, and possessing executive ability above the average, an experienced accountant; for nine years superintendent of a prominent club; for seven years chief clerk of the Sturtevant House under Mr. Leland; for ten years manager of a country gentleman's estate; for one year special war correspondent of a leading New York newspaper; accustomed from boyhood to the management of help, desires similar or any position of trust and responsibility where qualification indorsed by first-class references is essential.

Five years of continuous travel at home and abroad render him particularly desirable as chaperon or manager to tourists or families. A permanent position where his ability can be used to advantage is sought after rather than a large salary.

Address BEACH, 1135 Broadway, Room 524, New York.