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23 chapters
THAT LAST WAIF OR SOCIAL QUARANTINE
THAT LAST WAIF OR SOCIAL QUARANTINE
A BRIEF BY HORACE FLETCHER Advocate for the Waifs Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 1909 Matthew , xviii; 1, 2 and 14 1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. 14. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish? Copyright, 1898 By HOR
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FOREWORD
FOREWORD
"Waif," as herein employed, applies to all neglected or abused children, and not especially to those who have lost their parents, or have been abandoned. While the evidence of the kindergartners may seem extreme as to the possibility of making useful citizens of all children, the unanimity of their enthusiasm must be taken as very strong evidence. The plea for a social quarantine which shall establish protection for helpless infancy during the period of present neglect, and when the cost is insi
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1903 PREFACE
1903 PREFACE
When first published, five years ago, this appeal for better care of children born into unfortunate environment met with very favorable reception, especially from practical child educators and child economists; and the author received numerous requests to address gatherings of altruists in various parts of the country. He responded to some forty of these invitations, and met with warmest encouragement and the assurance that the sentiment of this book was shared pretty generally, when the facts i
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Explanation of The A.B.C. Life Series THE ESSENTIALS AND SEQUENCE IN LIFE
Explanation of The A.B.C. Life Series THE ESSENTIALS AND SEQUENCE IN LIFE
It would seem a considerable departure from the study of menticulture as advised in the author's book, "Menticulture," to jump at once to an investigation of the physiology and psychology of nutrition of the body and then over to the department of infant and child care and education as pursued in the crèche and in the kindergarten; but as a matter of fact, if study of the causation of human disabilities and misfortunes is attempted at all, the quest leads naturally into all the departments of hu
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PREFACE "And a little child shall lead them."
PREFACE "And a little child shall lead them."
The text of this appeal was furnished by the accidental observation of a waif of not more than four years of age, who was gathered into the meshes of the law, and then pushed back into a stifling atmosphere of criminal neglect under ban of the official sentence, "Now get! you little bastard, and to hell with you!" This waif disappeared into the slums without leaving any clue to his identity, and without any certainty of rescue, except by means of a quickened public conscience that shall organize
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THE LOST WAIF
THE LOST WAIF
It was our first night in an American city after the breaking out of war between Spain and the United States. The States had undertaken the war for the purpose of freeing Cubans from cruelties perpetrated by Spanish officials, and it was currently reported that the government was spending more than a million of dollars daily to accomplish the rescue. There was no doubt in the minds of the American people of the justice of the American cause and no one regretted the cost. Seven hundred and fifty
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THE MENACE OF THE HAVE-TO-BE
THE MENACE OF THE HAVE-TO-BE
What are the Have-To-Be? In England and America they are the neglected or unfortunate members of communities who have been condemned by evil chance to be classified in the social category as "The hopelessly submerged ten per cent. stratum of society," mentioned elsewhere in this appeal, and, of late, frequently referred to under that cruel classification in order to ease the conscience of society as to their presence in its midst. We are not sure of the origin of the phrase, but have been told t
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SOCIAL QUARANTINE FIRST
SOCIAL QUARANTINE FIRST
Man is social first and individual afterward. That is, without a social system man cannot exist. Without social advantages and economical division of labor a human being ceases to be a man and becomes a very helpless animal. It is only in the midst of social aid and protection and by the help of intelligent coöperation that man may develop an individuality having civilized attributes. Social Quarantine is of first importance because a strict recognition of it applied to children during the habit
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QUARANTINE
QUARANTINE
Perfect protection rests only behind a strict quarantine. It is not sufficient to bar the seaports of a country against infectious physical diseases. The greatest need of quarantine is against germs of disorder that originate within the gates. Quarantine can never be partial, for, unless complete, it ceases to be quarantine. Quarantine means, in brief, exclusion—keeping without the gates. There are gates, however, other than seaports, and germs of pestilential contagious disorders other than the
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QUARANTINE AGAINST UNCIVILIZED INCONSISTENCY BY TURNING THE SEARCH-LIGHTS INWARD
QUARANTINE AGAINST UNCIVILIZED INCONSISTENCY BY TURNING THE SEARCH-LIGHTS INWARD
There is a Chinese belief that stagnant water carries the bodies of whatever may be drowned in it in continual suspense, never floating them upon the surface, neither allowing them to sink to the bottom. These putrid pools are never drained and the water is never disturbed, simply through fear of the ghastly consequences. It is believed also that the enveloping putridity prevents natural decomposition, and for a human being to be drawn to this death by any means is evidence of some horrible secr
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QUARANTINE AGAINST IDLENESS BY CHOICE OF AN OCCUPATION
QUARANTINE AGAINST IDLENESS BY CHOICE OF AN OCCUPATION
One of the important things to accomplish in the forming of character in children is to find out what useful occupation is, to each of them, recreation instead of dull work. No individual of normal mental capacity is born without some useful equipment if opportunity be offered for its discovery and development. It is this which separates man from the rest of creation so distinctly that it seems almost to endow him with god-like attributes. As children are tireless and persistent in play, even so
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QUARANTINE AGAINST MISUNDERSTANDING CHARACTER-BUILDING AND HABIT-FORMING SCHOOLS
QUARANTINE AGAINST MISUNDERSTANDING CHARACTER-BUILDING AND HABIT-FORMING SCHOOLS
The selection of a name is very important, especially to an organization or institution that aims to exert a wide influence among classes of citizens who are absorbed with the affairs of every-day life to the exclusion of new ideas. A name should, as far as possible, indicate its object without further explanation. The names, "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," and "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children," accomplish their aim by means of rather cumbrous titles but the
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QUARANTINE AGAINST MALADMINISTRATION; OR, PLACE FOR A MOTHER DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT
QUARANTINE AGAINST MALADMINISTRATION; OR, PLACE FOR A MOTHER DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT
There was a time when woman had no voice in government, when she could not hold property in her name, and when she was regarded as very much the intellectual inferior of man. Within a century there has been a growing tendency to admit women to all the civic privileges enjoyed by men, even to vote in political contests. In some advanced communities women now vote for officers of the school department and serve with distinction in school boards. Women now enjoy complete equality in four, and parti
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SUGGESTIONS FOR LOCAL QUARANTINE ORGANIZATIONS
SUGGESTIONS FOR LOCAL QUARANTINE ORGANIZATIONS
During the preparation of this appeal for organized effort to establish Perfect Social Quarantine, the writer has enjoyed the advice and example of numerous workers in the field of child-saving and child-training, both in Chicago, where the incident which led to the appeal occurred, and in other sections of the country, representing various and extreme conditions of opportunity, need and experiment. Among them we wish especially to mention Mr. Hastings H. Hart, general secretary, National Confer
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SARAH B. COOPER THE KINDERGARTEN IN ITS BEARINGS UPON CRIME, PAUPERISM, AND INSANITY By Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, of San Francisco.
SARAH B. COOPER THE KINDERGARTEN IN ITS BEARINGS UPON CRIME, PAUPERISM, AND INSANITY By Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, of San Francisco.
My theme is one in which bright-eyed Hope must clasp the hand of blind Despair, and lead the way to better things. I am to talk about what can be done for little waifs after they are born. By what process of education and development are they to be made valuable members of society? The doctrine that the hereditary defectiveness of the masses can be corrected by education and hereditary culture is the true doctrine. Any system of education that does not contemplate these results does not deserve
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CORROBORATIVE TESTIMONY
CORROBORATIVE TESTIMONY
OHIO STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES. Mansfield, Ohio , August 17, 1898. Mr. Horace Fletcher , Chicago, Ill. My Dear Sir : Yours of the 15th inst. received; also proof sheets of your forthcoming publication, which I have read with great pleasure. I heartily agree with you in the opinion that the children must first be cared for if we are to make any great progress in reducing crime. In nearly all that I have written or spoken during the past twenty years upon this subject I have taken this position. Fi
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AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
Of the recorded utterances of Christ about children the most direct prophecy is the caption of this chapter. It is no disrespect to the holy mission of Christ in the world to say that He was the first Great Kindergartner. It is in the love and solicitude for children that the view of Christ differs greatly from all the great teachers whom the world reverence or worship. The utterances of Christ are few, but the Golden Rule and references to children stand out clearly as among the important theme
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SUMMARY
SUMMARY
The author believes that character-building and habit-forming institutions should be appreciated and supported as fundamental bases of government , in that they are nurseries of good citizenship , and not simply as minor branches of education, as at present classified, and that no intelligent effort should be spared to make them available to the Last Waif in a community as well as to the most favored. Character-building and habit-forming institutions, as here meant, include the crèche, the kinde
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LOGICAL SEQUENCES
LOGICAL SEQUENCES
It is universally recognized to be the inherent right of all groups of men, beginning with the family, and holding its inviolable sacredness in the municipality, in the State and in the nation, to protect themselves against immorality, disease and disorder; but it is only when purity and harmony exist within the gates that the gates are effectively closed to that which is bred without. There is little use to establish national or State seaport quarantine, either sanitary or social, if what is qu
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IT HAS BEGUN
IT HAS BEGUN
Since the foregoing pages were electrotyped two incidents of the utmost importance and of the greatest significance are reported. That relative to disarmament at the suggestion of the Tzar of All the Russias is startling and most gratifying, but it is of no greater significance to the progress of civilization than the revival of interest in first principles in elementary education in the United States. There is activity in many directions and several cities have quietly made important additions
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DEDICATION
DEDICATION
Auditorium Annex , Chicago, August 16, 1898. Miss Amalie Hofer , Manager Kindergarten Literature Company, Woman's Temple, Chicago, Ill.: Dear Miss Hofer :—In searching for the best means of distributing my new book—"That Last Waif; or, Social Quarantine"—my attention was called to the decree on the cover of your magazine—"Pledged to Make the Kindergarten Free to All Children." Further inquiry reveals the fact that your stockholders are deeply interested in kindergarten-propagation work; that you
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INDIVIDUAL CO-OPERATION OR What Constitutes an Active Quarantinist
INDIVIDUAL CO-OPERATION OR What Constitutes an Active Quarantinist
Advance copies of That Last Waif; or, Social Quarantine , were sent to a large number of persons in different walks of life asking for suggestions relative to practical individual co-operation in promoting a social quarantine worthy of Twentieth Century Ideals, to be in active operation (started), with the complete aim, at the opening of the coming century, January 1st, 1900. The time has been too short since the mailing of the advance copies to remote points to give the entire consensus of opin
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Later, February 1st, 1899
Later, February 1st, 1899
"FIRED THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD" Leading citizens and officials in four cities have pledged their cities to accomplish Social Quarantine. The General Federation of Women's Clubs of the United States, through the president, Mrs. Rebecca D. Lowe, of Atlanta, Ga., and the National Congress of Mothers, through the president, Mrs. Alice G. Birney, have pledged their efforts to Social Quarantine, and will make Social Quarantine the key-note of their administration. The adjourned Prison Reform C
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