The cases thus far considered have been those of widows, or of aged persons, or of families in which there was a deficiency in earning capacity, or on account of illness. Somewhat different are those in which the family becomes dependent because of the desertion of the head of the family, or because he is incapacitated by intemperance or shiftlessness or grave moral deficiency of some other kind.
Mrs. Carney, concerning whom we have the following brief record, was herself of immoral character, and her children, instead of being committed for destitution, might more appropriately have been removed by a magistrate for improper guardianship. As there was no official record against her, the application to which reference is made for the return of her children would probably be granted.
Carney, Grace, had two of her children committed to an asylum, on the ground of her husband's desertion, and her own inability to support them, being ill. Mrs. Carney was placed in a private hospital, and after her discharge remained with friends, but before she was well enough to work, or care for her children, she disappeared. She visited them at the asylum, however, and wrote to them frequently, but always used false addresses. She was immoral, and frequently in need of hospital treatment. Mr. Carney, who was an iron-worker earning good wages, could not be found; therefore no action could be brought against him.
Eighteen months after the commitment of the children, Mrs. Carney wrote from another town, saying that she had a good position, and was about to take her children home.
As an illustration of heredity in pauperism, the three following cases may be studied to advantage. It will be recognized that the individuals are by no means all of bad character, and that there are not lacking misfortunes of the kind that prompt charitable neighbors to unquestioned relief giving. It remains true that the development of Mrs. Young's offspring is far from creditable to the com munity.
Young, Kate, a widow known to the society for the past twenty years. Six years after the first application, Mrs. Young again came to the attention of the society, when she spoke of herself as a widow " many years," although it was known that her husband was living but three years previous. Mrs. Young did sewing occasionally, but lived
chiefly by writing begging letters. She was spoken of as untruthful, ungrateful, and intolerant of questions, and in this respect her two married daughters were like her. Her home, however, was always clean, tidy, and comfortable, and at previous addresses the family was well spoken of. At the time of application there were four sons at home, Thomas, James, Alfred, and William.
Thomas was an epileptic, and could not do much work.
Five years later James married, and Alfred, who was ill with consumption, boarded with him. No further record is given of Alfred after the return home, four years later, or James, who was then a widower with three children. These children remained with their father only until the following spring, at which time they went to live with their maternal grandmother. William, the fourth son, was lazy, given to cigarette smoking, and rarely earned anything. References given by the sons were found to be either false or unfavorable. Nothing definite could be learned about any relatives, Mrs. Young evading questions in regard to them.
At various times the family was referred to the society by private individuals, to whom Mrs. Young had applied, aid having been given at times by all, and by some of them for many years. For six years Mrs. Burn, one of Mrs. Young's married daughters, and her children, also lived with her. The family separated upon the return home of the married son, James, and the same winter a society for the aid of widows was found to be assisting both families. In addition to the aid given by private individuals, the family had been helped by two private societies, had received city coal, and had had sewing from two other societies, one of which had also aided in other ways.
Fourteen years after the first application, Thomas, the epileptic son, died. Arrangements had been made pre viously for his admittance to a home for epileptics, but this his mother had not allowed. After his death Mrs. Young applied again to a private individual, who had been interested, but aid from this source was refused.