Richards, Kate, deserted by her husband. Mrs. Rich ards came of a respectable family. She has a sister- who has aided her, and sons living in the city who would aid if she would come to them, but she is an incorrigible vagrant, apparently unsound of mind, abusive, and intemperate. Her sons had been removed from her custody while young, and sent to foster-homes in the west. She appears fre quently at application bureaus, telling incoherent stories, and is often aided with meal tickets, clothing, and lodgings, has often been a guest at the Woman's Hotel of the Sal vation Army, and has been an inmate of a workhouse, a home for discharged prisoners, and a home for fallen women. She makes false and irrational statements concerning her family. After irregular dealing with the woman for five or six years, the case was definitely closed as unhelpable with the resources at hand.
Kemp, Anna. When Mrs. Kemp first made application for assistance she and her seven children had been deserted by her husband, who was intemperate and shiftless, where upon she had come to New York, as she had a brother and sister here who aided to some extent. Five of the children were committed to an institution. Mrs. Kemp then se cured day's work, and was able to support herself and her two other children, Edward and Lily.
Three years later Edward was earning three dollars a week, and his mother about six. Efforts were then made to have the children taken out of the institution and cared for at home. But relatives refused to help, and as John's eyes were giving him a great deal of trouble, he and two sisters remained in the institution, and the two others were taken home. Soon afterward John died in the insti tution. A year later all of the children were at home with the mother, and the family was doing well.
Deserted families afford very serious problems, which, however, are probably not more difficult than those arising in attempts to help the families of intemperate men ; cer• tainly not more difficult than those inherent in attempts to improve the condition of a family in which there is an intemperate mother. When destitution is caused by drink there are always, of course, other complications — illness, shiftlessness, or inefficiency. One or many of these symp toms may appear, and whether the principal difficulty be industrial, or physical, or moral, intemperance is likely to enter as a contributory factor in a very large proportion of cases. Statistics upon the point differ widely. It is prob ably true that in one-fourth of the cases brought to the attention of public or private charitable agencies distress is due to the intemperance of the natural breadwinner of the family, and that in fully another one-fourth, drink aggravates a situation which would otherwise easily be remedied. This would be shown on a full statement of
all the facts in the cases already cited. It is a more promi nent element, although again by no means the only one, in the following instances.
Dolan, Thomas and Ann, asked for aid seven years ago, but could not be found when visited, and were not heard of again for four years, when Mrs. Dolan applied for aid in rent, her husband having deserted, and her relatives being unable to help. At the various places where the family had lived it was found that Mrs. Dolan had supported the family, and that her husband was drunken, lazy, and abu sive. Application was made for the commitment of the children on the ground of destitution, but this was refused by the public authorities, and an order was obtained from court requiring Dolan to support his family. He was found and returned home, but would not work, and was not prosecuted under the magistrate's order.
Ten months later Dolan was sent to the penitentiary for burglary, remaining for nine months. On his discharge Mrs. Dolan permitted him to come home, concealing the fact, however, from the church which then was aiding. One child was taken to an eye and ear hospital for treat ment, and another was taken care of by friends, while Mrs. Dolan went to an infant asylum for confinement, her hus band again deserting the family at this juncture. After the birth of the child aid was given Mrs. Dolan to take rooms and get her family together. A year later, condi tions being practically the same, Dolan frequently desert ing his family and failing entirely to support them, and his wife refusing to prosecute seriously, the home was broken up, and the children committed for improper guardianship.
Henderson, William and Myrtle. At the time of their application the family was living in well-furnished and neat rooms, and they were able to give reference from whom a favorable account was obtained. Henderson was inclined to be intemperate but was intelligent and skilful. Relatives were found who, although in moderate circum stances, were willing to help, and the family was left in their care. They remained self-supporting for seven years, at which time special shoes were provided for George, a crippled boy. The father at this time was earning $8 a week.