Skidmore, Ernest and Alice. The family first came to notice sixteen years ago, at which time Mrs. Skidmore • •• expected confinement. She ref used to go to a hospital and a doctor was sent by a private agency. Mr. Skidmore was a bartender, but was idle most of the time. Two months later the family removed, and Mrs. Skidmore made application for employment. An offer of work was secured for her at twelve dollars a month and board but she refused it. Work was also offered in a laundry, but this, too, Mrs. Skidmore declined. Two years later Mrs. Skid more was referred to a private society by an individual to whom she had applied, and to whom she was known as a persistent beggar. At this time her husband was working only in the summer, and during the remainder of the year lived upon what his wife earned.
Twelve years after this Mr. Skidmore applied for assistance. His wife had died two years before, and he was out of work. The eldest son, Thomas, had been employed in a dry-goods house for seven years, but had been discharged for mischievous behavior three months previous to application. The two younger boys were working, and earned $2.50 a week. A private individual who had aided the family constantly in various ways, and had at times given as much as $15 a week, was still called upon for aid by the youngest boy. Mr. Skidmore suffered from kidney disease, and was not inclined to work. Em ployment was secured for Thomas by his father, but he refused to take it, and spent most of his time at the church to which he belonged. A month later the family was again referred by the private individual who had previously aided, and who was still being annoyed by daily requests for aid from the youngest boy. Of these requests Mr. Skid more said he had no knowledge, nor had he received any of the money, but thought that his son was working. It was learned that the boy, when employed, had not worked satisfactorily, had made frequent excuses for absence, and had been generally unreliable. A few days later he was arrested for stone throwing.
Two months later Mr. Skidmore died of apoplexy, and relatives paid the funeral expenses. Thomas secured employment on Long Island at seven dollars a week, and John, the second boy, was also employed, at three dollars a week. All three boarded with relatives on Long Island, paying six dollars a week each, toward which expense the individual already interested contributed.
Dr. Leffingwell opens his book on Illegitimacy with the following paragraph : " Against the background of history, too prominent to escape the observation from which it shrinks, stands a figure, mute, mournful, indescribably sad. It is a girl, holding in her arms the blessing and burden of mother hood, but in whose face one finds no traces of maternal joy and pride. There is scarcely a great writer of fiction who has not somewhere introduced this figure, in the shifting panorama of romance, appealing for pity to a world which never fails to compassionate imaginary woes ; now it is Effie in the Heart of Midlothian, now Fantine, resting by the roadside with Cosette in her arms, or Hester Prynne, pressing little Pearl against the scarlet letter, as she listens from the pillory to the sermon of Mr.
Dimmesdale. Who is this woman so pitiable, yet so scorned ? It is the mother of the illegitimate child. By forbidden paths she has attained the grace of maternity, but its glory is for her transfigured into a badge of un utterable shame." Mrs. Anna T. Wilson, in a discussion on the Care of Foundlings and Illegitimate Children at the International Conference of Charities, in 1893, quoted this paragraph, describing it as both pathetic and prophetic—prophetic of a juster era, when the prototypes of the Cosettes and Fantines of to-day shall have faded altogether from the earth ; pathetic, that it should be necessary to plead the sacredness of all motherhood, the divinity of all children.
Two illustrations, differing widely, although both work ing out fairly well in the end, may be cited : — Webster, Clara, was an unmarried mother of twenty-eight years, whose child at the time of application was one month old. For thirteen years Clara had lived as a 'domes tic with a family in the south, where she had gone upon her mother's death when her own home was broken up. The father of her child was a relative of this family, a man of good standing, who was afterward elected to a high political office. As the easiest solution the family sent the girl north, and here her baby was born in one of the city's maternity hospitals. She was then compelled to seek employment. Her right hand was deformed, and this prevented her taking work in which very much use of the hand would be essential. A private agency, however, secured a position for her with her child in the country. Here she was regarded as " invaluable," for she proved efficient and faithful during a period in which there was much illness in the family with whom she lived. For nine months she remained in this position, at the end of which time, her baby being ill, another situation was ob tained for her at a convalescent home, where the baby was admitted as a patient. From here she removed to a sec ond convalescent home, as the child was still delicate. After leaving the home a situation was again obtained for Clara with her child, in which she remained until the fol lowing spring, when she returned to the convalescent home at eight dollars a month. Here she stayed for the season, the child improving much in health. For three years situations in various places were obtained for her, all of which she filled in a most satisfactory way. She finally obtained a position in the country, in which she remained for five years. The family thought much of her and were fond of the child, and she did her work well. At the end of the five years she was married to a widower who lived in the same town, a mechanic of good character, who has made a happy home for Clara and her child.