PUEVENTIVE WORN. The head of the family is dealt with whenever possible. The children who ask for assistance on behalf 411 parents are told that the parents must come in person. The child )1111...t not form the begging habit. .111 workers will testify to the value of preventive efforts on behalf of the •hildren. Summer camps, home libraries, lova] associations, mothers' meetings, penny savings banks, are among the forms this work assumes. This great power of adapting the work to ]meal needs and conditions is of the utmost importance.
It will I44‘ from the foregoing that the work of the Charity Organization Society is to an unusual degree a 41 in inist ra t ive—persona I. This is the secret of the great work it is able to 410, but is frequently a cause of complaint to those who do not grasp the situation. Personal service is considered the highest f4trin of giving.. A large part of the income of the Charity (trgani zation Society is therefore spent in salaries. The complexity of the 4 )rganizat ion naturally increases with the :ize of the city. There is It board of directors chosen from among those NVilo cola rill e to the society. and under the directors an exeentive committee. The administrative officer is the superintendent, who has his necessary as sistants. The larger are divided into dis tricts. each ill charge of a district superintendent, who is responsible for the work in the district. .1p1lieatits for help are referred to the district ill 'Which they HIV. The eela rill and district
offices are open daily. The ventral office keeps on file a digest of all cases from each district. In each district a 'decisions committee' meet. weekly to discuss the various eases and decide upon courses of action. The funds come from private donors.
Exer:tr SERVICE. The work of the Charity Organization Society calls for educated and trained men and women. The ni•re desire to do good is no qualification. nor is charitable work in general any longer a dumping-ground for those who have failed in other professions. The high est abilities fire sought, and some societies are conducting special schools for portions of the year for the training of workers. The adminis tration of charity has become a profession.
l'f•rmie% rION S, The hest periodical in America devoted to the charitable field is Charities, pub lished by the Charity Organization Society of New York City. ln England this is tilled by the Charity Organization Rericie of the London Society. Consult: \Varner. A incrican Charitirg (Ne• York, 1894) ; Devine, The l'ractice of Charity (New York, 1901) ; Richmond, Friendly Visiting (New York. Polo) : Loch, Charity (Jr ganization ILondon, 1R92); Reports of Societies (Bost 011. NV NV York, Philadelphia. Chicago. etc.).
See l'AITERlSAI SOCIAL DEBTOR CLASSES.