In dealing with the illegitimate child four parties are to be considered, in the order named: the child, the mother, the father, and the community. In order to do right it is necessary that the rights and obligations of these different parties shall be carefully weighed.

Whatever blame may attach to the other three parties-and generally all three are more or less at fault-the child is an innocent party, condemned through no fault of its own to obloquy, neglect, often unhappiness, and sometimes to death. Being innocent, helpless and unfortunate, the child has extraordinary claims, not only upon its natural relatives and protectors, but also upon the benevolent community. This obligation rests particularly upon those who are brought into immediate contact with it upon its entrance into the world-the physician, the nurse, the hospital authorities, the managers of the foundling asylum or the managers of the child-saving society.

The child has that first right which is considered a foundation principle of our civilization-the right to live. It comes into the world often wronged before its birth. The mother has been anxious, worried, badly nourished; she has laced herself unduly to conceal her condition or she has injured the child by efforts to

produce an abortion. Sometimes she falls into the hands of some ignorant midwife or some inexperienced nurse or an unprincipled mother who is willing to sacrifice the child in order to save the family reputation.

After birth the child's right to life is unnecessarily hazarded by lack of proper care, proper clothing and proper food, or by the unnecessary transfer of the young babe to the care of well-meaning but inexperienced foster parents; or, far worse, the child may be placed in the care of a mercenary baby farmer who undertakes to dispose of it for $25 or who agrees to board it for $1.50 or $2 per week, and the poor little one is drugged, neglected, badly fed, and, if it survives this inhumanity, is given to anyone who will take it, regardless of their fitness.

In order that the baby's life may be properly guarded, the following precautions are essential: First, the mother should receive proper medical care and nursing. If physically capable, she should invariably be allowed to nurse the child as long as it remains with her. If the mother is unable to nurse the child, then the wise plan followed by the Chicago Foundling's Home should be adopted, namely-to secure for the child one-half the milk of a nursing mother, supplementing it with cow's milk or other

suitable food, and the further requirement that young mothers coming to the Home must stay with their babies for at least a year.

Second, the child should be under suitable medical supervision to protect it from the dangers which beset such children. Its feeding should be properly regulated; if it is bottle-fed, the quantity and proportions of the food should be prescribed. The child should be carefully guarded from contagion and infection whereby it may acquire skin diseases, cholera infantum and other diseases. To this end little babies should not be congregated in any. considerable number, and sick babies should be carefully segregated, both for their own sake and that of others.

Third, if the child is to be given to foster parents, the new home should be carefully selected with a view to securing the interests of the child. Experience proves that it is impracticable to place children judiciously on personal interviews with the foster parents or on oral or written recommendations of family friends. The only safe way is to have the home visited by an experienced, conscientious visitor. The practice followed by some institutions of giving out children on personal application with written recommendations furnished by referees of the applicant's own choosing does not sufficiently safeguard the interests of the child.

When children are placed in families they should be placed on trial for a limited period, but with the understanding that they are to be adopted at the expiration of the trial period. The child should be visited by an experienced visitor before adoption papers are given. It must be remembered that after legal adoption the child passes entirely out of the control of those who placed it in the home. It is therefore a matter of vital importance to be assured that the child is properly placed.

The second party to be considered in dealing with the illegitimate child is the mother. The chief object to be sought is her reclamation to good character and good womanhood and to so strengthen and guard her as to prevent a recurrence of the wrongdoing. Incidentally, it is proper to take into account her feelings as a mother and to shield her, as far as may properly be done, from the shame and disgrace to which she is exposed. Those who are inexperienced in dealing with these cases are usually impressed, first of all, with the importance of protecting the reputation of the unfortunate girl and also of sparing her from suffering as far as possible. To this end she is sent to some place at a distance from her home-usually some large city-and is placed in a hospital or in the house of some physician or midwife to be confined. Physicians, midwives and hospital nurses in many cases refuse to allow the young mother to nurse the child lest she should become attached to it and suffer too much pain in parting from it. She is advised to give away the child with as little delay as possible; and in many cases efforts are made to dispose of the child without disclosing the identity of the mother. As a result, the child is often given to irresponsible or unprincipled people who undertake to dispose of it for a nominal compensation and get rid of it with the least possible trouble. The "baby farms" to which such poor children are consigned are often frightful places, where little babies lie unattended for hours at a time, filthy, chafed, covered with flies, drugged, fed on improper food, emaciated, hideous, dying. One who has experienced the sights, the sounds, the odors, the atmosphere of such a place can never shake off the dreadful impression received.

It is natural that we should desire to shelter the young, the unfortunate, and especially those who are wholly or partially innocent. But the question arises: Is it right to free the young mother lightly from the natural consequences of her error? Providence has ordained certain results which are intended to deter from immorality. When a girl, through vanity or recklessness or passion, through affection or deception, has been led to the commission of such a fault, if she escapes easily from the consequences, she is apt to say, "That was not so dreadful after

all;" and speedily the sin is repeated. If she heartlessly disregards her obligation to the child of which she is the rightful protector, crushing the natural affections of her heart, a hardening effect is instantly visible. We are accustomed to say to such a girl: "This is your baby; God gave it to you; it is the only pure and wholesome thing connected with this sad business. You must not desert your baby; you must stay by it—at least until suitable provision is made for it. You have the mother's milk, the very best thing possible for the health and strength of the child. It costs you nothing; but if the baby is taken off the breast the chances are even that it will die. We will care for you and the child together, for a year if necessary, in order that it may have a fair start in life."

When the mother abandons her child it leads, in many cases, to a repetition of the offense and an abandoned life; but if she is true to her obligation it contributes to her redemption and her establishment in right living.

Experience has proved that it is not difficult to obtain employment for a healthy young woman in a good home where she can maintain both herself and child. The best places are usually found with good people of moderate means who cannot pay high wages, but are willing to receive the mother and child as members of the family and to treat them with consideration and tact. If the mother assumes the title of "Mrs." and all parties concerned keep their own counsel there is no need of exposure. Unfortunately there are so many young married women who are separated from their husbands that it does not necessarily create a presumption against a woman's character to have a young child without a visible father.

There need be no scruple about creating an affection in the mother's breast which will increase the pain of parting. It is often good for her to suffer in behalf of her child. It is always good for her to feel that she has been faithful to the obligation of motherhood. The question how long the child shall remain with the mother is one to be determined by circumstances. Such wisely ordered institutions as the Erring Woman's Refuge and the Chicago Foundlings' Home insist that the mother shall remain with the child for a year. In some cases it is practicable for the mother to retain the child permanently. Many cases are on record where such mothers have married happily and have brought up their own children, either with the father of the child or with another who was large-minded and generous enough to accept a penitent woman with her little one.

Three years ago there came to the office of the Children's Home and Aid Society a young mother, just out of the hospital, with her baby on her arm. She came to give the child to the Society for adoption. With great difficulty she was persuaded to retain the child and care for it temporarily. A home was obtained for her in a family where she was treated with consideration and was paid suitable wages. Subsequently the father of the child was induced to come from his distant home and to marry the mother. Efforts to induce them to live together and make a home of their own were not successful, but the young mother cared for her child with great fidelity, developing character and self-denial, and commanding the respect of all who knew her. She is a consistent member of a church, the child is well trained and the mother is a good woman.

Another young woman went to Boston to be confined. She came under the care of the Boston Children's Aid Society, which wisely insisted that she should return to Chicago with her child. The Boston society advised the Illinois Children's Home and Aid Society, which received the mother, found a boarding place for the child where the mother could pay $3 per week for it. This was the second child by the same father, a married man, with a family. The young mother obtained a situation at $50 a month. She visited the child frequently, manifesting much affection for it, providing clothing, etc. Unfortunately the child sickened and died. The mother appealed to the writer to attend the burial.