FOUNDLINGS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 19, 10 September 1897, Page 6

FOUNDLINGS.

In our issue of the 27th ult. we referred briefly to the Home for Foundlings which had been recently established at Jerusalem by Mother Mary Joseph Aubert. The Wanganui Herald of a recent date gives the following additional particulars of Mother Aubert's beneficent enterprise :— The want of some State-supported institution in the shape of a Foundliug Hospital has long been felt in New Zealand, where the number of illegitimate births, though not abnormally high, reach very considerable figures, as no less than 834 of such occurred last year. Of these it is quite safe to say a very small percentage will reach adult age, as these unfortunates are looked upon from the hour of their birth as something to be lost sight of as quickly as possible, and are treated in most instances as the real culprits. Is it any wonder so few of them survive the first year or two of infancy, and that " baby farming " is rile despite the efforts of the authorities to make those undertaking the charge of children register their places, and submit them to otii ,ial inspection 1 It has been left for a woman to start a properly conducted Home for these unfortunate babes, whose care with her and those associated with her is a labour of love. The Home is situated at Jerusalem, a settlement some fifty miles up the Wanganui River, and was started by Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, whose good deeds are so well-known in all parts of this Island. Mother Mary found the money for everything required from her own private purse, and has never had any monetary assistance either from the State or the Church of which she is so useful a member. She, we understand, got the ground and paid for the building of the Home from her own funds, and has had ample proof that her good work in taking in and caring for the children of unfortunate mothers and unprincipled fathers is recognised as that of a good Samaritan. But the good Mother's means are not equal to the demand on them in this matter, as she has at present no less than 30 young children in the Home, whose keep and clothing cost more money than her private funds can supply ; to say nothing of an enlarged building to accommodate the growing number of infant inmates and the Sisters who attend on them so sedulously. The public having learnt that funds were badly wanted, several donations have been handed to Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, who, in another column, thanks the donors for their timely assistance. It is quite safe to say that if these little ones had not been taken by her and cared for so well, the majority of them would have died of neglect, if not worse, as the death-rate among illegitimates is appallingly high. The value of such a Home from a moral point of view is very great, as it gives an unfortunate mother of an illegitimate child a chance of getting employment and redeeming her past mistakes, whereas if she had to either board the infant or keep it herself she would in nine cases oat of ten ha\ c to choose between the river and the streets. Of course the Jerusalem Home is unable to accommodate a tithe of the children whom Mother Mary Joseph Aubert is constantly being entreated by broken-hearted young mothers to take charge of. and it is certain the fate of those who are not cared for at the above institution or other equally good home is, in nine cases out of ten, a sad one, a-= .-.tarvaciou und neglect are the usual portions of these victims of others' transgressions. The State should, therefore, establish a few foundling homes, and subsidise any, like that ;t Jerusalem, which are doing good work, and leaning the awful mortality among iJe", r itimatet-, who suffer for the sins of others, an.l are the iauooent victims ot a sham system of morality which punishes the duped mother and her helpless offspring, and allows the heartless (seducer to go about free adding to his victims. If there were more women like Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, who shows a deep and human sympathy for erring women and their innocent babes, there would be fewer girls led astray and driven on to the streets, a-3 it is the harshness of women towards women which maki-s it so hard loir one of them who has erred to retrace her step*, and obtain employment in any respectable establishment. Generally it is impossible, unless they can get rid of the evidence of their lapse from virtue, and get away to a strange place where their misfortune is not known. This in itself is a strong temptation to many unfortunate girls to make away with their babes, or to abandon them in the hope that some kind-hearted person will take them in, and care for them — a very rare occurrence, as they are generally taken before the S.M. Court, and committed to Burnham or some similar and utterly unsuitable institution for a number of years, during which, if they live, they will have ample opportunities of learning evil from those who are sent to such places for their vices, and who take a delight in contaminating others. We commend Mother Mary Joseph Aubert's efforts to provide a Home for young children, where they will be well cared for physically ami morally, and brought up to be useful and respectable members of the community. To a->sivt with funds or useful articles ol food, clothing or other ibui^s of the Home is in want is to help a most meiiturious institution, and to widen its utility, to say nothing of gl-iddoning the hearts of those self-sacrificing Sisters of Mercy who undertake its charge.