The Clarinda Herald
Clarinda, Page County, Iowa
Monday, December 18, 1922

ORPHANS FIND HOMES HERE
A Dozen Boys and Girls From New York Welcomed To Comfortable Homes.

A dozen orphan children from New York City, six boys and six girls came here on Friday afternoon at the Methodist Church when many men and women gathered to be near to the little newcomers. The children were tired and sleepy from their long trip and naturally timid in their new surroundings. But they won the hearts of man of our people, and there was considerable rivalry to see who should have the privilege of taking the children to their homes.

The children came under the auspices of the Children's Aid Society of New York City, and old and well established organization, which has for one of it's functions the placing of orphan children in good homes where they are welcomed in the western states.

Accompanying the children were Miss Clara Comstock, The Iowa State Manager for the society, also Miss Anna Laura Hill, who holds a similar position in Kansas, and Miss Mary Reynolds, a nurse who accompanied Miss Comstock on the long trip with the children.

The twelve boys and girls sat on the platform of the church while Miss Hill told the story of their coming, and Miss Comstock introduced the children and had several of them sing or speak pieces to show their smartness. Several of the smaller children went to sleep sitting in their chairs and had to be wakened when it became time to be introduced. The children did remarkably well, considering the long trip and the strain they had been under.

'To Find A Mama'

One little boy was asked before the proceedings began what he had come for. He seemed reticent in answering so Miss Comstock said "Tell the lady what you came for". "To find a mama" was the youngsters reply. The little fellow had found a home right here all right where the tall corn grows.

Plenty of Homes

After the explanations had been made, the local committee men present, O. M. Cook, Wm. A. Turner, w. T. Davidson, W. B. Craig, Hugh Miller and P. B. Woolson were called upon to pass among the audience and receive applications for taking the children. Miss Hill had already explained that a contract must be made by which the home they go to, the kind of home they seek for their children., that they have the children taken in a pat of the household, If taken in this spirit the rest comes easy. It is found best not to place them with old people, as the child will not do so well, nor where there is another child of the same age as the mother will naturally favor her own child and the little stranger has not an equal chance. This until recently been to opinion held for taking these children. 449 of the society's children being in high schools of Kansas and 7 are attending Colleges. The society retains legal right to the child except in cases of adoption. This lot of children all came from protestant families but Catholic or Hebrew children can be furnished if desired, the laws of the State of New York requiring that children must go into homes of the belief they were brought up in, and also because this is better for the child. The society itself is non-denominational, although started by a Congregationalist.

How Children Were Placed

Here are the homes where some of the children were placed for the weekend, with the understanding that Miss Hill and Miss Comstock having the ensuing week to determine definitely as to the placing of the children:
Howard Blizzard 6 and Ethel Blizzard 12 to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong near Blanchard.
Bryon Stevens to the William Schoonover home near Clearfield.
Arthur Fields to the Worley Smith home north of Clarinda.
Walter Calowski to the Roy Beaver home east of Hepburn.
Alexander Calowski to the John Baker home northeast of Norwich.
Mary and Anna Brodie with Mrs. C. M. Hoyt, East Garfield St. for a few days
James Leroy smith at the James Scruggs home W. Chestnut Street.
Carrie Adams at the Roy Baker home west of Clarinda.
Isabel and Harry Adams at the G. H. Swanson home east of Stanton.