The Red Cross and Dr Barnardo's Homes

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 February 1917, Page 3

The Red Cross and Dr Barnardo's Homes

A LEVIN EFFORT.

The decision of the Levin branch of the Red Cross Society to donate to Dr. Barnardo's Homes the takings on March 3 will be approved throughout the district. It is to be hoped that a goodly sum will result. The branch has made this resolve in recognition of the great patriotic work being done by the homes. The value of this patriotic work has been emphasized by press and pulpit throughout the empire. The rallying of close upon 8000 "Old Barnardo Boys" to the Army, 'Navy and Mercantile Marine is but one indication of the splendid uses which the homes have made of the monies entrusted to them during their fifty years of child-rescue work." This one fact by is most significant. Of these 8000 brave fellows who are a source of strength to the Empire, how many would have

had the strength or stamina of character to pass the Army or Navy standard if the Homes had not taken them by the hand when ihey were children? A large proportion of them undoubtedly would have become a heavy drag instead. Mr. Arthur Mee, in

"O'ur England in the Shadows," writes:—"You have not often thought of it, perhaps, but how many thousands olf little iEngjlisli xaggamuffins,

found starving in English gutters and snatched from misery by charity while Parliament looked on, are giving up their lives for England now? They owe nothing to any Government of England, for our iGovernments let them starve, .but they were ready when England called, and many have died. Ask at Barnardo's Homes and tli'?v will fell you of 8000 boys those Homes have saved from ruin who are fighting our battles now by land an.i sea and air." Old Barnado boys, indeed, have taken part in every naval fight in the present war. At least seven have won commissions, and when the Anzacs retired from Gallipoli, of four mentioned in despatches for bravery in bringing the wounded out under fire, there were Barnardo boys.

There is surely no more patriotic work [ than caring for the little ones of the | men who are .Jigliting for us? Up to the 11th December last 928 children of soldiers and sailors had been admittted to the Homes since the commencement of the war. "Many a solder's heart," said the Duke of Somerset, "has been comforted and his mind set at rest by. the knowledge that Dr. Barnardo's Homes were sheltering his little ones. If, in the providence of God, he. return when the war is over, they will be restored to him; should he fall he has the unspeakable comfort of knowing that the future of his dear ones is safe."

Then .again, the children of to-day are the Empire's defenders of to-mor-row; therefore the care and training of the young are of supreme importance. "Who can replace our fallen heroes but the children now growing up in our midst? ' 'England," said The Guardian recently, "can no longer afford to tolerate any conditions that tend towards the wastage of child life; and it should therefore not be difficult to find a ready response to the claims of such an organisation as Dr. Barnardo's Homes, which at this very moment are engaged in the work so essential to the future of the Empire." The children are therefore entitled to all that goes to maik© strong and liealthy, intelligent men and women. That the boys and girls in Dr. .Barnardo's Homes are so provided for is proved by the remarkably low death rate of their inmates; it is less than 7 per thousand, whereas the average for the whole of England is 15 per thousand. In this connection it must not be forgotten that many children are admitted to the Homes in a dying condition, and that the Homes have, on an average, a thousand sick, deaf and dumb, blind or crippled children in their care. Well might the London Daily Telegraph declare that "no more trustworthy institution exists than Dr. Barnardo s Homes. They deserve all the help and support which a generous public can give to training schools of such proved utility." An equally generous tribute was paid by an Australian journal, which remarked, "Great Britain ow&s a National Debt to Dr. Barnardo's Homes, and we of the Empire must keep the flag of the Homes flying, side by side with the Union Jack."