this system of visiting, 1,318 poor families who were suffering the utmost destitution have been helped. Several of the schools are in great need of such voluntary help, and we urgently appeal to the well-to-do, who are desirous of helping the poor, to cooperate with us through the agency of these schools.

In several parts of the city, especially in the lower East-side districts, children are growing up entirely neglected. New industrial school buildings in these overcrowded neighborhoods are greatly needed.

During the year 5,185 homeless boys and girls sought shelter in our lodging-houses, the number of nightly lodgers averaging 409. These homeless boys and girls pay their board at the rate of fifteen cents a day when they are able to do so. When unable, work about the houses is found for them until situations can be obtained. Many of these boys and girls are undisciplined, and if left to themselves would drift into vagrancy. Every effort is made to influence them to become useful, and during the year situations at wages have been found for 534 of these, and 220 others have been sent to our Kensico Farm School to be trained for farm labor. Evening classes, reading rooms, gymnasiums, free bathing facilities and Sunday services are open to all in the lodging-houses.

In the Emigration Department 230 homeless children have. been placed in family homes in the country and 349 older boys and girls have been placed in situations outside of the city; homeless and destitute families numbering 1,004 persons, mostly children, have been sent to friends or employers in the country. total number sent away from the overcrowded city by this department during the year was 1,583 persons.

The

As an example

of the importance of this emigration work in co-operation with the missionary work of the city, a missionary who labored for ten years in New York city and who frequently found homeless

children and destitute families which he brought to the office of the Children's Aid Society to be provided for, makes the following report regarding a German family we assisted in 1874:

The father had been out of work for a long time and one of his children, a little girl, was living out in a private family. Returning home one day the child found her mother in tears and learned that there was nothing to eat in the house and that they were on the verge of starvation. It seems the little girl then stole a piece of jewelry from the woman for whom she worked, and, after pawning it, spent the money received for food and clothing for those at home. The missionary explained the case to the judge and promised if the child was discharged to see that the family was taken care of. They were provided with letters of introduction and the Children's Aid Society sent them West, where work was promised. The father retained his employment for fourteen years. He is in the same town yet and owns his own comfortable residence, which is fully paid for."

This important feature of our emigration work needs a more liberal support; not only are these poor people assisted to places where employment can be obtainéd, but the children are removed from the evil influences of life in the overcrowded tenementhouses. In many instances, without the help extended by the Society, the families would have been broken up and the children become public charges.

The Sick Children's Mission aided with food, medicine, etc., during the hot weather, 437 children who live in the stifling tene

ments.

During the summer 5,173 happy children from the industrial schools enjoyed the benefits of the Summer Home at Bath Beach, 3,848 of these remaining a week each.

To the Health Home at Coney Island there were sent 5,229 mothers and sick infants, 3,197 of these remaining a week each or

longer when the tonic of the sea breeze was needed to bring back

health and strength.

During the summer there were sent to the Kenisco Farm School 682 industrial school boys for a week of fun and plenty. The total number of persons, nearly all children, who have come under our influence during the year was 33,486.

DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

Owing to the large immigration of poor and ignorant people from southern and eastern Europe, as well as to the natural increase in the population, the number of destitute and neglected children in New York city increases beyond the power of philanthropic and religious bodies to cope properly with their needs. This condition is especially noticeable in the largely increased attendance at our industrial schools, which are designed to reach. and influence the children of this class; and also accounts for the increase in the number of commitments to the private institutions for the care of children. In the twenty-five institutions in New York there are about sixteen thousand children, eight sheltering about one thousand children each and two having more than two thousand each.

This wholesale process of training dependent children for the duties and responsibilities of life is so manifestly an improper one that the need of relieving this condition of things is receiving more and more attention from all who are interested in their welfare. The relief is decidedly in the direction of placing such children in private families, where, as soon as possible, they may be absorbed into the population. At the meetings of the Conference of Charities the methods of different societies interested in placing children in homes have been discussed, and the best method sought for. The Children's Aid Society of Philadelphia is engaged in board