There are homes of various descriptions in Colorado, founded and maintained for the purpose of taking and caring for the children of parents who must labor for their daily bread and are not able to keep them under their care while performing their duties. There bare those who are orphans who have friends or relatives willing and financially able to support them in some good charitable institution; there are children whose parents have so completely lost control of them that they seek the aid of some children’s home to discipline them before too late. The State Home for Dependent and Neglected Children has another field of labor, that of giving a home to those who are dependent upon the public for support, those who are maltreated, and those who are in environments of vice. All such are eligible and under the state law should be committed by the county commissioners of the county in which they are living. Very often parents or relatives come to us with their children, expecting to place them in the institution and pay their board, and occasionally a parent or relative asks the privilege of placing a boy with us on account of having lost control of the child.

This is by no means a prison, reformatory or boarding school, but a home, and in every way possible we endeavor to have our children realize that fact. To many of the children it is necessarily a permanent home on account of the lack of mental and moral training, making them undesirable for private homes. The younger children are more susceptible to the influences and discipline of the Home, and in a short time become desirable for adoption.

Often when being reproved, a child will look up in surprise and say, " why, I did not know it was wrong to do so." "My father and mother did it," or "My mother talked like that." "I did not know there was a God." A sweet-faced little girl of seven was reported at the office for an outburst of vile, profane and abusive language on the playground. She had nee admitted to the Home only a few days before, in a most filthy condition, her body covered with vermin, and a long, livid scar on her head, made by a blow from a stove poker in the hands of a drunken mother. She did not know it was wrong to use such language, and when asked where she learned it, replied, "From mamma."

        It is the duty of the county commissioners to petition the county judge of their county to give an order of admission for any child under sixteen years of age who is adjudged dependent on the public for support, or who is neglected or maltreated, or whose environments are such as to warrant the state assuming guardianship of said child, and is sound in mind and body. The citizens of a certain portion of a county may know of cases which are wholly unknown to the commissioners; it is their duty to inform these officials, to see that the children are brought before them that an investigation be made. After the case is presented to the board of county commissioners, at least two of their number should sign the petition to the county judge, who will hear the case pursuant to citation. If the judge commits the child to the Home, it must be examined by the county physician, who shall certify in writing under oath that the child examined by him is of sound mind and has no chronic or contagious disease, and has not been exposed to any contagious disease within fifteen days previous to such examination. A certified copy of this certificate, with a certified copy of the order for admission, must accompany the child when brought to the Home.

Parents, guardians or relatives who are giving up their children should fully understand that as soon as they are committed to the State Home for Dependent Children, they forfeit all rights over, or to, the custody or service, or earnings of each child, and that they are released from all parental duty. Friends of the parents should see that this portion of the law is explained. In all communities the humane officers will gladly help in rescuing a child from drunken parents and environments of vice.

The conscientious work of the humane societies in rescuing and causing to be sent to the State Home various destitute waifs throughout Colorado, is to be heartily commended.