The Dependent Child 177 



D. C, at the call of President Roosevelt, who 

 was much interested in this vital human prob- 

 lem. A large number of practical workers and 

 experts in child saving from all parts of the 

 country took part in the deliberations of this 

 conference. Among many conclusions reached 

 upon diverse problems of child saving, the 

 following especially concern us here: "Home 

 life is the highest and finest product of civi- 

 lization. It is the great molding force of mind 

 and character. Children should not be de- 

 prived of it except for urgent and compelling 

 reasons. ****** As to the children who 

 for sufficient reasons must be removed from 

 their own homes or who have no homes, it is 

 desirable that, if normal in mind or body, and 

 not requiring special training, they should be 

 cared for in families whenever practicable. 

 The carefully selected foster home is for the 

 normal child the best substitute for the natural 

 home.'' We have thus represented in these 

 words the national opinion on this subject. 



Ten years later an International Conference 

 of Red Cross Societies, held at Cannes, gave 



