The Adoption of Children 203 



and these children. It early becomes as un- 

 thinkable to separate them as if they were their 

 own children. They are proudly exhibited and 

 their good points paraded in quite the orthodox 

 paternal and maternal manner. They have 

 brought life and brightness into drab homes- 

 neurotic women have forgotten their peculiar 

 ailments in watching the child develop. It 

 forms a very satisfactory *' sublimation" for 

 many unrestful women. Another strange phe- 

 nomenon is that where a little one is adopted 

 as a companion for the only child who fre- 

 quently leads such a lonely life, the newcomer is 

 soon loved as well as the real son or daughter. 

 Others have engaged in this work. The Spence 

 Alumnae Society has done so for a long time, 

 and thereby contributed to the rescuing of 

 numerous infants and given happiness to many 

 families. This work thrives best in small units, 

 as does all remedial aid for children. It can be 

 operated all over the country, and, if so, there 

 would soon be few homeless children and child- 

 less homes. 



