With the investi-
gation of homes authorized by the system of the Department of In-
door Poor of Massachusetts, it is possible to obtain good homes, or,
if mistakes are made, to remedy such mistakes by change without
much delay. Installed in these homes and subject to the "visita-
tion " of the volunteer auxiliary visitors appointed by the head of
the Department of In-door Poor, or of the paid agent of that depart-
ment, the success, or lack of success, of the training of the institution
is soon made apparent. Not always has the boy or girl been an
apt pupil, and llie training in a family will sometimes do for such
a one what the institution could never accomplish ; nor does this
prove that he or she should at once have entered upon family life,
without the inten'ention of the institution. Tliough the institution

I may not have successfully trained, it has made the life in the family
possible. How, may easily be cor
Family life is the natural life, and, few will deny, desirable for all j
under reasonably good conditions ; but a mistaken opinion has p
vailed to some extent as to how good these conditions must be, i



atmof
intrai



enceS
the il
child
and I



PREVEMIVE WORK

order to make the home eligible. There are those"w]
surroundings of material comfort and some ownership of propel
as actually essential to the proper placing of the wards of the Stat,i
It is true, so far as supplying necessary food, necessary warmth, ai
necessary clothing, that these conditions should exist to a cerl^
degree. Beyond this there are no essentials but well-onlered llvi
in homes of cleanliness and purity, with kindness, patience, and
good judgment, which will see the propriety and wisdom of co-opo
atiog with the visitor tor the good of the ward. No one would wij
to deny the advantages of the best home possible to one of tlio:
unfortunate children, wijen such offer; but that they are not to bi
placed in any but those abundantly supplied with creature comfore
and appliances to make labor easy is a false notion, and one to bi
done away with. Miss Carpenter said, "A real good home is infl
nitely beiier than any school (meaning institution) for the cducaiioi
of girls. 