A Cavalcade of America presented by DuPont. This evening the DuPont Cavalcade brings you a story of the growth of childcare in the United States through organizations that are striving to improve childcare methods and reach a better understanding of juvenile needs. Now that fine weather has arrived you're driving your car more than ever and you want to have it looking its best. Having developed the colorful durable finishes Duco and Dulux now used on most automobiles, DuPont chemists made a scientific study to find the best way to keep finishes in perfect condition to clean them and protect them against the weather. Out of this research came a complete line of cleaning and polishing products best known of which are DuPont number seven polish and DuPont's new liquid speedy wax. These cleaners, polishes and waxes developed in the same DuPont research laboratories that produce the most widely used auto finishes will keep your car bright and new looking. Whether you do the job yourself or have it done at a garage these DuPont products are real examples of better things for better living through chemistry. As an overture Don Voorhees and the DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra play Just Let Me Look At You by Jerome Kern from the motion picture The Joy of Living. The DuPont Cavalcade moves forward. The story of child care in America begins with the uprising of the Natchez Indians against the French in Louisiana and a massacre at Fort Rosalie in 1729. Along the dark road leading to the Ursuline Convent in New Orleans move a band of horsemen and in the saddle with each horseman is a child. It is so dark even my good mare cannot see the way. It is only a little farther. These little ones must be given shelter before the morning breaks. How is it with you my curled head? You find it hard riding with Pierre? It is very hard Mr. Pierre. I am frightened. I want my mother. Oh no no the convent is just ahead and soon you will have food and a good bed. And my mother and father? Where is my father Mr. Pierre? I have not seen him since the Indians came and he killed us good bye. I could not find my father either. Mother lay on the floor all still. So still. So Pierre when I am grown I shall be a soldier and fight these Indians. When you are grown you shall be a very great soldier little Jean. Who who who the fool? Someone ring the convent bell. I will. Hold fast now little one when I dismount. There we are. Now put your arm around my neck so I may carry you. Mr. Pierre couldn't you find my father at all? Did the Indians take him captive? Did they? There there my little one. Ah no you must be brave. Port Rosalie is destroyed. Everyone is scattered. Those who have escaped may not come back for a long time. Ah you must be patient and stay in the convent with the good sisters. Swings up this hour. Sister there has been a massacre. The Natchez Indians have attacked Port Rosalie. The entire settlement is wiped out. The pond is full of murder. We have brought to these little children homeless, fatherless. The poor little ones. Let them come in Monsieur. Let them come in. All right. I want to go home. I want to go home. Give me the little girl. Poor tree. They are orphans sister. Every one of them. And there may be more. Bring them to us Monsieur. Find a place to care for them. I want my mother. I want my mother. Music A number of children left homeless by the massacre proved to be so great that the convent turned its facilities to their care. So providing the first group care of children in America. But it was many years before other institutions devoted wholly to children were even contemplated. In communities throughout the country children were bundled off to institutions which housed the destitute, the diseased, the aged and the insane. Here they work for their living. There's floors to be swept and beds to be made and work to be done. Houses to be managed with the likes of you. Granny stop sitting there mumbling in your corner. Go get the broom. I can't be working with a broom. My back's too lame this morning. Funny how lame your back always gets when there's something to be done. Alright old woman get to the kitchen and fix the vegetables. Go on get along with you. I work all the time I do. Why can't the old ones do the work? Tom you can do the sweeping. I can't sweep. Why not? I cut my thumb. I can't hold anything. Bet you did it on purpose. Hey don't you say that. I'll hit you one for that if I ever catch you. You never will. Well I'll take your dog. You will not. You're dancing. Mason, Mason, dog. I'll take my dog. I feel as hurt as you get a dog. Oh she ain't a dog really. She's just made out of my extra skirt. I tied it in a knot for the head and I keep her wrapped in my shawl. And she's mine she is and Tom can't have her. Oh yes I will. I'll take your Mason out. Come in. Tom, Tom, give it away and let Molly think alone. Get out to the wood pile. We need some long sticks for the big dough. Oh I can't. You want I tell you to or you'll get a whipping. Oh my thumb hurts. You always make me feel the same. Molly you clean up in here. Make the bed. Matron, could we, could we have a clean sheet for our bed today? Of course not. Not till Friday. I know that's rules but with four of us girls sleeping in a bed that way things get awful messed up and I never get to share the blanket Matron. Sue is always pulling it off our bed. There are all the beds there are and you are very lucky to have a fourth of a bed to sleep in instead of having to lie on the floor. I suppose so but I. You'll have to make the best of it Molly. Now get to work. Remember you're an orphan and lucky to have a roof over your head. The 1860s when institutions exclusively for the care of children were established brought a turn for the better and new laws provided that children of sound minds and bodies be placed either in orphan asylums or bound out to private families. But the life of the bound boy was one of hard labor and grim reality. One of these boys, Dave Brown, is taken to his new home by a state official. Come on eat up. Dave you're a good boy and do as you're told. I'm sure it'll be a fine home for you. The Whittakers will treat you well. I'll try. I like working on a farm better than at the almshouse. Maybe they'll let me take care of the horses. I know about doing that. Yeah probably they will. You learn a lot of other things so that when you're 21 you can get work and earn money for yourself. And here's the place. Hello. Hello there. Hello. Hello. Howdy. I'm John Grimes from the orphan asylum. This is Dave Brown the boy you're expecting. Oh yes, yes the bound boy. Well, so you're the lad. Yes sir. Well I hope you're a good strong chap. There's plenty to be done on a farm you know. I can't have you eating your head off around here unless you're in it. I'll do my best sir. I'm sure you will. It's late and I won't come in Mr. Whittaker. You'll just sign these papers and send them back to us. The boy's yours till he's 21. And I hope he's a help to you. Well if he ain't he'll hear from me. Well, come on boy. Well, come on. You think you can get off the buggy? Oh, oh yes sir. Be a good boy Dave. Good luck. Thank you sir. Here's your bundle. Goodbye. Goodbye sir. Get up, come on. Well come on in. Well Mark. Mark, here's the boy. Oh. Well. Come in the light and let me have a look at you. Might just well know to begin with that I didn't want no dirty boys around this place, but Pa's not as young as he used to be and we need some help. I think I can help ma'am. Well there's a loft above where you can sleep. There's a take up there you can fill with straw from the barn to lay on and there's a pitcher and a bowl. And drive some nails to hang your clothes on and you'll be comfortable enough. Thank you ma'am. The school's a mile and a half down the road. Letter says you must go to school. Yes, I want to. Yeah well, Pa and I both think it's asking a lot, but if you can do it and get all the chores done. Oh I know I can. I'm a big worker. And a big eater too I expect. Well, get upstairs, take off those store clothes, let's see what you can do. You're not living off the state any longer you know. You're working your way now. Yes sir. By 1875, the greater percentage of the orphans in the United States were in so-called asylums. These were an improvement over general institutions housing all sets of derelicts. But they were often bleak, cheerless affairs in which the children were practically prisoners. Constantly humiliated by their feeling of dependence on charity. A meeting of the board often meant ordeals for the youngsters. Oh, how do you do Mrs. Messinger? How do you do, ma'am? Mrs. Holden. Good afternoon, matron. The other members of the committee will not be here until three, but we thought we would like to visit the children before the meeting. Why, of course Mrs. Holden, the children's home is always open to members of the board. We've decided to inspect the classes and find out for ourselves what these children are doing. They're awards of the state matron. They're dependent on charity for the very bread they eat, the clothes they wear. Yes, yes of course. And we want to be sure that they appreciate that fact. Are they making the most of their time matron, or are they just frittering it away? I can assure you there's very little frittering in the home Mrs. Messinger. The children realize their position. They are taught to work hard and be grateful. But are they grateful matron? That's what we want to know. Or are they simply presumptuous scheming young people? When my husband visited the home last week, he was approached by a boy who had the impotence to ask if he might be allowed to go to high school. Think of it, wanting an upper school education. He was quite brazen about it too, and very resentful when Mr. Messinger told him it was impossible. Said his duty was to go to work at once and earn his board and keys. He should have been reported to me. Such ideas are not encouraged in the home Mrs. Messinger. Well I hope not. Mr. Messinger and I made up our minds that if such tendencies are being permitted, we shall withdraw our support. These children must be taught their place. We try to impress it upon them Mrs. Messinger. Oh, would you like to go to the girls' work room? Such ideas are not encouraged in the home Mrs. Messinger. Well I hope not. Mr. Messinger and I made up our minds that if such tendencies are being committed, we shall withdraw our support. These children must be taught their place. We try to impress it upon them Mrs. Messinger. Oh well, would you like to go to the girls' work room and see for yourself how they spend their time? By yes I would. Yes, just now they are piecing quilts. The girls in this division make practically all the bedding for the home. They're right in here. They seem very quiet. Yes, they aren't allowed to speak. It takes their minds from their work. This is part of their regular routine. What is their present schedule, matron? Well, they rise at six thirty and are washed and dressed and in line by seven. They march to the dining room and have their breakfast of mushy milk. In the morning they have lessons. Lunch is at twelve, and at one thirty they begin their afternoon duties. Supper is at six. Bible study, hymns, and bed at eight thirty. They take off their shoes and stockings down here so as not to mar the staircase. An excellent idea. They are taught to be very careful about the furniture. Oh, they do appreciate the duty they owe to the home, Mrs. Holden. They have a song about it we've taught them. Would you like to hear it? Well, I don't think so. It will only take a minute. Uh, girls, girls, we have as visitors two members of the board, Mrs. Messenger and Mrs. Holden. I want you to show them how much you appreciate all that's being done for you by singing your Orphan Home song for them. Stand up. Ready? Sound the pitch pipe, Sarah. Sing. The orphan home, the orphan home, has wept those words of tears. Alone and sad no more we roam, our bright new home is here. And heaven will kindly smile on you with open heart and hand. For us, for us, we are friends, you are pleasant home, our friends. That's very commendable, I'm sure. There's one little girl who wasn't singing. What's your name, little girl? Mary. Why weren't you singing? I should think you'd be very glad to have this nice home to sing about, aren't you? Aren't you? Mary, answer at once. No, you're not grateful. I ain't got nothing to be grateful for. Why, Mary, what do you mean? Don't you like it here? No, I hate it. You'd hate it too if you had to wear these awful gray dresses and never do nothing but sew and sing hymns. Mary. How can I sing thankful songs in a place like this? How'd you like to sleep twenty to a room and eat everything with a spoon and never have no china dishes or nothing? Outside it's different. Mary, stop. This minute. It is, matron. And Grace told me little girls on the outside don't wear their skirts down to their shoe tops. It's just because we're orphans you think you can treat us this way. But someday things are going to change. Mary, go to my office. You can beat me if you want to, matron, but it's true. Someday people are going to find out orphans got rights just like anybody else. And it's important what they grow into. Someday things are going to be different. You'll see. Eventually Mary's prediction came true. Modern standards for child care developed slowly. But by 1909 such progress had been made that in Washington, D.C., President Theodore Roosevelt called a conference at the White House. Doctors, educators, and social workers from all parts of the United States meet to consider the problems of the youth of America. The purpose of this conference has been to determine just what steps are necessary to give the orphan children of this nation a better opportunity. We are very grateful for your cooperation, Mr. President. Robbing them of the rights of childhood is not the right way to meet the problem. Our orphan asylums are the best in the world, Mr. President. Well, they are. In the sense of this meeting that our present orphan asylums are not serving the child. But the real need is a nationwide program for giving children homes. But that is not always possible. And let's make it possible. I'm afraid, Mr. President, that you're suggesting utopia. I'm suggesting common sense. We've listened to the reports of doctors, social workers, heads of institutions, welfare workers. The consensus of opinion is that we must stop crowding children into institutions just because it's the easiest way to handle them. You are quite right, Mr. President. Whenever it's possible, a child's own home should be preserved. When that can't be done, it should be duplicated for him in the best available way. Then we must work out a method of procedure. Mr. President, consider the work involved. You can't place a child in a home which has not been thoroughly investigated. Certainly not. Investigate it. That will require time and money and a tremendous staff of workers. Then they must be provided. These helpless children are the citizens of tomorrow. They have a right to health and education and happiness. It's our duty to supply these rights. We are agreed that definite standards for child care must be developed, Mr. President. That we must form societies that will be responsible for the health and welfare of its destitute children. But to work out such a system will take time. It will be slow, very slow. It may be slow, but it's bound to come. We're learning to conserve our forests and our cattle and our crops. One of these days we'll learn to conserve our children. As a result of this conference, child welfare became a nationwide responsibility. In an attempt to clarify the work already being done, a Bureau for the Exchange of Information was set up in 1915. Its service proved so valuable that on June 20, 1921, a meeting was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attended by delegates from many states to outline a plan to increase its scope and activity. Among the delegates were Dr. Hastings H. Hart, Wilfred Reynolds, C.C. Carstens, and Miss Ida Curry. All of them pioneers in the child welfare movement. After one of the sessions, they meet informally to discuss plans. I think we'll all agree now that we have a better conception of the needs in the child welfare field. I believe it's the ultimate answer to the national child welfare problem. We should attack every subject concerning youth, not as a separate department, but as one division of the general objective, to provide a normal background for every child in America. Quite true. And someday, if we show the value of our service, we'll be working not only with placing organizations, but maternity homes, day nurseries, and child clinics. Exactly. Then we should propose the reorganization of this Bureau into a national league, which will interpret to the whole country the best methods of caring for children, either in foster homes or in institutions. I would approve of that plan heartily. Yes, and members of the league will have to become pace-setters in the field and point the way. Oh, yes, definitely. We'll have a small membership at first, but it will include the leading organizations of the country. What do you think about it, Mr. Carstens? I think it is a duty to show America what childcare should be. And that duty, Mr. Carstens, I suspect, is about to descend on your broad and capable shoulders. On mine? Yes. But when this plan of reorganization is worked out, we all hope that you will agree to become the first executive director of the Child Welfare League of America. Today, the Child Welfare League of America coordinates the leading child-carrying agencies in the country. These cooperating organizations have brought about great improvements in the standards of childcare. Today, the emphasis in childcare is on the individual child. In thousands of carefully selected homes throughout the United States, orphaned children are growing up under normal conditions in a happy home atmosphere. Child welfare agencies keep them under careful supervision, and every few weeks a visitor makes a call to be sure that all is well. And so you're really pleased with Johnny, Mrs. Barnes? Pleased with him? Well, he's a changed boy. No more fits of temper? Not one since the first week. Well, that boy didn't need anything but a home. He plays with my boys as though he's always lived here. He's gained three pounds. And his school card's right good. Let me show you. The other boys are going swimming. May I? Oh, hello, Miss Cartwell. Hello, Johnny. I stopped by to see how you were getting along. You're not going to take me away again? Of course not. If you're happy. Sure I'm happy. I like it swell here. I get to keep rabbits, and I got a new ball bat, and Mrs. Barnes fixed my room all up for me. And what do you think? What, Johnny? She lets me call her mother. For more than 200 years, America has been slowly developing this modern method of fulfilling the needs of children deprived of their birthright. Through the care of health, through education, and the individual planning for home life, child welfare work provides hundreds of thousands of boys and girls with the ability to live in a safe environment. And the children are able to live in a safe environment with their parents and their children. Child welfare work provides hundreds of thousands of boys and girls annually with a normal childhood, which will enable them to face adult life as balanced individuals and good citizens. We salute those who have devoted their vision and energies towards improving the lives of children in the cavalcade of America. Forty-three years ago, a young German named Wilhelm Rentgen, while experimenting with a vacuum tube, discovered the mysterious action we now know as X-ray, which makes it possible for us to see right through solid substances. Most of us know how vital the X-ray is in helping doctors and dentists detect broken bones or infections hidden from the naked eye. But did you know that the same rays are used for such things as inspecting the inside of every metal weld on the great boulder dam, thereby making sure they are perfect and will last through the ages? That is just one of the curious and valuable uses to which modern industry puts X-ray. For example, the giant yet delicate radio transmitting tube sending this very program out in the air are X-ray inspected after they are packed for shipment to make sure they are in perfect condition. One large manufacturer X-rays finished golf balls to check on size, shape, and position of centers. And even fruit such as oranges are X-rayed to make sure they are good all the way through. But X-rays do more than enable us to see through solid objects. In DuPont research laboratories, scientists use the same penetrating rays as super microscopes to measure distances as incredibly small as one one hundred millionth of an inch, the actual distance between atoms, to determine the qualities of new products which are continually being studied and developed. In these and many other modern applications of X-ray, it is one thing to see into or through an object, and another thing to record such impressions for further study or reference. DuPont chemists have helped make the X-ray a more valuable tool by perfecting an X-ray film which makes it possible to get clearer pictures than ever before. DuPont X-ray film with a layer of sensitized emulsion on both sides of a special blue base gives doctors the greatest possible opportunity for correct diagnosis and provides sharp, distinct impressions on any type of X-ray work. It is non-flammable, flexible, and easily transported or stored. In contributing a superior film to capture and record the magic vision of the X-ray, we see one more illustration of how DuPont chemists work to provide better things for better living through chemistry. Music Samuel Slater, called the father of American manufacturers, will be the subject of our broadcast when next week at the same time, DuPont again presents The Cavalcade of America. Music This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. Music
