USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 8
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 8
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as can be and faces the cold outside in a cold night unflinchingly. He will, when he is hungry, help himself to eatables when he cannot get any- thing to eat by begging. Sometimes he gets a little money by begging, then he will live well as long as his money lasts. Onions, potatoes, bread and meat is his usual bill of fare. He will stay for a day or two in a place, when if not too far he walks, but if the distance is great he gen- erally can get on the cars, usually the freight, and thus he travels and is happy in his way.
The tramp is incurable and it is but little use trying to reform him, as the professional is usually about middle age or so. During the war they almost entirely disappeared, whether from being drafted or other- wise, rumor sayeth not. Those who were of army age were very much afraid of the draft. Some of them went and came back to their old game of tramping. California is the tramps' paradise, owing to the mild climate and the abundance of fruits and nuts. Ripe fruit on the trees all the year round and an occasional light job of fruit picking to get a little spending money and what could any genuine tramp desire more?
THE PROBATION OFFICER. The probation officer is an innovation in local government. Punishment is a very old axiom in law. Some old statutes that were valid in their time and very active have gradually and quietly been discarded. Occasionally one of these old laws is brought up only to be laughed out of existence. The so-termed blue laws so far as tradition goes are still on the statute books, where if not repealed by later action have been entirely superceded and treated as dead letters by modern legislation. One of the great axioms in family upbringing was "spare the rod and spoil the child," and it is said in Proverbs: "He that spareth the rod hateth his son."
It is beginning to be understood more and more and acted on that love is the great principle that overcometh all, that in law the "letter killeth while the spirit maketh alive." It is being seen more plainly day by day that there are better methods of treatment of the young than brute force. Judge Lindsay of Denver, Colorado, has been given national recognition for his wise judgment in juvenile courts, suffered a fine for contempt of court where he refused to betray the confidence of a boy. All courts now and those who have the enforcement of the law have their secret tribunals where young people can be examined and admonished for their own good and the good of society. The axiom of law that ignorance of the law excuses no one is more often honored in the breach than in the observance, especially with minors. With the end in view that many young people who have been guilty of breaches of the law have been more sinned against than sinning and that punishment for infraction of the law would be an injustice, probation officers have been appointed whose duty is to examine into all cases of delinquency and see whether more good can be done by private effort backed by sufficient authority than by letting the law take its course. There is always the certainty that passage through the jail or penitentiary confers a brand that is very hard in after life to get rid of.
The probation officer's duties as a rule extend only. to minors, but cases frequently come under his observation and counsel where adults, especially women, can be reformed or benefitted without a due course of law. He is armed with full authority to enforce his decrees, therefore it is very necessary he be a man, or maybe a woman, who is wise and armed with judgment and good sense. In all cases where women are concerned, examinations are conducted in the presence of some other woman. The probation officer has jurisdiction in all matters referred by
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the court to him, and his duties extend all over the county and may with perfect propriety extend to other counties of the state and although a county official he is also in a semi-quasi manner a state official and his duties extend to cases where state and county aid is necessary and cases of destitution or necessity and his recommendation carry great weight in court proceedings.
In many cases where criminals or those who, while not exactly criminals, are infringers of the law, the court may in its judgment after sentence has been pronounced put the individual on probation; that is, that the offender may be set loose with the sentence still hanging over him on condition that he make reports at stated intervals to the probation officer. In such cases if the parole has been faithfully kept when the time for which the parole has been given the sentence is remitted. The probation officer is also usually the one to whom money is paid in case of alimony where separation or divorce has been granted by the court or where the support of minor children is concerned. But although the duties of the probation officer extend largely in adult cases, by far the most important part of his duties are concerned with children and minors. The saddest cases of all are often where separations occur with married people with children. Frequently parents are very much to blame and it is sometimes necessary to separate the children entirely from the parents and put them in the children's home. Again sometimes the children have to be taken away from the mother and given to the father, who is not in a position to care for them, when the probation officer again may place them in a good home, the husband in the meantime providing for their support and those who have no children may with the consent of the parents and in accordance with law adopt one or more of them. Where desertion happens or death of the father or sickness or disability, the mother will get the custody of the children with state aid to the extent of ten dollars per month for each child supplemented by as much more by the county. In families occasionally there may be an unruly member or even vicious they get older in life, and when such cases occur they may have to be sent to some reformatory. Milder cases can be treated suc- cessfully at the George Junior Republic, where the boys are put on their honor, which is rarely violated. Occasionally there are people of either sex who deliberately abandon their children, and these are perhaps on the whole the most difficult to manage. Cases of stepchildren again arise where children sometimes with and sometimes without the con- nivance of the other parent present almost at times insuperable difficulties, not only in the homes, but in the public schools, in girls especially, the counsels of and presence of women is always a feature of the case. The reform school as a last resort always looms up and if the parties are not too abandoned it serves a very useful purpose. Occasionally some parent who is somewhat indifferent will bring a refractory child to the probation officer with the idea that all he has to do is to take the child to the officer and leave him. But this cannot be done without an order of the court and if the parent is able he is required to contribute to the support of the child, which puts a different aspect on the proceedings. Perhaps the most pleasing phase of the case is where there are half orphans whom the father is willing to support who can be placed with good motherly women in their own homes and well cared for and given all the comforts and advantages of a good home. It may be said that the parents could do these things themselves, but this is not always so, for the parents may be comparative strangers and the probation officer is almost always in communication with suitable parties with whom they can be placed and
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the children are in a sense under the care and supervision of a public officer.
In cases of wayward children and where the parents are not fit persons to have care of their own children and where younger or older persons are put on probation by the courts and in cases that do not come under the supervision of the courts, the probation officer takes the sole action, the question may be asked, "What are the results?" The records kept show that in the great majority of cases success is complete where if the parties in question had been given the full penalty of the law the reform of the individual would not have taken place. It must be understood that the great majority of cases are never made known to the public and that publicity would be the worst thing that could have happened.
Perhaps the most lamentable and unfortunate cases are with married people where the parents are not altogether as they should be and more especially where the "other woman," or more rarely the "other man," is concerned, drastic measures have to be taken, and here is where the integrity, uprightness and good judgment of the probation officer comes in and the unfortunate children may still be saved, especially if the mother is worthy, for then the state steps in and an allowance is made enabling the mother to keep the home together. So far Riverside has been fortu- nate in having a probation officer, C. W. Matthews, who is worthy of all praise and who, if he should consult his immediate personal comfort. would rather retire to private life and be spared hearing the sad experi- ences of others who are not so fortunate in passing through this life. He is, however, strengthened by the success that is being accomplished through his efforts in relieving the unfortunate and in bringing happiness where otherwise there would be not only misery but crime.
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THE CHILDREN'S HOME. Supplementary and a necessity to the efforts of the probation officer is the Children's Home, where again, in the per- son of Matron Mrs. Jennie A. Wilkins, there is a motherly woman who has been a successful mother herself and who is a true mother to those who are unfortunate enough to be motherless or have unworthy mothers. The Children's Home is not in any sense intended to be an orphan asylum for all orphans, for experience has taught that in the first place the mother herself (other conditions being right) is the best one to take care of her own children. There are a great many half orphans and children of parents one or both of who have no parents or guardians willing or fit to care for them, and here is where the probation officer is armed with authority and the matron of the home has the opportunity and the means to give the children the upbringing that they need. And after all, the Children's Home is mainly a resting place and a stepping stone until opportunity can be given to place the children where they can be given the opportunity of guardianship with those who have no children of their own or can even be adopted by people who have a love of children. There are again some women who have large homes who take in one or more children and care for them and bring them up in such a way as to make them worthy citizens in all respects. Wherever children are cared for in this way they are at all times under the supervision of the probation officer and the state to insure that they are properly cared for and that their condition be as much as possible like the real family. The Children's Home, although adjacent to the hospital and hospital grounds, is distinct of itself. The home is located on seven acres, where there are suitable buildings and accommodations for about seventy-five children, with a present occupancy of forty-four children, as so many pass through the home temporarily until suitable homes can be provided
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for them. One thousand children have already passed through the home since it has been founded, some of whom have both parents who may not be capable of taking care of children or in some cases where the parents through adverse conditions may not be in a situation to care for them and still able to pay for their care. Others may be half orphans, while as a matter of course orphans come until they may be fortunate enough to be adopted or cared for in suitable families.
The home has its own surroundings where vegetables and fruit are grown, keeps its own cows and chickens for its own use and raises vegetables and fruit to the amount of $2,600 during the past year with the assistance of the inmates who may be all the way from two years up to fifteen or sixteen. The whole place is conducted as far as pos- sible like an ordinary home, the children go to school just as members of other families do and perform as far as possible the ordinary duties of children in families. The girls are taught to sew, cook, can fruit, etc., so that when they attain marriageable age they may be fit to care for a home and family of their own, and the boys are taught all necessary and possible labors belonging to the farm or home. Generally speaking, the sexes are segregated, but not entirely, for under proper surveillance they mingle freely like other children in families and at the public school. About thirty children can be taken care of to advantage
At rare intervals a girl of more mature age who has become defiant and unmanageable as well, and occasionally diseased, comes under the guardianship of the matron until investigation can be had and the proper action taken. In this case as freedom would be impossible and imprison- ment unwise, the matron has a comfortable room where they can be taken care of but where they are confined. No matter how defiant they may be, a few days' restraint under such conditions generally succeeds in taming the proudest spirit until they find that after all society can pro- tect itself and curb the wildest subject. There is no idea of punish- ment in this isolated room, as good treatment in all respects is accorded, only the idea that society has a right and is able to protect itself and restrain those whose freedom would be detrimental to others. Then they may listen to reason and if not too far gone may be restored to useful- ness again. It is unfortunate that the probation officer and the matron of the Children's Home are necessary, but it is gratifying to know that the success attained is a justification for their existence.
CITY HOME LEAGUE. Among the organizations of Riverside that are quietly working their way and which are to a large extent unknown but are active, useful and taking part among a people much in need of educa- tion and assistance, none are more worthy of notice than the City Home League.
Although the league has had no assistance from the city and has depended entirely on support from private sources it is remarkable what has been done and the amount and value of the property already acquired. It has only been in operation for about two years, and the results are surprising. The Settlement House, as the buildings are known, or the House of Neighbors as they call themselves, is almost wholly a woman's movement and entirely supported by voluntary contributions. Last year there was contributed in that way $12,137.23 and expended $11,707.53, over $4,000 of which was used for increasing the capacity of the plant.
The object of the league is to improve the condition mainly of the Spanish speaking population, including the more ignorant and destitute of the negro population, and being a woman's movement naturally the efforts are directed more to the enlightenment and benefit of the women
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and children, there are also classes for teaching the men carpentering and two evenings a week are devoted to teaching Spanish, Mr. Coons of the Polytechnic High School being the teacher. Among the Mexican population those who have come from Mexico are the most ignorant, and the women not having the opportunity that the men have are naturally more so. Everything tending to make better citizenship is taught. There is a large assembly hall which is used not only for the purposes of the league, but for all neighborhood meetings of a beneficial nature. A work room, as its name implies, is used for teaching the ladies dressmaking and how to do their sewing in the family. They are paid for their labor in credit tickets which can be applied in purchase of clothing in the league store. The women are all eager to learn and are fairly apt pupils. The children are also given attention and a boy scout movement is also in operation. Lessons in cooking and housework are also carried on.
In connection with the main building, but detached in the rear, are playgrounds for the children which are planted to shade and ornamental plants and trees, with drinking fountain. There is also a laundry room with hot water and every convenience for laundry work, which can be used for a nominal sum. There is also a clinic room with appliances for patients with a maternity cottage. There is no suggestion of charity about the institution, for although the ladies who are conducting the Settlement House are giving their services free, only the nurses and attendant, three in number, get salaries. The movement has succeeded beyond the expectations of the founders and will contribute largely in doing away with undesirable spots in the city's humbler quarters.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND HOME FOR THE UNFORTUNATES. It would seem to be a matter for regret that in a land of bright sunshine and flowers where hardly a day comes in the whole year that the sun is not seen for some time of the day that anything could arise that would mar the bright hopes that are born under these bright conditions, but it is unfortunately the case that there are always some who are needing assistance and many who in the vigor of youthi were bright with hope and blessed with health and strength to batter with adverse conditions of life. There are others to whom accidents of various kinds may come who need the surgeon's care, and others who from various causes need the physician's care.
In the early pioneer days, when almost everyone who came was in the vigor of manhood or womanhood and able to be out in the open air and exercise enough to vivify the life currents and overcome all unfavorable microbes that might gain access to the system. Our bright sunshine and pure air coming from the almost boundless ocean to the west of us could hardly by any means carry deleterious germs gathered up over the virgin lands over which they passed, and so among the vigorous pioneers sick- ness was an almost unknown thing. But as time went along and easier means of travel were made possible by the transatlantic railroads those who were less vigorous and in search of health began to arrive, many of whom prolonged their lives for years, but who finally by reason of less vigorous constitutions succumbed to their special form of frailty. These earlier ones all had loving friends who were not only able but willing to help those for whom in many cases in the first place the journey was undertaken. But as population increased others came to our genial clime in search of health (and the bulk of the earlier population was composed of the latter class, some of them physicians), and they became sick or needy and required the helping hand which was never withheld. In most cases those who were in need and incapable of work were sup-
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ported by weekly or monthly allowances which probably in the end was and is the best of all besides throwing all such to a great extent on their own resources. But there still remained those who were decrepit, some- times in both body and mind and without friends with means enough to support them, and their problem was one of the difficulties. Sickness overtook some and perhaps the most pressing need of all was for those who met with accident and had to have surgical assistance. Sometimes a very timely aid may save a life. For instance, by a peculiar accident a sawmill operator had his leg suddenly cut off below the knee by a circular saw. In this case a few minutes would be sufficient to end life away in the mountains beyond surgical aid, but a youth who had been taught first aid in emergencies was equal to the occasion by the application of a tourniquet. Another case of some high school students out hunting in the hills, one of them, member of a leading pioneer family, got a charge of shot in the calf of the leg, but for lack of first aid he bled to death. So we see the need of hospitals and of boy scouts who will be familiar with a knowledge of what to do in case of need.
The first hospital was fitted up out of a small hotel on the block west of the Santa Fe passenger depot, between Seventh and Eighth streets. It was at best only a makeshift about the time of the formation of Riverside County, but it served its purpose until the county was in a position to do better. The next was an improvement and was made of brick, located in the neighborhood of San Jacinto, which was ample until destroyed by an earthquake. Then it was found that although the locality was good it was too far removed from the center of population and another move had to be made. This time, with a foresight commendable, a site was chosen near Arlington, about seven miles below Riverside, not far from the Santa Fe Railroad and close to Magnolia Avenue, with the electric street railway going past the hospital two or three times per hour.
Seventy acres of the finest alluvial soil was bought, on which every- thing adapted to the country can be grown, both farming and garden products, with all kinds of fruits, deciduous or evergreen, including walnuts. Here has been built large and commodious buildings with endless screen porches for air and sunshine for the health and cheer of inmates, in addition to the main two-story building situated in the midst of abundance of shade for the summer, with flowers of all kinds wherever a spot can be found for their growth. There are a multitude of buildings surrounding for various kinds of people and differing kinds of troubles with necessary surroundings.
There are buildings for the tubercular, contagious diseases, quaran- tine, detention and old men, besides other buildings for outdoor assistants and for nurses who require quiet and unbroken rest, and buildings sepa- rate from the others for various purposes.
The buildings have a present capacity of 100 for patients and inmates apart from the employes and is now nearly filled to its capacity and comprises about everything that could be thought of in all the various departments of a hospital or a home. Perhaps the most apparent feature at first sight is the absolute cleanliness of everything outside and in and contented and happy looks of everyone, even the sick and suffering. The officials and the resident physician, Doctor Wood, are on the most familiar terms with all, even the feeble and infirm, and his visits, professoinal and otherwise, are looked forward to with pleasure. The great amount of screen porch gives all the rooms a sunny aspect, while the walnut trees give an agreeable shade in summer. The institution is self-supporting as far as it is possible from the farm. Abundance of fresh vegetables in their season all the year round, and soon enough fruit of all kinds for
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present use and canning. All the meat consumed on the place is raised and the sixteen cows kept on the farm furnish all the milk and butter and the large flock of poultry furnish eggs and chicken with the Thanksgiving turkey. An ice plant furnishes ice for all purposes, while the steam boilers furnish steam and heat for every purpose. All the laundry work is done on the place with the most modern appliances. The surplus fat is made into soap. The operating room is furnished with everything necessary and the X-ray and medical department are as complete as can be made, while analysis of everything needed can be carried on with study of germs with a view to overcoming everything in relation to the preven- tion or treatment of disease.
The inmates consist of all who are in need of surgical aid and who are suffering from any kind of sickness. Then there are the old and infirm, some of whom are able to pay their own way, who are as well treated as if they were in their own home. There is a library and read- ing room for those who are able or wish to read. Many of the inmates are quite unable to help themselves, but all seem to be happy and content. No one can be admitted except on an order of the supervisors except in case of haste in accidents or such like. Where paying patients are admitted or infirm people who cannot take care of themselves charges are based on cost, which for board is only about one dollar and thirty cents per day since the war, but was considerably less before that time.
Feed for stock, chickens, etc., and for fat animals is all grown on the place (with some hay for sale) and will explain why the relative cost per capita for food is so low. The farm buildings and the stock are about one-fourth of a mile away from the main buildings. All told, the whole place might be pronounced a model institution of its kind. The medical staff is composed of some of the best physicians and surgeons of River- side.
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