Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/712

 696 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

regard to the necessity of animal food or of wearing shoes, for instance, a small rural community will entertain opinions differ- ing widely from those held by the inhabitants of a large city, where barefoot children are not allowed in school and conse- quently the wearing of shoes becomes a necessity. The estab- lishing and maintaining of institutions for the feeble-minded, the infirm, the deaf and dumb, the blind, and orphans will also fall unquestionably within the province of public charity, although even in Germany the care for the blind and the deaf and dumb has been left largely to private philanthropy, while private institutions very often relieve the state of the burden of caring for orphans. At this point we find the connecting link (between public and private charities) the public subsidies, which have been developed to a considerable extent in Germany also, though not so much as in America. Private institutions for the deaf and dumb and the blind usually receive from the bureau of public charities certain appropriations which go far towards supporting the institutions. Asylums for the aged, the feeble-minded, and children also receive subsidies in the form of free use of public lands, etc. The demands of Warner careful supervision of all subsidized institutions, regulations in regard to admission and dismissal of such people as are kept in any institution at public expense, and finally specific payment for specific work are very judicious and proper.

To decide further than this what particular work shall be done by public relief and what left to private charities, will always remain a very difficult matter. In most cases it will be a question of actual conditions : the one branch will have taken charge, to a greater or less degree, of this or that department, from which the other branch will then keep more or less aloof. In any case the commune should be thoroughly familiar with such institutions as already exist, and should carry on the exten- sion of its own efforts accordingly. It is also very desirable that the two branches arrive at some mutual understanding and agreement as to who shall be entitled to aid, under what condi- tions, etc. The constant annoyance occasioned by shameless