Kansas Charley Reaches Puberty
Will Drastic Surgery Cure His Disease?
Aug 21, 2006 Mary Trotter Kion
Drastic Measures Taken
Kansas Charley was reaching the age of twelve. The time would soon come for him to be placed out of the orphanage in New York and into a home with a family. But Charley was a bed-wetter and this was going to be a major problem if he was to succeed at making himself accepted. After a thorough medical examination, it was determined that Charley had a condition known as phimosis that was causing his bed-wetting. It was also believed to be the general cause for the practice of young males handling their private parts. Circumcision, in the 1800s, was believed to be the cure. This was not standard practice outside the Jewish faith as it is today, especially in a twelve-year-old boy. It would result in just one more way that Kansas Charley would be different from other boys, or men he would later meet. It would leave Charley with an unusual souvenir of the asylum where he was not happy, one that he had no choice but to carry with him for the rest of his short life.
Drastic Measures Fail
In 1887, Kansas Charley Miller left the orphanage. But one thing, in spite of the beatings and surgery, had not changed. Kansas Charley continued to be a bed-wetter. He was sent to the Babcock home in Virginia. This was a successful farm where there were enough chores to do to earn his keep. It was the perfect situation, except that Charley had no knowledge of farm work and was uncomfortable around farm animals. The situation did not workout because of Charlie's bedwetting. He was soon back at the asylum in New York. A new home would now have to be found for Charley Miller.
New Home, Old Work, No Wages
Early in 1887 a train of orphans, including Charley Miller, was on its way to St. Charles, Minnesota. Charlie's flaxen hair and blue eyes made him appear that here, amongst these Norwegian, German, and Swedish folk, he belonged in Minnesota. William and Nancy Booth though so too and took Charley home with them to their 160-acre farm.
On the way Charley leaned that he would be an only child. The Booth's own children were grown and gone from home. The Booths lamented that the year previous, 1886, they had had to shell out $150 on hired help. What they really needed, they told Charley, was a boy that they did not have to pay wages to while helping them bring in the crops.
With little time to adjust, Charley went to work. The work was hard and he missed his brothers. Later, Charley said that with the Booths he did not get to go to school enough, and that they whipped him and did not provide sufficient clothing. And then there was his old uncured and uncontrollable problem of bed-wetting. But Charley had his own plan to rectifying his situation, plans that involved his older brother Fred who lived in Kansas.
Charley Writes to Brother Fred
Charley wrote to his brother Fred who was still secure in his adopted home in Kansas. He told his brother that he was being mistreated and poorly clothed and that he would like to come and stay with Fred in Leonardville, Kansas. Fred showed the letter to his new family, the Loofbourrows, who did not know what to think. More complaining letters were to follow.
A Local Guarding Angel
In 1888, Charley, now thirteen, attend school for two months. He convinced his teacher of his dire situation with the Booths. Taking sympathy on the boy, the teacher wrote several letters on Charlie's behalf to the Loofbourrows.
Charley Runs Away
Finally, the Loofbourrows contacted the Children's Aid Society in New York City to see what could be done. In the meantime, Charley ran away from the Booths at least twice. On one occasion, after he'd been found, Mr. Booth suggested that they tie Charley to a tree and beat him. A few days later Mr. Booth received a letter from the Children's Aid Society telling him he could not hold Charley against his will.
Kansas Charley, continues with Kansas Charley on His Own
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