ART. 4.] VAGRANT CHILDREN. 573

PROTESTANT INFANT ASYLUM.

1878, ch. 297.

908. The protestant infant asylum of Baltimore city, a corpo-
ration duly incorporated under the laws of this State, is author-
ized and empowered to receive into its custody, care and control,
all such foundlings and orphans and other destitute infants under
the age of four years as shall be committed, by instrument of
writing, under the hand of the party so committing to its keep-
ing, by the parents, guardians or others having the right of dis-
position, or by any orphans' court or justice of the peace of this-
State, (if of the class of children whom such court or justice
could lawfully bind out as apprentices, which commitment to the
said protestant infant asylum of Baltimore city such orphans"
courts and justices are hereby empowered to make,) and retain
under its care, charge and restraint each of such foundlings and
infant children so committed to its keeping until he or she shall
have attained the full age of fourteen years, or for any shorter
period, and at or before said age to bind out any and every one
of said foundlings and infants for a term of time not exceeding
the age of twenty-one years, if the child be a male, or of eighteen
years, if the child be a female, as an apprentice to learn any-
trade or business suitable to the sex of the child, or to learn to be
useful in housewifery, or to place them for adoption or as inmates
with any families or persons, or transfer them to the custody,
charge, care and training of any corporate or other home, asylum
or other association authorized by law to receive such children,
and retain or bind them out in this State; provided, that all such
acts of binding, placing or transferring shall be evidenced by in-
strument of writing, signed by the president of said protestant
infant asylum of Baltimore city, and by the person or corpora-
tion taking such child as apprentice, or for adoption, or for sub-
sequent custody, care and rearing, and by such signers acknowl-
edged before a justice of the peace of this State, and within one
month from the date thereof recorded in the office of the register
of wills of Baltimore city, at the expense of the party so taking,
receiving or adopting; and provided, also, that the said protestant
infant asylum of Baltimore city shall keep a fair record, in a suit-
able book, of the admission of all children so received into its
custody and care, in which shall be stated the date of admission,