A certain brutality of parents towards their children exists among the lower classes, a condition that is probably due more to inferior intelligence caused by lack of education than to anything else. As but a very small minority of the population of this part of the country, say twenty per cent., and a much smaller proportion of the tribes of the interior read and write, this attitude is readily understood. The prevalence of crippled begging children in the cities leads to the supposition that they are not all deformed by accident or disease, but that in many instances they have been purposely so rendered in order to more profitably ply their trade by creating sympathy in the minds of the persons addressed in their appeals for succour. During the summer months a considerable number of such pitiable creatures between four and eight years old may be seen in the streets of Aleppo, some with deformed legs, some with spinal afflictions, and others blind or otherwise maimed, many unable to walk and hutching from place to place, collecting coppers from those whom their condition touches. As the hour grows late in the night these unfortunates gradually disappear one by one, and if a person is interested in their destination they may be seen to be gathered up in some obscure corner by an apparent relative or guardian, lifted to the shoulder and carried away into the maze of various Oriental residential quarters, where their scanty collection is spent in support of a family, or for the poisonous rakee, a strong alcoholic drink much relished by the lower element. It was suspected that a sort of society existed whereby such children were produced and let out to certain parties to be exploited for their personal benefit, but no serious investigation has ever been made, and the nefarious traffic continues. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (_Signed_) JESSE B. JACKSON, _American Consul_. AMERICAN CONSULATE, ALEPPO, SYRIA, December 15, 1913. _Subject_: REPORT: TREATMENT OF CHILDREN. (_Consul_, JESSE B. JACKSON, ALEPPO, SYRIA.) THE HONOURABLE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WASHINGTON. SIR: I have the honour to transmit herewith a report in triplicate,[461] of today’s date, subject, “Treatment of Children,” which is in reply to an inquiry addressed to this Consulate by Mr. George Henry Payne, New York City, to whom the triplicate copy is hereby requested to be forwarded. Copies thereof are being sent to the Embassy and Consulate-General, respectively, Constantinople. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, JESSE B. JACKSON, _American Consul_. _Enclosure_: Copy of the triplicate report, as above indicated. AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE, SIERRA LEONE, AFRICA, April 7, 1914. GEORGE HENRY PAYNE, ESQ., NEW YORK. SIR: