Between the philanthropy and the humanitarianism: Julio Vizcarrondo and Coronado (1829-1889) and the Protective Society of the Children of Madrid

Abstract

In full 19th century, there developed the intense life of Julio Vizca- rrondo y Coronado. He stood out in infinity of activities: literary, political, mercantile, educational, humanitarian and charitable. He defended the abolition of the slavery in Puerto Rico, up to seeing his aim reached. The innovation of the charitable institutions that he established in Madrid, in protection of the poorest, was characterized for being of private initiative, not depending on public organisms, not even to be does not even assign either to ideological current nor any politics.

In 1878, the prolific benefactor promoted and established the Protective Society of the Children, together with Cristóbal Colón de la Cerda (the XIVth Duke of Veragua) and other personalities. The charitable institution was an effective instrument to free of the physical and moral misery in which there were living hundreds of children and girls orphan and left. Julio Vizcarrondo had the happy idea of extracting to the public light the Bulletin of the Protective Society of the Children (1881), official organ of the entity and diffuser of the hygienic rules that the mothers had to follow in the care of the children.