The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-07 00:00:00

PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR AND THE
SHOEBLACKS.

On Saturday Prince Albert Victor opened and in-
spected the Whittington Boys' Club, in Leman-street,
Whitechapel, London. The institution is well situated
for its purpose, being in a crowded district of the East-
end, and the premises are well adapted for home and
club life for lads. It is intended to afford (Ist), for
the Shoeblack Society, a large dormitory containing
sixty beds, a large dining-room, and a recreation room
and library; (2nd) for the working youths who are
lodgers, a large dormitory containing forty-five beds,
two smaller dormitories containing eighteen beds, a
recreation room, and a library ; (3rd) for club
members, a bar and refreshment room, and a recrea-
tion room; (4th) a gymnasium, which will be used,
under arrangement, by all; and (sth) apartments for
resident superintendents and other officials. The large
dining-room of the Shoeblack Society was on Saturday
gaily decorated in honour of the auspicious event, and
besides coloured bunting and festoons, mottoes and
words of welcome and goodwill were to be seen on
the walls. There was also some little display of
flags in the street, in which for a considerable time
prior to the Prince's arrival a large number of eager
spectators were assembled. His Royal Highness's
appearance was the signal for much cheering, and
for an appropriate musical welcome by a band in the
club. The reception over, his Royal Highness was
conducted to the dining-room, which was crowded by
lady and gentlemen friends of the Institute, and there
a statement was made respecting the origin, objects,
usefulness, and financial needs of the club by the
Rev. S. Walround, who spoke of the many tempta-
tions surrounding the youth of the metropolis, espe-
cially at the East-end. Prince Albert Victor then
formally opened the institution. Lord Sudeley, in
proposing a vote of thanks to tho committee, said that
the inauguration ceremony was a bright and happy
omen of the future of the club. (Cheer s.) The reso-
lution having been carried, the Rev. S. A, Barnett, in
reply, said he had lived through the growth of the
institution from a refuge to its culmination that
day in the Whittington Chambers. The principle on
which they had gone, and by which the Whittington
was still to be governed, was to guide and not to
govern, to trust to influence rather than to rules, to
limit freedom only by friendship, and to teach the
boys through their higher, and not their lower nature.
The committee appealed to the public that the gift
might be according to the need. The boys themselves
had given £9OO. The money was wanted to provide
the air, the water, the light, the space—a sufficiency
of which was an impossible luxury for the poor. In
conclusion Mr. Barnett asked to be allowed to thank
his Royal Highness. (Hear, hear.) His coming had
been most kind and gracious, and could not fail to
help in giving unity to his generation. (Hear, hear.)
Prince Albert Victor then proceeded downstairs to
the gymnasium, where were assembled a large number
of working boys who made the cluh their home, and
they greeted his Royal Highness with much cheering.
Upon the subsidence of the enthusiastic outburst,

His Royal Highness said: Boys of the Whittington
'Club and of the East .London .Shoeblack Society and
friends,—l am very.glad to come and see you to-day.
I hope that each and all of you will try as hard as
you can to be a credit.to this club, and to yourselves.
(Hear, hear.) I wish,to help you in doing this by
asking you to remember two things. First, whatever
you do, whether it be blacking a pair of shoes, prac-
tising gymnastics, reading a book, helping a friend—
whatever, it is, do it as well as you can. (Cheers.)
"If a thing is worth doing at all, is worth doing well"
is a good old English motto. Secondly, never do
what you know to be wrong. ,Often you will feel
inclined, either through your own wishes or through
the promptings of companions, to do something you
would like, but which your conscience tells you
ought not to be done. (Hear, hear.) Well, then
is the time not to give way; be brave, stand
firm, refuse under any circumstances to do what you
are not sure is right. (Hear, hear.) May I ask you
to remember these two things? If you will do so,
then, as you grow up, you will be worthy to play your
part as English citizens. And when you come to
years of discretion you will be able to judge for your-
selves whether you will remain in England, or whether
you will seek your share in the English lands beyond
the seas. There is plenty of room aut there. (Hear,
hear.) Ample air and larger aims, and here you seem
rather crowded. (Laughter.) May God bless you
all, whether here or there. (Cheers.)
The Prince then visited the bar and refreshment
room of the club, and shortly after left the institution,
his departure being watched by a numerous crowd,
who cheered lustily as the carriage drove away.