The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-08-08 00:00:00

PIDDLEHINTON.

THE quiet little village of Piddlehin ton was awakened
from its usual repine on Monday by a visit of en
unumal but mut interesting character. The boys of
the Milborne Reformatory Caine by invitation to spend
the day with Mr. J. Levelace, and most heartily did
the poor follows s.c nto enjoy their holiday. Their
kind boat set two of hie waggons to the top of Dewlish
hill to meet them, and in them were packed forty.four
boys, Mr. Stout, the excellent superintendent, and his
astistant, as well as an old pupil who ebaneed to
have art ived from Glasgow, on a visit to his old master.
On their arrival they found Mr. Lovelaoe's garden
alive with ow rgreen arches and fixes, while over the
entrance was a banner, on which was embroidered in
leaves " We,come to the Reformed," in Latin: First
they marched through the village to Mr. C. Mayo's,
where their military hood, consisting of about sixteen
inatruments, played nem pieces of music) with great
precision and tit4e. Thence they proceeded to the
Baotou, and then to Col. Astell'i, at each place giving
a specimen of their teeniest skilL Then they returned
to Mr. Lovelace's, and dined in the garde., and after-
wards proceeded to a meadow and had a good mune of
cricket until four o'clock, %hen they Game back to tea
in the gardm, and Need a marvellous heap of plum
cake and bread and butter awaiting their arrival.
Grace was sung before and after tea, and after a short
interval tic boy. were called together to hear and
address from the Rev. E. W. Pears, of Dorehester, who
came over on purpose to speak to them. Attila time
the garden was filled with visitors, and the road out-
side and the steep bank on the other side of the road
were crowded with the people of the village. After
the address, which was listened to with greet atten-
tion, the band again cmtmenced playing, and some of
the visitors began dancing on the grass, while the rest
of the boys amused themselves in the orchard,
scrambling for gooseberries, and other diversions. It
was • very pretty sight to look from the crowd of
villagers on the height above the road, and see the
band aid dancing company In the garden, and, down
below, the orchard alive with the boys. But the end
came, and at seven o'clock they were all mustered, each
received one more piece of cake,llr. Stout in the name
of the boys thanked Mr. Lovelace for his kind enter,
tainment. the boys gave three ringing cheers for Mr.
and Miss Lovelace, the waggous Game to the gate, and
off they went on their rata= home. No thoughtful
person could look at those boys without interest. Their
cheerfulness showed that the discipline to which they
were subjected wheelie of kindness, while their healthy
appearance proved that their hard work did not hurt
them. And while they can out and bind and put In
shook eleven acres of wheat a day, and do turnip-hoeing
in first-rate style, they are eneouraged in every healthy
amusement; and the band by its efficiency shows that
what is taught is taught well. We don't know any
brass band in tiew parts that can play light dance
miens in ouch kautiful time and so aocurately. It
certainly is one of the pleaseateat aspects of our
criminal legislation that poor boys have snob an
excellent opportunity of regaining their Ghanaian
Among the company present. who seamed all to enjoy
the scene were Mrs. and the Mimes LIMB, Rev. E. W.
Pears, Mr. G. Majo, jam., Mr. and the Misses Mgr
of Chesilborne, Mrs. Wightman of Pidelletrenthithi,
Miss Guy of Maiden Newton, and the two Muses
Steak almost all of whom partook of Mr. Lovelace's
hospitality. We can but wish Mr. Steal every moms
in his difficult although interesting work, and hope that
if ever they come to to Piddlehinton again " we may
be there to see," and that others may be led to imitate
Mr. Lovelace's example, and encourage this most tin.
portant means of checking the growth of youthful
crime.