The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-16 00:00:00

street, ge,

The mode of admission to the Maine is twofold,
Ist. By election of the subscribers. Boys thus admitted
are received free, boarded, clothed, educated, and taught till
they are 11 years of age.
With the view 1 o secure the election of the most deserving
cases, the Committe have from the first discouraged canvas-
sing, and they do not print any addresses of the subscribers.
The voting papers contain a description of eadh case,. as care-
ful y investigated by the Committee, and with this informa-
tion the subscribers are able to judge for themselves as to
those most eligible for free admission.
This Home was opened in April, 1864. It was designed to
take in the little ones whose charact r and circumstances
disqualify them for the Orphan Asylums, and whose tender
age precludes their admission to the Refuges. Such are those
who, from neglect, are already on the road to ruin. Such are
those who have been deserted by their natural protectors and
left to beecome idle wanderers. Such are those whose
parents may have at one time or other received parish relief,
and who are now friendless orphans. Such are those whose
parents are breakers of the law, or are in prison, and who
train their children in the same path. Such are those whose
evil associations have already had their painful effect, and
must lead them to a life of crime and misery.
There are now 50 little inmates from about four years of
age to 10. There is room for nearly 100, and the Committee
would joyfully see the Home filled at once ; they only wait
for the necessary subscriptions.
The Committee feel constrained to plead for those who
cannot thus plead for themselves ; and, referring to the cir-
cumstances of some who have been already admitted, they
ask—is it right to make a widow and her family paupers for
lire because one of them (the naughty boy of the family) runs
wild in the streets and is beyond her control? Is it kind to
tell her, because she has so large a family, that you will not
11^1p her to put one of them into a Home. but that they must
ail go into " the house ?" Is it doing the best we can for the
little destitute orphan to send him to the workhouse. Is it
doing to others as we would they should do unto us that when
these little ones have unnatural parents who turn them into
the streets, or force them by ill-treatment to " run away,"
none of us show d be found to care for them, to speak a kindly
word to them, to befriend them, to house and clothe them ?
Shall we leave them still on the doorstep, passing by on the
other side, or else exclaiming " Am I my brother's
keeper ?"
The necessity for an Institution for these little ones is evi-
dent from the police statistics, which show that in London
alone, in one year, no fewer than 311 boys under 10 years of
age, have been apprehended for various offences, 79 of whom
were convicted and punished, while the bulk, 232 were dis-
charged by the magistrates with a rebuke, as being too
young to punish, though not too young to learn the beginnings
of crime. On the other hand, there are numbers who, but
for the timely help afforded by such an Institution, must
otherwise become paupers, and losing all ideas of sell-rell
ance and self-help, be permanent burdens to the State.
The Home for Little Boys has, therefore, been established
to rescue the little ones, to save them from the prison on the
one hand, and the workhouse on the other, and to endeavour
to make them useful members of society.
The daily routine of the Institution presents all the fea-
tures of a home, a school, and a workshop. The little ones
are cared for as children ; they have their regular meals,
their suitable clothing, their hours of play and amusement,
and their singing class. They are treated as scholars ; every
morning is devoted to school work—reading, and writing,
and ciphering, and Scriptural instruction, .with occasional
lessons in objects and other subjects. But they are also
trained to work.. As they must all, and that at a very early
period in life, earn their living by the sweat of their brow,
they are here at once taught habits of industry. Sot he after-
noons are occupied with various industrial occupations—
making brown paper bags for bankers, and white I aper bags
for tradesmen, and door mats and servants' kneelers for any
who will buy them ; picking the coil for the mats, mending
the c'othes, &c. Some waist the master in the garden,
digging, planting, watering, weeding, and so forth. By
degrees they are being made useful in the house, scrubbing
and sweeping, while the elder ones clean all the boots,
knives, &c. In this way it is sought to fit them for an active
working life.
2d. By payment of ss. a week, made quarterly in advance.
All children must be under 10 years of age at the time of
admission. Those received on payment are admitted at any
time as soon as approved by the Committee,
Forms of application for the admission of children may be
had at the Home, and of the Honorary Secretary-, ►