New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-19

BLlcKwELL's ISLAND.
The aspect OF Nature was sad ) what is worse,
twas dull and dubious, whenw set forth on ihese
visits. The sky was leaden and lowering, the air
unkind and piercing, the little birds sat mute and
as,onished at the departure of the beautiful days
which had lured them TO premature song. II was a
suitable day for such visits. The pauper establish
nents that belong to great city take the place Of
the skeleton at the banquets of old. They admon-
isl US Of stern realities, which must bear the same
explanation as the frequent blight Of Natures bloom.
They should be looked al by all, if only for their
own sakes, that they may not sink listlessly lnto
selfish ease, in world so full of disease. They
should be looked at by all who wish to enlighten
themselves as to the means of aiding their fellow
creatures in any way, public or private For nothing
can really be done till the right principles are ds-
covered, and it would seem they Still need TO be
discovered or elucidated, so little is done, with
great deal of desire in the heart of the community
TO do what is right. Such visits are not yet cacu-
lated to encourage and exharate, as does the story
of the Prodigal Son; they wear grave aspect and
sui, the grave mood of a cold Spring day.
At the Aims House there Is every appearance OF
kindness in the guardians of the poor, and there
was agreaterdegree of cleanliness and comfort than
we had expected But the want Of suitable and
sufficient employment is great evil. The persons
who find here either permanent or temporary re-
fuge have scarcely any occupationpovided exceptto
raise vegetables for the establishment and prepare
clothing for themselves. The men especially have
the most vagrant, degraded air, and so much indo-
lence must tend confirm them every bad habit.
We were told that as they are under strict disci
liz. 81 lao pof ha
made profitable yet surely the means OF such
should be provided, even at some expense. EN-
poyments of various kinds must be absolutely need
ed, if only to countelact the bad effects oil such
position Every establishment in aid OF the poor
should be planned with view TO tAel, education.
There should be instruction, both practical and IN
The use of books, openings to better intercourse
than they can obtain from their miserable homes,
correct notions as TO cleanliness, diet, and fresh air
great deal pains would be lost in their case,
with all other arrangements for the good of the
many, but here and there the seed would fall into
the right places, and some members OF the down
trodden million, rising little from the mud, would
raise the whole body with them.
As we saw old women enjoying their dish
Of gossip and their dish of tea, and mothers
able for a while TO take care in peace of their
poor little children, we longed and hoped for that
genius, who shall teach how to make, Of these es-
Establishments, places of rest and instruction, not oil
degradation.
The causes which make the acceptance of pub
lie charity so much more injurious to the receiver
than that of private are obvious but surely such
that the human mind which has just invented the
magnetic telegraph and Anastatlc printing, may
not obviate them. A deeper religion at the heart
Of Society would devise such means. Why should
il be that the poor may still feel themselves men;
paupers not The poor man does not feel himself
injured but benefited by the charity of the doctor
who gives him back the bill he is unable to pay,
because the doctor is acting from intelligent SYM
pathy-from love. Let Society do the same. She
might raise the man, who is accepting her bounty,
ins,ead of degrading him.
Indeed, it requires great nobeness and faith in
human nature, and Gods will concerning ii, for
the officials not to take the tone toward these un
der their care, which their vices and bad habits
prompt bat which must confirm them in the same
Men treated with respect are reminded Of self
respect, and il there is sound spot left in the
character the healthy influence spreads.
We were sorry 10 see mothers with their new
born infants exposed TO the careless scrutiny Of
male visitors. In the hospital, those who had
children scarce day old were not secure from the
gaze of the stranger This cannot be pleasant 10
them, and, if they have not refinement TO dislike
il, those who have should teach it TO them. But
We suppose there is no woman who has so entirely
los, sight Of the feelings of srhood as not 10 dis
like the scrutiny of strangers at time which Is
sacred if any IN life is. Women they may like to
see, even Strangers il they can approach them with
delicacy.
In the yard of the hospital, we saw little Dutch
girl, dwarf, who would have suggested
thousand poetical images and fictions to the mind
Of Victor Hugo or Sir Walter Scott. She had been
brought here TO New-York, as we understood, by
some Snowman and then deserted, so that this
place was her only refuge. No one could commu-
nicate with her or know her feelings, bu, she
showed what they were, by running TO the gate
whenever 1t was opened, though treated with ia.
miliar kindness and seeming pleased by it. She
had large head, ragged dark hair, glowerng
wizard eye, an uncou,h ye, pleasant smile, like an
old child she wore gold ring. and her com.
flexion was as yellow as gold, ii not as bright;
altogether she looked like gnome, more than any
/ attempt we have ever known to emoody in Art
ha, fabled uhabitan Of the Nines and secret cayss
Of earth.
From tie Aims House we passed in an open boat
e the Farm School. We We're unprepared 10 tnd
this, as we did, only school upon small farm,
instead of one in which study Ia associated with
labor. The children are simply taken care OF and
taught the common English branches till they are
Twelve years old, when they are bound cut 10
nous kinds OF work We think this plan very in
luticious. 1t is bad enough Tor the children of
rch parents, not likely in after life 10 bear hard
burden, and VINO are, at any rate, supplied with
those various excitements required to deveope the
character in the earlies, years; it is bad enough
We say, fer these 10 have no kind of useful labor
mingled with their plays and studies Even these
children would expand more, and b. more various
iy called ferth, and better prepared for common
life, if another course were pursued. But, in
schools like this at the farm, where the children,
On leaving it, will be at once called for sdroit-