The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-01

~ KEy. SAMUEL osSooD.

In what quarter are We 10 look for II
s,est philanIhropisI Of the eighteenth Gel
wryi Go back a hundred years and SUI
nose the question TO be asked, who Of II
Toung men Of til time Wa 10 win statu
= s. Paul's cathedral as q tribute TO h
nbilanthroplc services. None would hsv
sought for him in grocer's shop. or locke
6r him in that psle-fseed boy behind Mi
Newuham's counter 10 London. Yet sue
wss John Howard in hs youth. The sol
Of a wealthy upholsterer, be was sppren
iced to a wholesale grocer al the us,lal age
Although the business was not TO ms taste
and on his fathers death he purchased wha
remained Of his time, he undoubtedly de
ryed much advantage from the rigid discip
line of his apprenticeship, especially muci
Of the accuracy in details which enabled
him 10 give such clear statements Of tn,
condition of the suffering and point out tn,
efficient remedy. Ii was years. before hii
hour came and he found his true MISSION
We can but glance at Two or three points
in his life previous TO his celebrated career
Ia the year 1852 or 1853 visit the vii
age Of Newington near London, and you
knd ina! the pale apprentice has become a
man Of fortune. and though still in feeble
health, he devotes himself to scientific pur.
suits and charitable deeds. He is now
twenty five years Of age and married. The
neghbOrs think him a little peculiar, no.
only from his unlailing beneyolence TO the
poor, bot from the Pertinacity with which he
INSISTED upon making the excellent person
ghO had attended him in sickness, bis wife,
Notwithstanding great disparity of years.
he iakes decided ground as religious man,
aud without being al all dogmstic is an in
.sresied member Of the Dissenting Church
% The place. He himself started and head
ed subscription for purchasing house for
the minister OF the congregation, a measure
which OF course We commend TO general
adoption. Such was Howard at Newing.
ton, kind hearted man Of wealth and
leisure, Of whom few persons out of the
Little village much knew or cared.
Glance al him once more q few years
stlsr. Look into filthy dungeon in Brest,
the naval port Of France. There upon the
damp floor Of the prison, with only a little
straw 10 protect them, lie a considerable
company Of Englishmen, sailors and pas
sengers Of merchant vessel bound to Lis
bon, and captured by French privateer.-
FOR forty hours they are left without food,
and then but miserable piece Of mutton
Is thrown TO them without plate or knife to
hold or divide it. Among them there is a
somewhat feeble looking man OF twenty
nine years. Ii is Howard. He is tasting
the lot Of the captive in all its bitterness
and unconsclousiy preparing himself for his
holy mission. Left a widower, with health
impaired and mind somewhat given to mel.
snehOly, be looked to travel for relief, and
was led by his interest in the suffering to
visit The scene Of the recent fearful earth.
quake al Lisbon. His imprisonment was
not Of long duration, thoug Oh long enough
to give him much knowledge and impulse.
The immediate occasion of directing his
attention TO the cause so identified with his
name, was MS appointment to the post Of
hgh sheriff for the county Of Bedford. d.
Tbs Office although honorable and respon-
sols was one usually undertaken by some
shuent and prominent man who took to
himself all the dignity of the station, and
Ieil is labors to some subordinate. How.
sTo was not the man to content himself with
grand Pageants and banquets TO which the
agh sheriff was usually called. Scrupu.
lously faithful to his duties, he took an
Early opportunity to inspect the gaol of his
country. he saw At once that a state Of
'hIngs existed there that called out his
Tsrmest Indignation and protest. He was
struck first Of all by the outrageous custom
o. retaining men in prison after their &C
4aiial, for the payment OF fees charged
'hem tor the time spent in confinement pre-.
Vlous to their trial. Anxious to abate this
abuse, he investigated the condition of other
ssols IN the hope Of finding more humane
PFecedents, and thus his career as the pris-
oheLs Trend began. This was in the year
he revelations of oppression and mise
y mat constantly presented themselves to
nun ID ms tour through England astonished
q himself as they did the whole English pub.
nc The disease, vice and injustice that
SeTe connected with the prevalent system,
9 ne carefully investigated and boldly exposed.
Ine attention Of the English Parliament
vas 81 once drawn to the subject, Howard
vas examined before the house of Com
mons and bill was passed abolishing the
SOnotLoOs gaol fees and providing for the
OeSer health Of the prisoners.
"nsI to some men would have been
g ~ as Q triumph sufficient to crown o
,ie WIN honor, wes to him but the begin
lug o. hIs work. He aimed as il were 10
a 'eAe he whole census of human misery.
P ISu al'eI Two tours Of observation through
s~ eialo and Wales, and two visits Of ex.
g.. aAOn' 70 the continent, he published his
~ ~, siano treatise on prisons in the year
hi. "emay regard the publication oil
nb;i.' T'A as closing the first period of his
fS.. career. cannot review or
ms' ~ ,s classify the forms Of misery that he
RAIL-. ~ln IN the prisons of Europe. In
sImo., 1o ne found some ray of light, but
Us s every where else the darkness was
No r'r and punishment seemed TO have
fs,S ielefence to the reformation of the OF
i =. e one incident is worthy of mention
tOdc ms. ~. visit to France for its high his.
sSu;,, interest At Paris he tried 10 Obtain
D.s..S ence INTO the Bsstile, and actually
Ger CIV ~l'nln the outer gate. But an off.
sIooG Inc "r out oil the guard-house with such
The nb;I.o aslOnlshment and threatening that
pull6ntlrnnsoa