New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-01-09

innocent cfIlldnOO1 N tftr HuptII4DcH -
Their peuevering advances, and the ie"d o.
l;ngsgste N Their voices. individually gives
rise 70 the oaestiOu what fearful Ho' VIII
the seed. q SIN thus early sown Driig D,lh in
vornansrosi ?" Citizens generally suppose uis' ID
bestOwing pennies upon these oil'oiv'' mi ".
performing acts Of charity and oil meic! tHs f"
a mistake Whatever may BE- tneh ea4us 1Iins
the dsv the amount IS almost siN 'Pvh' III iHs
the night In visiting the galleries OF uie Mh'Or 'he
a,c-, u, in the lowest dens Of drunkenness and
a;.es.a xhich abOund 10 the Five POINTS and its
,-;gi,itv And they Oftentlmes waste iarge sums Of
,rc,,ey amid balf grown boys Of similar stamp, IA
the most disgusting scenes Of Precoclo1s dHsPa-
ron and debauchery. The number thus engaged
/. e.timated. IN the iOwer districts, at sDOut one
hundred
The 81 class are also sufficiently well marked 20
pressut distinctive features They likewise are
mostly girls Of tender years, and frequently neatly
dressed modest looking, and u many instances e. e.
pretty Their Ostssibe business Is the sale OF nuts
fruits socks toOth-picks. &c and with TINS r''s'
they gam ready access % counting rooms, Orices'
and other places, where, IN the secresy and seen
SION Of turned key, they submit Tor niserACe
bribe Of few shl6ngs % the most degrading ia.
nIliarities By these practices they frequent are
enabled TO carry home some two or three ooAd'
daily And tins very money, 10 obtain "i,'.H l"e
miserable child exchanges it, present ana iUtu
welfare is easily grasped by me oiteh me-. g.
parents. who. With fan know ledge 81 ttle -
by which il is obtained, scrupe n0' 70 use IT, -
m I'm. marrow the grl is again sent lorth upon 'ne
same disgusting errsnd. NJ. q:
The Csrtaiu Of tie 18th Patro District IN
speaking Of this class OF citizens say my
Drover D. state that most Of these chiafeh aie "
German or Irish parentsge the proPortiOh oi Ane'
;csr hon, being not more than one ia I'VE scenes
=, al,,ns, nightly occurrence might, II necessary,
bo related which for vileuess and deep depraNlIy
,,,,ld absolutely stagger bebef
These enormifies have long been known % the
Department and they have come to me M such
an unreasonable shape that cannot doubt the
truth Of the statement.
am aware that there are honorable eNceP'o'
IN the above and that some among the hundreas'
included IN tins third class, IA reality honest
children eDdcavOring 10 gam living BY the ieglti
mate sale OF tri1es. bot the majority are VICIOUS
and only 50 their number IS computed IN the as
tricts named, at $50.
The 4th Glass are boys-they are termed " bag
yage sruashcrs /" they cOngregste around steam
boat lanpings, and railroad depots, apparently Tor
the purpose Of carrying parcels for individuals ar
irving in the city. large proportion OF ihem nave
90 homes whatever they will not hesitate to steal
when opportunity offers, and live idle and dlssoiute
lives. generally sleeping in the markets, under
sheds and occasionally in chesp lodgings Dnt the
luxury Of bed is an article however winch they
seldom indulge m OF an average larger growth
mentioned there is more method Ia their evl pro
peusties and not unirequently are small burglalles
traced home 10 them. There are about 100 thus
engaged.
A 5th Glass consists OF boys similar 10 those last
mentioned. with this exception--they hore hor'f',
and many Ofthem are the children OF respectable pa
rents. bat through mistaken eniehcy or a criminal
careessness they are suffered 10 spend their even
lngs and Sabbath in small gatherings on the corners
q the streets annoving the neghbOrhOot and pass
ers bv with their wrangine and fighting practices.
and with the most reckless oaths and basphcmies
They will often steal and many Of them absent them
selves from the roof Of their parents oT guardians Tor
weeks together, sleeping IN market WAGONS ana
other places Of shelter consortIne with the West"
both sexes and forming habits OF vice and dlsslpa'
ton which cling tOthcm through all their after years
Frequent complaints are made by citizens IN regard
TO the practices OF these juvenile rowdes, but IN
der existing regulations the efforts OF the police
are found inadequate 10 the suppression OF the nuI
sance The number Of these is estimated at be
tween 600 and LOO, Beside these, there are
reported 10 me from the above named districts
? 1873 children that do not attend school
In presenting these disagreesbe facts for the con
slderaton OF your Honor, trust tia, may be par
toned for the suggestion IN conclusion. that IN my
opinion some method 10y which these children could
be compelled to attend schools regularly or bc
apprenticed suitable occupation, would tend
IN time more to improve the morals OF the oomrnn.
nty prevent crime and relieve the CITY ron its
onerous burden OF expenses ior the Aims House and
Penltentiary than any other Conservative or pmlai'
thropic movement with which am p, present &C.
auainted Respectfully submitted
GEO W MATSELL Chief Of Police