The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-16

The News-venders of London, In 1920. c,rmed n
Benevolent and Provident Association, which cele-
brated its anniversary few days since. Mr.. Dick
ems presided, and made the following interesting
speech:
g. The chairman said that it now became his duty
70 give them what was usually called the toast OF
the evening. That duty, as Shakespeare said, can
not be silent But he would promise, that what
ever he might say, should be said earnestly and to
the purpose, and at once as much and as little
possible. As he learned from the pamphlet before
him, 1t was ten years since the news-venders, being
large and industrious body in London, estab-
lished benevolent and proyident institution for
granting temporary relief and permanent assist
ance TO persons engaged masters and servants in
that trade; and he observed that the institution SO
originated had this excellent feature-that only
those we're eligible permanent pensioners who
were members Of the society and had contributed
70 It's funds, which, as he thought, very salu
tary and wise regulation not only as encouraging
provident habits and the feeling of brotherhood but
also as sparng the reduced recipients of bounty any
humiliation in availing themselves of those funds
hear hear, as inspiring the conviction that they
could accept the money without blush as they had
subscribed to this society and had done for others
no less than for themselves for they had not then
known that the hour of sickness and Distress which
came TO 80 many, would come to them; but being
come, they could thank God that they had been
mindful OF it, and could take the pittance with an
independent spirit and upright head. [Cheers. AL
though this institution had f. 900 of hard money
whole life had been passed in the nursery; il was
so young that this was the first time that il had
come down to show itself after dinner. [Hear,
hear, and laughter.] But as there was in the in
iancy OF all young creatures a certain period when
the frame was gathering form and strength, so he
believed that this young creature had been EN-
Ployed these ten years in the necessary amount OF
sleep and very mild sustenance, and that night a
young giant was exhibited to them for the first
time, which, like the giant in the "Arabian Nights"
would kick over the casket which had contained il;
yet, unlike that giant, would never be able to get
into il again. ICheers and laughter.] The ra-
pidity with which healthy children grow out Of
their clothes was complaint in many families
ne knew it was in his own. IA laugh.1
this child did not grow out of its first suit OF
wool while the nap was yet new, SO as to compel
them to measure it in quick succession for suit of
f2,OOO, or E5,0OO, or El0,000, the fault would be
their own and they would deserve to be stigmatized
as most unnatural parents. For himself, mem
Der OF the family, he should never be satisfied un
less he had the opportunity of saying the grown
up bantling, al knew you when you were a mere
baby with very weak chest. sat at the head of
the 'aple on the hrst occasion when your pinafore
was taken of; and now see you a strong man, who
II may adopt the phraseology of the sporting part
oil the press, may be heard Of once year the bar
OF the Albion, whose money is posted ready for all
oomers, and who would be very glad to meet with
any customers who may do him the honor to call"
Inc Claims OF the news-venders, as body, upon
one another, and upon the public, TO erect provi
dent institution Of their own, and 10 elevate them
oe'sSs, oAu diesc mey employed, social SCALE
seemed TO be the most undeniable II not that
they toiled In all weathers-it that they
up early and late-that they were watching whilst
others sept-that they mnstered at our doors daily
throughout the year-although this much, for
which we owed them debt of gratitude; IL was
not for this that they inherited this claim, but il
was because they we're connected with that great
power which had become the axis upon which the
moral world turned round, fchcersl l-humbly
nected perhaps they were but usefully and insepa-
rably, TO that fountain OF men which
was popularity called the press, and to that nstitu-
ton they were as conduits TO well Of water,
what the pipes beneath the streets Of this city
were to the great gas-works from which the lights
proceeded which turned night into day. II
was, that they went forever between and those
mighty engines which, working night by night,
throughout the civilized world. fCheers.l II was.
that those men should be in n high degree worthy
Of their trade, and should not be behind the mem
bcrs Of any other industrious calling but should be
upon level with the foremost. II was not more
than two hundred and fifty years since the very
hrst idea OF newspaper was conceived in this
island TO stimulate the people TO resist the Spanish
Armada IL was not two hundred years since the
first notion Of regular newspaper, in any thing
like the present form, was reduced 10 practice One
hundred and fifty years ago there did not appear 20
have been a single daily paper in England, and
state OF things with that now existing, he felt as
II the humble men connected with the vending of
news ought TO be in advance Of those times in the
saHe proPoruohatc uegree as the newspapers they
dealt in, and that they ought 10 take their stand
upon the footing Of their useful trade, and be as
much recognised and respected in their trade as
the paper maker or the printer. [Hear.l The oh.
ject which had brought them together at that meet
ing might at first seem small, but was 30 great in
its importance, and 90 comprehensive in its princi-
pie, that IL really deserved their best consideration
He thought that every follower, however humble of
that great plough which ever turning up the
world, and knew no season or pause in it, work
was deserving OF their best Consideration, and
therefore he asked them 10 drink most heartily and
Prosperity 10 the News-venders' Pro
yidcnt and Benevolent Association" fChecrs.l