The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-29
Local Matters.

A FEW WoRps ABOUT REFoRM.-The number of
youths in this city from twelve TO twenty one
years OF age 10 very large, and their condition far
from satisfactory II is not the Usage Of parents to
restrain them with much particularly, and i'll al
most all CAGES those who without parents are
without any salutary control. The apprentice sys-
TEN ID less stringent all sides than il formerly
was. The obligation to continue with master Is
less binding than in former times, and the obliga-
ton of the master TO seek the welfare of the appren
tice Is To the same extent lessened. The mutual
relationship 10 hence understood TO imply little
more than the provision of food and rament by one
party, and the rendering ten hours service per
day by the other
No man who remembers the history of his own
youthful days will believe that this of things
is right just Every youth is entitled to the ad-
vice and guidance Of one whose age and character
deserve his confidence and respect; and, without
these, he is ever exposed to all the temptations Of
the moment, and in danger of running into evil
courses, and sacrificing to unlawful pleasures his
health, his prosperity, and his reputation
Yet there hundreds, perhaps thousands, in
our city thus destitute, and many of them from
year to year treadng the downward path to infamy
and ruin, while the community around them arc
indifferent their condition and their fate, only
when tiie Oh fearful Hntkes
them shudder for their safety, excites their
approximations for the reputation of the city itself
To remedy these, it is important that the matter
be taken in hand by a number of active and influ
entail citizens, who will be willing to prosecute
il to completion. The means to be adopted must
be ascertained and agreed upon by themselves,
and approved by the community. OF course, there
will, in the first instance, be conflicting views up
on this subject, but definite plan will be finally
| acquiesced in. Our plan would be thus:
l. To divide the city into four districts.
In each district to prepare a hall adequate tc
seat, comfortably, several hundred persona.
g. To supply each hall with a good library; to
keep it well warmed in the winter, and in the
mer well ventilated and supplied with ice-water;
and at all seasons TO keep it lighted from O'Clock,
p. m, till IL, to be used reading room.
A. To have each hall and library kept by man
who would be competent to preserve order and to
give good counsel respecting morals study, and
all matters upon which youths are likely to require
advice.
o. To cause lectures upon improving subjects to
be delivered in these halls on one or two evening.
of each week.
g. To permit no conversations above a whisper,
between the yisiters
7. To require wIitten permit from member
of a committee of management for the admission
of each vister; this permit to be suspended for
feited by the committee for certain offences
$. Every visiter to be regarded under the adj
vice Of the committee in all his conduct and tt,e
committee to appear and act in his behalf in all
cases Of difficulty.
9. No debating or other society to be formed in
connexion with these reading room companies, and
no pageantry or parades to be at any time permit
ted.
TO- Subjects Of religious and political contro
versy to be avoided by lecturers but work to be
excluded from the library, unless regarded by the
committee as of immoral tendency.
IL. The fire companies arc good Institutions, pro-
perly managed, but have often proved ruinous tc
youth; therefore, the visitors of these rooms being
minors, to be suspended or expelled for any con-
nexion with the former, save by the special permits
sion of a member of the committee, upon proof
satisfactory TO the committee that the exigency
made it necessary and proper.
u. No tax at any time to be imposed upon tn,
visiters.
Is. Minors found in the streets at unreasonable
hours, or guilty of improper conduct at any time
70 be dealt with according to the strict terms of
| isting laws, such may be cnacted and keep
ers of drinking houses, gambling houses, &C., {
be held to rigid account for entertaining them
giving them drink, or permitting them to gamble
| Ia This subject, upon these or other well-intend
ed suggestions, to be forthwith acted upon.
BESEvoLEScE.-Wey yesterday poor drunk
en- wretch coming out Of a drinking cellar, and tn
keeper of the cellar kindly aiding him in his exit
The poor fellow had badly bruised hat, and pant
very much lscerated, and in his coat several sligh
Commissions, and that indicated modification
as inevitable. As we looked upon him in the street
clean out Of cash and the cellar, we pitied hin
heartily, and the kindness of the good Samaritan
who had SO tenderly assisted him, affected sen
sibly, though not unto tears.
| Az AccIpsST.-As WILLIAM III. EDEs, esq.
Of Georgetown, and his little son. riding in
buggy on Tuesday afternoon, some of the gearing
attached TO the horse snapped, at which the anima
became frightened and started of at full speed
tree brought him up, breaking the vehicle an
brusing the lad rather badly, but fortunately no
inhcting any dangerous permanent injury.
| DLANC'S SPANISH AND ENGLISH Die
ID TIONARY. vol, London, lS4S.
Meadows Spanish and English Dictionary,