The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-09
engaged is estimated in the lower district a. about


The third class also sufncisoty we'll marked to
girls of tender years. and frequently neatly dressed
modest looking and In many Instances even pretty.
Their ostensible business s the sale of nuts fruits
socks, tsohpicks &c and with this ruse, they gain
ready access to counting rooms, offices, aud other
places where In the secresy and sscluson of turasd
key they submit for miserable brbs OF few shings
to the most degrading familisrites By these prsc-
tices, they frequently are enabled to carry home
two or three dollars daily And this very money to
obtain which the miserable child exchanges its pre-
sent and future welfare Ia eagerly graspsd by the often
inebiiste PARENTS who with the full knowledge Of the
and on the morrow the girl again sent forth pom the
The captain Of the Eleventh Patrol district u speak,
ipg Of this class OF children says may be pro
state that most Of these children OF German or
Irish the proportion of American born being
not more than one in five Scenes OF almost nightly
occurrence might IL necessary be related whicn for
veness and deep deprsvity would absolutely staggsr
belief
These enormities have long been known to the de-
partment and they to me In such unq ueston-
tionabe shape, that cannot doubt the truth OF the
sm that there are honorable exceptions to
the above and that some among the hundreds included
In this third class are In reality homes. children
deavoring to gain living By the Legitimate sale Of
tribes but the majority vicious and only so their
number Is computed fourth In the districts named, at
The fourth class boys-they are termed baggage
smashers;n they copgregate around steamboat laud-
nss and railroad depots apparently for the purpose
carrying parcels for individuals arriving In the city
large proportion Of them have homes whstsver;
they will not hesitate to steal when opportunity
and live idle and dissolute lives generally in
the markets. under sheds and occasionally in cheap
lodgings but the luxury Of bed Is article, no
ever which they seldom indulge in OF an average
larger growth and more experience than those classes
before mentioned there Is method in their evil
propensiss AMI not unfrequently small burglaries
traced home to them. There about one hundred
and twenty thus engaged.
fifth class consists Of boys similar to those last meu
toned, with this exception-they have homes, and
many Of them the children Of respectable parents
but through q mistaken leniency a criminal careless
they suffered to spend their evenings aud Sab
baths in small gatherings the Of the streets
annoying the neghborhood aud psssers By with their
reckless oaths and blasphemies. They will often steal
and many of them absent themselves from the roof Of
their parents and for weeks together sleep
Ing In market and other places OF ehelter con-
sorting with the vest of both sexes, aud forming ha
bits Of Vice and dissipation which cling to them through
all their after years Frequent complaints made BY
citizens In regard to the practices OF these juvenile
rowdes but under existing regulations the efforts OF
the police found inadequate to the suppression OF
the nuisance The number of these Is estma,e at be-
ed to me- from the above. named districts. twenty
three hundred and eighty three children that do not
attend school.
In presenting these disagreeabe facts for the eon,
derstion Of your Honor trust that may be pardoned
for the suggestion in conclusion that in my opinion
some method by which these children could be CON-
PEELED to attend schools regularly be spprenced
to some suitable occupation would tend In time more
to i'm prove the morals o the community cme
and relieve the city from Its ouerous burthen Of
penses for the Almshouss and Penitentsry than any
other conservative phiiHnthropic movement with
which am at present acquainted.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. w. MATsELL, Chief Of Police.