New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-28
SchOe Ia for the Migrants.
About a year ago, several benevol,

Schools for the Migrants.
About year ago, several benevolently.
disposed men resolved to make an effort for .
immense neglected class in this City, the vagrn.
Children. The attempt did rot seem very promis
ing. These chidren-yery many Of them-hs
never seen the inside Of a church, had not bee,
to school, and could not read yet in shire wdnes
aud passions they were men. The first efforts Of
the gentlemen among them, were met with host
Ygs and a rather uncomfortable peting, and Oa
the whole the lads did not give indications Of any
very favorable preparation fors work of grace.
The Missionaries however, were not to BE-
bafied and they commenced by putting out 4,
sign Of Boys Meeting and speaking IN the
worst quarters, personally, to all the young Va.
grants they could find. The name OF Sunday
Scheol, or of any other school, they would have
cursed at, but the idea of A" Boys Meeting vas
rotker attractive. Then there would be such an
excellent chance for a row. with so many together
Wherever the boys were too much absorbed in
gambling cents, or in q ring-fght, to relish the
plan. the Missionary would rush right in among
them" Come boys! It will be late for the meet
ing. Now for a rush''-a gentleman and Va.
grants might be seen scamp, ring Tor the room,
The first sessions naturally were rather stormy.
The boys varying the prayers by whistlpgs Of
"Dandy JIM" or by yells known only to the is-
tiated of the Sixth Ward and changing the sing
ing into fearful screech, and making such te.
mendous noise generally, that the speakers could
handy hear their own voices.
Still something had been done. The children
had come together Of their own accord to their
meeting. The gentlemen now set other means 10
work they tried to get acquainted with some Of
the boys personally. They did them lutte sr.
vices. They helped them out of the Tombs and
the prisons on promise OF better behavior. Books
were got together for those who could read, and
children's papers lectures, with interesting ex.
perments were started in the evenings by some
and the boys looked on very quietly Indeed, I
make no doubt, that the giving the whole set Of
boys in one of these schools as many electro
shocks as they wanted one evening, did mMe 70
make them well-behaysd the next Sunday, than
any other cause. In another school they proud
ed entertainments occasionally. The fleet ofaH
this began to be apparent soon. Kindness was al
together a new aspect Of human life 10 the lads
and the meetings fast took very different char
octer.
The boys washed their faces o.oener nov, beisa
coming in. They were respectfully quist dunng
the pray ers and liked the singing, and joined iat
better and better and listened as quietly as aay
other audience, if there was an interesting sped
err. To be sure, there were some outbreaks noe
aud then. little skirm,h would occasionalJ
al ,Io tba hon in oh h,,tb "a
combatsnts would have TO be dragged out ora
dull speaker would he hailed with Now, come Op.
o that, old fellow; you We said enough up therer
1t was generally noticed however, that the boy
could tell what sort of speeches were cant ans
humbUg quite as quickly as much older audiences
Much tact was necessary, tor. II the chilina
were tired, a song was given out il they ware
restless, one of the managers would tell a good
story.
In speaking to them the plan was TO wasn
their attention in every way to illustrate; ~
late anecdotes and ask them questions. 1t "~
not thought necessary always 20 make relgcs
addresses to them, but in every way to rouse th@
minds to give them an impulse to whatever W"
DObc, and show them that there something
The general attendance in the meetings, uaiorts
nately, is always intimately connected with 10
movements of the engine companies ~
alarm of fire usually about once
two hours on Sunday, and all the ehtertan
ments or schools IN the city, are noting
to run with the 6remen. If the alarm CONS
an hour beforehand, the meeting is safe, and w
bows get back properly exhausted for an hours
sitting; but il it comes just at the time when w
meeting begins. or toward the close, everything
up. 1t was felt by all the sntlemen eaga5ea
this enterprise, that something more was nee'~
Means Of livelihood places 70 work mast he s'.
the Migrants, or the chances were saaii iof"'
ever going right. Accordingly. by private '
scription, an Asylum" lin Bank st.l was stine'
where the boys were TO be fed aud clothed a'o
attend school regularly, until places for tnela
the country could be found. The caudioate''
to be the lowest and most helpless ct the o"' =.
children children vagrant and pilierlDg on
wharyes o. already committed to tine iOno"
This Institution has had but slender supp.
we regret to say, and though successful
afford to take in more than 20 or % children
The other schools, before mentioned, only Nv,
bering or ), usually have each about iVV "
boys in regular attendance. .;.s
But little has apparently been DONE -
something that these little Migrants ana ''
and piferers. have been collected III an o''.
assembly that they have learned at leash -
place, to be little more clean, and 10 ac'
more quietly than in any other that 'ne'
once d v eek, certainly, words Of kindness sAs =.
hgious truth, and find that there are Some ~
beings Who care for them. We are Sa'p'''