Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-11-22
BY REQUEST. !
THE RAGGED SCaOOlS on LONDON,

The RAGGEU SUHOULS UE LONDON,
Aud the Industrial Schools Of our Metropolis.
What they hare done and acbat they are
doing for tie poor.
A meeting of ladies' was held on the 9th
inst, at eleven o'clock, in the Chapel Of
the New York University, to hear a lee.
ture from Mr.. c. L. Brace, on the Ragged
Schools Of London, and also to listen TO
the reports from the various industrial
schools which have been established in our
own city. 1t is hardly necessary 10 say
anything either in praise Of these ladies',
or the benevolent work in which they are
engaged-their reports are the best euIo-
GIGS on both, and we recommend them to
the careful perusal Of our readers of all
classes. Their eXCrtions have been, so
far, attended with the most marked sue.
cess, and so long as their management is
kept free from spirit Of fsectarianism, they
will have The sympathy and support Of the
whole community in their noble enterprise.
There was large number of ladies
present, among whom we observed many
who have, 10 their own quiet unostena.
tious way, effected moro good among the
poor, in proportion 10 their means, than
many Of our largest beneyoen, insliiu-
lions. The meeting was opened By Mr..
Bruce. He said:
We have come to believe that childhood
is the same everywhere and even in the
dark haunls Of London, and in the pre-.
cincts Of New York, house ofcrime is
still easily moulded by pure and kind in
huences. The idea has spread that Chris
tanity must descend from its high places
and 20 down among the mulitudes Of the
children of the vile and the poor, ii socie
~ would meet the increasing tide Of vice
and crime oud brutality. Nowhere was
it more needful that this thought should
prevail than in England. ! would speak
in no hpp0nr or disrespeclluI tone OF our
old motherland. Its words of wisdom and
sweet piety sounding in our ears since
childhood its vigorous and dignltied his
tory: lis association with great names
which are even yet the watch words with
the nations for whatever is glorious and
free lis noble and seIf.renouncing efforts
70 meet the evils which it has brought up.
ON itself allow towards her no words OF
contempt or disrespect. Yet words can
hardly eyuggerate the immensty OF the
evils which weigh upon England To me
thew seem TO rest like black cloud over
her greatness. The passing traveller can
have only n glimpse Of these social Ills
the citizen knows often little more but let
apv one designedly penetrateamong them,
and the impression left upon him IS oil he
nost prolound wonder and horror. 1t
sooros incredible. He could not on hear.
saw believe in such dark unhoPlng misery,
such fearful inequalities, such crowded
masses Of filthy poverty and crime, as the
rrnit even of heather and unclyized
government. To find a single institution
6lIed with wrelchcd, haIGstarVed, degra.
dod ignorant little boys and girls, VINO
literally live 10 the street, who have not
nsincle individual on earth that cares for
,bsm and who are so thoroughly beaten
asa nressed down in the struggle of life,
,bo, thew come voluntarily and gladly from
a life Of rowing into the strict, meagre,
confined life of a charity school, is some
ding impressive and saddenng, as an in'
stance Of one Of the grea; exceptions 10 the
natural laws OF society. But the next day
IN onoher district Of the same city, to find
nno,ber institution of precisely the same
character. and on the next day still another,
and so on day by day till the eye sickens
or the wenrying monolony Of degraded
childhood then leaving the institutions
and schools to hunt through tho low streets
and see that the poor without are still
worse than the poor within TO find wha'
should be the excePtionory classes num-
borinu by thousands; 10 see still farther
,bo innumorabo throng beyond of honest
and respectable poor pressed 10 the last io'
subsis,ence; TO know still more, that this
ono CITY is not worse than, or even SO bad
"a others in the kingdom, and to hear thai
the degradation Of the agricultural districts
i even greater than that OF tho towns-alI
This makes picture so hideous, so horrl'
hIe that one can hardly believe it possible
in n Christian country and at this age.
do no, wonder at a remark made to me
Il by an intelligent, candid English gentle
man. author Of several genial works iayo'
rablv known in Amerca-that II the
choice were given him beforehand wheth'
n er he would be born in England or SPAIN