The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-09-13
Five Points House OF Ind ustry.
No. 3.
(Continued.)

Increased 10 one hundred ana nifty IN
regular attendance. 1t has since been
steadily augmenting in numbers, and
rapidly advancing in the physical, moral
aud intellectual improvement Of its
members. 1t is now conducted in three
departments, under the tuition of three
competent and devoted female teachers,
and (for the six months ending April
l, 1850 with an average daily attend
ancc of upwards Of three hundred child
rem. Little more than half Of this num-
Der belong literally to the family of Mr..
Pease, being supported wholly at the
expense of the Mission while the re-
mainder who lodge at their homes, SO
called, beside being instructed and
clothed, receive partial board in the
Institution. Notwithstanding the filth
iness and iusubordinate propensitics of
these children when they first enter the
school-room, yet, with the exception Of
the newcomers" which are daily
added to their number, they now will in
point either Of cleanliness, kindness, or
discipline, compare iavorably with those
of any school, public or charitable, in
the city of New York. Especially is
this :rue Of that portion which remain
wholly in the Institution, and are thus
constantly under the supervision of its
officers. With respect 10 literary pro-
fcicncy, though usually inapt to the use
of books they, nevertheless, make very
satisfactory progress. The whole num-
Der of children that have received in-
struction in this school since its COM
mencement, cannot be less than two
thousand. Thus much for the day
school established in September, 1850.
In October, another house was rented
at $3.50, and the number of inmates in-
creased to about sixty. In February,
1851, an additional room was hired,
admitting dozen more. 1t now be-
came necessary to provide for the con-
tinuance of the Mission, by an arrange
ment to rent the buildings for the ensu-
ing year. Exorbitant rents were offered
by tho infamous original occupants. The
agents Of the property gave Mr.. Pease
a limited time to see what could be
done towards effectipg an organization
for the support Of the House Of Industry
Meanwhile, all exertions to this end
proved Intellectual. Time passed, the
day of decision arrived, and Mr.. Pease
must assume the responsibility of renting
the Mission Buildings, or see them re-
turn to their former possessors, and
abandon his poor dependents to despair
In this painful exigcncy, with no support
in the weishty undertaking but an in
vincible confidence in the Providence Of
God, he, on the first day of May, 1851,
contracted for four of the buildings at q
rent of 81 800. Reader, as you have
already seen, this was not the first, and
by no means has it been the last of the
desperate extremitics in which the con.
tinued existence of this Mission seemed
morally impossible, and which was pre-.
served only by faith and inaexibility
of purpose, infinitely easier to admire
than to possess. Many have been the
days, when, with hundreds looking ts
Mr.. Pease for bread, and not one dollar
!, in his possession, his poor bark, with al
its freight of precious, helpless interests
seemed sinking forever. But in this
as in every other instance of bis seeming
temerity, he was not suffered to bc
/ overwhelmed by the burden he hat
assumed. AT this crisis the Nationa
Temperance Society came forward will
D a proposition to sustain the House o
: Industry at their own expense, and EN-
ployed Mr. Pease as its agent. And OIL
the third day of May the establishment
| withou change in feature or substance
passed under the control of this Society
A bakery was now added to its economy
t and coarse basket making soon after in.
troduced into its industrial department
In few months the National Temper.
' ance Society was superseded iu its
operations by the New York City Tenn.
pcrance Alliance, and on the frs,
} day Of March, 1852, the House Of In
dustry, with its entire responsibility,
J reverted to Mr.. Peasc's control on the