Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-03-25

and naked, those Samaritan universities fo
, the hitherto poor and neglected-the Ragged
Schools-formed themselves into committee
for the phrpose of finding out and organizing
a remunerative occupation for the seholor,
who conducted themselves well, and were de-
sirous of rendering themselves useful With
this view company of shoe blacks, broomers
and messengers was set on foot. The idea Of
public blacks Was a revived rather than
an original one, since, years ago. our forefa-
theirs used to enjoy the luxury at the corners
of the streets The opening of the Great Ex-
hibition, however sand the expected influx Of
visitors from all parts of the world, favored
if it did not suggest the idea in tue present
+ instance, as It seemed to afford a splendid OPP
portunitY for employing the children of the
Ragged Schools largely to their own profit.
Accordingly. on Monday the 31st of March,
! 1851, five boys were selected, and sent out
for the first time to work in the streets. a few
weeks suficed to determine the success of the
enterprise BY the end of July, thirty
| names were enIolled on the books of the com-
mittee.
One of the great difficulties, however, tae
promoters of the scheme had to contend with,
was the selection of proper stations for the
boys, since the commissioners of police -regar-
ded with rather reluctant eye this innova-
ton, being apprehensive of having their high
ways aud by-ways obstructed by corps of
disorderly shoc-blacks; though it did proba-
bly, occur to them that this corps would be far
less troublesome when earning thus a decent
livelihood, than afterwards, if allowed to run
adrift upou society. The orderly conduct of
! the boys themselves, however. overcame the
scruples of the civic functionaries special
posts were established, and divisions formed,
I
lection of the superintendent The receipts
of the first six months it was found, were lar
ger than they have been since within the same
period This is to be attributed to the great
influx of foreigners and country people flock
ing to London, during these months But
the occasion gave fair start to the enterprise;
ana it went on extending its ramifcations,
until it was found necessary to break up the
original sJcicty into three distinct bodies, for
the bettor working of the system
The three societies are--the original Shoe
black Society. head quarters Maiden Lane,
Covcnt Garden; the East London Society,
head quarters High street, Whitechapel and
the South London Society, head quarters High
street, Borough.
No boy can be admitted into any of these
societies except on the recommendation Of the
superintendent of Ragged School in connec-
ton with the Ragged School Uuion The
ToSta}ont, or candidate for employment, must
also bring printed form, properly filed up
and signed, stating his name and age ; the
length of time he has attended school whe-
Their he has at any time been employed in SER
vice whether he has been in prison whether
his parents are living, &c 1t sould be obser-
we'd, too, that the committee prefer boys be-
tween twelve and fifteen, since experience has
shown that the disposition is then more tract
able, the character more quickly formed, and
the boys more willing to undergo the training
necessary to fit them for their duties. 1t is
then they begin to understand the utility of
the discipline they are subjected to, and can
best appreciate the motives which influence
their teachers and directors.
When youth enters, he is first Initiated
into the mystery Of handling the brushes To
give perfection in this branch, only few
days practice are deemed requisite, and he is
then sent forth upon trial, not as one of the
elect, but simply novice. The term CT
probation lasts month, during which time the
boy is expected to continue his connection
with the school from which be came, and to
attend 1t Sundays well as weekday eve
nings as often as he can. To insure regulari-
ty in his attendance, he receives a card, on
which the superintendent marks the number
of times he is present This card is given up
on Monday mornings, and the time of attend
ance noted down If the boy, on probation,
proves steady, industrious, and shilful in his
new occupation, he is regularly admitted,
and dons the uniform of tho society of which
he is made member, and is provided with
the necessary implements out of the general
fund.
The uniform not only enables the superin-
tendent to recognise his proteges, but the
public also; so that by thus making the youths
conspicuous in the street, it serves as a check
upon any irregularity on their part Much
the same sort of plea retains the odd. quaint
dress of the times of Edward W. in Christ's
Hospital. The boys of the Original Society
are distinguished by red jersey and cap with
red band; the East London Brigade by
blue uniform; whilst the boys of the South
London society wear yellow or canary color
ed jersey, with cap with a yellow band
Badges again, are required to indicate each
individual of these several corps consequent
ly, either on their breast or right arm, or
sometimes on both, piece of cloth is sewn,
bearing particular letter or letters, worked
in white beads by the children of the Lisson
Street Refuge. This institution, whose SER
vices are thus made available, was founded
IN 1850 bya few charitable ladies, who inter-
ested themselves greatly in the female branch
OF the Ragged Schools. Perceiving that, un-
less the poor girls taught in these establish
menfs We're separated from the kind of life
they had led and were leading, the good
achieved by the schools would be neutralised
as they grew older, these kind ladies hired |
few rooms, which were fitted up for the boar |
ding and lodging of seven Since then, how
eyer 15t have been reoeivcd ~ tl,i, .