The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-23
THE YOUTH OF JONDON

There is more forlorn sight than one of
those little homeless, shoeless, ragged Bedou-
ms who wander about the streets of large
town. Poor children the regulation phrase
with regard to them is, that they "infest
the Streets" but, after ALL they must be some
where. 1t is not their fault that they have been
born, but, being born, they must certainly drink,
and probably eat. No more practical economists
than these little bareegged philosophers. They
are made from the first hour of their ragged lives
to know that "labor" is the foundation of value -
Inc crust they munich, with an appetite which
would excite the wonder and admiration of the
"Clubs," has probably been earned by chasing a
horseman about for couple of hours on the chance
OF job Follow the little fellow "home," "through
pleasures and palaces" &C., home is the true test
OF happiness after all. Well, his home is in an arch
OF the Adelphi when he is in luck and can afford
to join his club There, in the society of numerous
little vagabonds-steeped in what moralists call
vice, but the term implies a consciousness of the
meaning OF the term virtue-the little ragged ur-
chin enjoys himself in his own filthy way If for
tune have proved unkind, and not penny is forth
coming to enable him to cut respectable appear
ance among his comrades, then doorway safe
from the prying bulPs-eye of the stern policeman
ls the refuge in which he crouches or rolls himself
up like little dirty human hedgehog, and dreams
OF cup of fragrant ''saloOp''-a luxury far
beyond his means. Try and dive into that
boys mind, ye alumni of the Social Scences!-
you will find the plunge not very deep one. He
knows hunger, feels cold, appreciates a penny:
If struck he will strike again, so that the striker
pe nj MS own size; II not he will shed smutty
tears, and bite but as to who he is, where
he is, how he came there, of life or death, of
Creator, Redeemer, world beyond the grave,
ne really knows no more than young puma
What is the end of such child? Ask Policeman
\, ask the "Stting Magistrate" ask the Sessions
Clerk at the Central Criminal Court ask the Su-
perintendent of Convicts, if you would read the
third volume and concluding chapters of his ugly
biography. 1t was no great wonder that he should
run such career, for it would have sorely puzzled
him to find another. He was driven by mere hun
ger to petty theft-theft made him the companion
of thieves-the habit of theft became inveterate-
one crime led to another, and then the end From
the first moment he carried out in the rain in
to the sloppy streets helpless baby to be pnched
that he might squall copper out of the pock-
cts of the passers by until he stands beetlebrow-
ed ruffan in highlows in the dock of the Old Baiv
we have thus endeavored to state in cursorv man
ner the ways and progress of the bastard child of
civilization 1t is a sad enough story. but one
which is lamentably true
Now, we have not time to draw the contrast of
the other little descendant of Adam-born in the
purple-fed on milk and mothers kisses-his gums
humored with coral--and his little bare head cine
tured with lace-through the various stages of
Noah's Ark-"A stands for APPLE" Delectus, Longs
and shorts; the Church Catechism all about Troy
the Asses Bridge, the Thirty-nine Articles, Pear
son the Creed, and through all arts and sci
ences. Had little ragged Tommy been an A. NJ,
and called to the Bar, and dear Frederick been
trained in the Adelphi arches, the results might
have been diferent.-London Times.