Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-08-04
MisteIi0nroue.
THE LONDON SHOE BLACKS.

LONDON
Clean your houor's shoes p was for a long time
priof 10 The beginning Of the present century, a
familiar cry in the streets Of London but about
the year 1920, with the improvement in tho side
walks and effect pavement, the shoe blacks reluc-
family retired to private life, thinking undoubtedly
that, like Othelo. they had utterly lost their occu-
patton. The las. Of the Mohicans' is said to have
eeSn a negro, who, under tho new order Of things
murmu-ingly retired to the work house to end his
poorly requited days. But with the high-noon OF
the century and the Crystal Palace, came many
~ondrous things, not the least in the long cata
logue, the revival Of the she blacks. The credit
OF toe restoration to society of Il class OF humble
artisans so eminontly useful, even iE a cloanly
city, belongs to my versatile and excellent friend
John Macgregor, Esq of the Temple, who, in his
devotion to many of the important charities of the
metropolis, ranks as a second Salisbury, and en-
joys an enviable reputation, as o most intelligent
and untiring public bene'actor.
1t occurred TO Mr.. MacSregor, that on tho open
ing of the Hyde Park palace, lin the summer Of
1851 London would be thronged with foreigners
in attendance at the great exhibition, many Of
whom were accustomed in their own countries to
have their shoes cleaned in the streets, (such has
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would be pleased to find such accommodation in
London. And some London folks might like it,
besides. many poor boys might earn an honest PEN
ny thereby. But tho project did not meet general
favor, and but for NJ. Macgregor's dauntless perse-
severance would probably have been abandoned.
Five boys picked from the ragged schools, and
carefully instructed 10 the art Of polishing were
sent out early in April to different parts Of the me-
~tropolis. How tho people stared at the one that
first appeared in Trafalgar Square, and how they
crowded around Mr.. Macgregor, whsn be put bis
foot upon the box to give him a fair start but the
bho'blacks that very day obtained a footing in Lon
don. There we're on an average about twenty five
boys constantly employed during the exhibition
seasou, and they cleaned l0l 900 pairs Of boots
and shoes, for which the public paid them over
$500.
Kind mods Of appreciation were bestowed upon
the Industrious and polite shoe blacks.by all class
es Of the people, and many words Of encourage
ment spoken to cheer their hearts. ShOp-keeper;
often took a fancy to them and gave them dinners
Ladies Toasted them in their houses, and called
them to their carriage windows to give them a six
pence, aud old gentlemen asked them many
strange questions and told them how they woult
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regularly brought out from private houses to be
cleaned, and sometimes large establishments en-
ployed the boys in one instance several hundred
pairs of shoes had to be cleaned in a.hurry, and g
cab load of the lads went to do the work. A greaI
deal of their success came from the knowledge o.
the good auspices under which they were sen
forth to their humble yet honorable employment
and from the honest, courteous and industrious
habits of the lads themselves. Once a half crown
was given in mistake for a penny, the regular fee,
but the boy quickly ran after the gentleman and
returned it. Once a sovereign accidentally slip
ped into q boys hands between two coppers, but
the homes. little fellow, after searching some
hours, discovered who had given it to him. and
was rewarded for his trouble by o simple thank
you
The first company Of shoe blacks wore red jack
cts. and were mainly employed in the city proper
but the business proved so encouraging that Their,
are now yellow and blue jacket ~brigades or soci
cites, and the well behaved lads are to DO foun'
in every quarter Of the metropolis indeed the
now have positions regularly assigned them b
police authorities, and are protected from interior
ence by idlers and others who have h%eretofor
somewhat troubled them. Each boy bears on hi
breast two badges of cloth, on one of which tn
words 'Raggad School Shoe Black Society," an
on the other his distinctive letter or number ar
worked 10 white glass beads by the girls of on
o! the Refugees. The box on which the foot Of til
customer rests while his boot is receiving its 20
ish, and the mat on which the shoe black kneel
are made by the boys of the Grotto Passage Re
uge--thus the outcaSts gathered in the refuge al
being taught to make themselves very useful.
w. co,on.l, HAN IN ottandapca n . Tho n
fec of the red brigade, York place, Strand. at hu
after six o'clock, the hour the boys return fro
their DAVIS toll. Each boy marches in with ord
nary step, deposits his box, backing, brushes al
mat, puts his uniform in q bag provided for Il
purpose and counts his receipts in presence Of Il
superintendent. A daily account is kept wi
each lad, and tie money is applied upon the fl
lowing system ~sizpence is returned to the boy
his allo wauce the remainder is divided into thr
equal parts one third part is paid to the boy il
mediately, together with the ~sixpence, one thi
part is retained by the Society to meet the salar
of the superintendent, and other expenses, and Il
residue, Including odd money is paid to a fur
which is reserved as a bank for the boys ov
benefit. The weather and the season of the ye
make q great difference 10 the receipts of the boy
warm sunny days, are the most suspicious (
them and, in general fine weather is more prof
able than wet. A public holiday always vel
large returns. The largest sum yet earned by o
boy in one day is about twelve shillings sterlin
for which, at the established fee of one penny p
pair, he must of course have BACKED one hundr
and forty Jour pairs Of boots or shOes-a pref
good days work. The different stations occupi
by the boys were soon found to bear very diff
emit values. Originally they we're all occupied
all the boys in succession but subsequently t
stations were divided 10 three classes. The BIO
were also elassed in three divisions, cOrrespor
ing to the divisions Of the statiOns and each ,
is confined to the station in bis own division, viii
be occupies 10 rotation. When a boy enters t
society he joins the third division. but he is f
auentlY promoted to q higher rank if bis eondI