Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-11
VOLUME XIII, NO. I64
Life in the English Work Houses.

4
Some doubts having been expressed By tha
/ British Board of Guardians and otberg eores-n-
/ ing the truth OF the statements before the coun-
mittee Of the House of Commons relative 20 the
usage experienced by the work house bows II,
\ the British and SEapleton Union. VIM. Isgfove.
in letter to one Of the British papers, states
the result Of his own experience as a Work-h0uss,
boy, whose unfortunate lot was cast there du-
ring period Of six years-fTom the year 1881
to 1886. He says:
Ny first Ofense was spending three half
pence out of sixpencs that my uncle gave mo
for which the nurse (whOse name give y0u)
gave me severe beating, and took the remain
ing foUpence-hslfpenny from me and kept it all
because did not lay out my money with her
And for looking at her husband eating his din
nef, she pushed g spoonful Of mustard in my
mouth. For the least Offense she would make Us
march around the table with poker, tODgs and
shovel, or anything that was heavy, holding
them up over ur heads and if from fatigue we
should let them rest upon our shoulders, she
would beat US. have seen more than dozen
a. time doing it and if her husband should
come in during that table march he would
make sport Of US, by saying, "WeI, my little
LinOI,' what have you been doing to-day %
And at other times she would beat US Whsn na-
ked with red-rOpe, and frequently has the boy
she was beating been held stretched out By four
boys, holding the sufferer by each arm and leg.
We we're allowed suetty pudding and srsacie
every other Sunday. She would keep back part
Of our treacle, with the crumbs 70 make bread
puddings, and make those boys who lad any
money buy it for her.
We were allowed two pence each at fair times, d
which she would make Us lay out with her for
gingerbread, etc. At the time of the cholera
We we're put out in the country with different
people, which l am happy to say closed my ac-
guaintance with the nurse and her husband
After the epidemic was over we were called in
and gent TO StspletOn Asylum under another
nurse (ghose name furnish) and sehOolnaster
Davis but preferring the kind treatment had
received from Mrs. Harris, of LOBgwelrs Green.
to the unkind treatment / had before expert
enced, runaway back to Mrs. Harris. who
kindly kept me few days although poor w0-
man. When was taken back to the asylum L
was beat with birch, being held upon another
boys back, and my meat was stopped for a
week Many other boys ran away at different
times, and when they returned they were ss-
veTely hOgged, and dressed in clothes made
with stripes, yellow and gray, and various col
0Is, and put in fetteTs," a pair Of stOclls)
and had their heads shaved on one side from The
pole to the center of the forehead, and their
meat stopped, and were told it was not for going
away bat for returning they were punished.
have frequently seen the second nurse dip boys
heads in the utensils that were kept in the ward
and the filth would be hanging about their hair
when they were taken out. 1 could enumersta
many other circumstances Of illtreatmeDt, but
viii not further trespass upon your columns at
present.