Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-05
THE MAckERELS.
A PhiIanthr0pist Proposes to Re-
claim Them.

An esteemed correspondent sends
US the following, for which we find
space cheerfully:
1t is all very we'll to cry over the
shocking depravity of the "minor
children who inhabit the bluffs -
those who rejoice in the name of
" Mackerels." We read of their mis-
deeds, (pretty bad, 1 grant you, they
seem, and we kick them out of our
Offices and yards, feeling we have done
g virtuous act, If arrested, we have
no doubt of their guilt-and why
should we? We were well brought
up, and can youngsters brought up as
these little wretches, be anything but
guilty? Does the thought ever come
into our mind that there is not as
much difference, after all, between the
depraved mackerel and ourselves,
taking into consideration our educa-
ton and home-shelter and culture? 1t
may shock US at first, but just look at
it-iOok at the labor expended on the
majority of us-where Is the retgrn2
frequently it will be in favor of the
mackePel; for take our most viPtuous,
quiet and respectable citizens, and
contrast him with the little 9GBliR, and
you will find brains on the boys side.
Take that boy, train him, and you
will have a man that the community
yea, even the world, maybe-will
be proud of. That very self-reliance,
capability of overcoming circumstan-
ces (to0 often seen now under the
guidance of reformed character, will
be an ornament.
These thoughts were suggested by
an article in one Of our papers to-day,
asking what are we doing for them2"
Other cities have them-m0re of them
in numbers, and Just as bad in dispo-
SitiOn. Yet this last Is not fair; and
here differ from those who condemn
wholesale. Show but an interest in
them; try to teach them, and you
sOon-yes, sooner than you expect
have trusting, cOntiding boy attached
to you by ties never TO be broken.
This is no Ethiopian view at all. All
will not be honest at once. Take your
merchants here or elsewhere, and dc
hard work. Some discouragement
at times, but work as you would for a
crop of cotton, fortune In trade, an
education In the professions, and you
have the same results. It Is ques-
ton serious for the future of our city,
as a matter of dollars and cents. A
reform school is needed, no doubt, but
that is for offenders, and some of these
can be rescued ere that stage is reached.
/ know there are boys there no worse
to-day than many who have homes
and respectable parents. l have
looked at the matter, so tar, in busi-
ness point of view; and now to those
who profess to be Christians: Are we
doing our Masters service, Hgoing
about doing good2" How much
work do we do that is not purely sec
ularY There Is an organism, q noble
one, too, that is kept up with diff
Guilty. They do much good, but it
should be so we'll supported that work.
ers would be in excess. Then the few
teachers there now have as much as
they can do. Others should be gath
ering new ones in. The missionary
cannot always reach them. Like the
clergyman, they are forearmed against
him. Woman, the most delicate, need
have no fear. A lady's voice, gentle
and sweet, Is as music to one accuS-
toned to the harsh discOrd of wrang-
ling parents and neighbors. The wri-
ter has had some little experience, and
has seen the "gentlest Of the land
go into one of these cabins, at whose
voice, " as at the voice Of Him whom
even the waves obey" all was calm.
Don't understand me, for moment,
TO say all trouble Is oyer at once; but
you have no idea what an influence
one of higher station in life can have
over such people. But then it is
duty, Sooner than you would ima-
gine it ceases to bea duty, and Is rather
a pleasure to be looked forward to.
Now the winter is approaching, our
folk are coming home, refreshed by
travel and recreation, (would not a
mackerel be better for such a trip?)
and if we will but look at this subject
but one half hour as q duty, am sure
there will be more friends who are
willing to work for the good of the
little mackerel. FUTURE.