The New York herald., 1870-12-27
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
Popular Edmcuti0n-vIews or u Vetera a
Friend OF rho Young Idea.

Popular EducutiOn-Vtews OF u Veternm
Friend OF rho Young Idea.
To the EDITOR OF THE HERALD:--
MY letters hitherto have treated OF educational.
reform. Allow me to-day TO show In how far II VII
compass social reform. v
Society ia diseased TO the core The plague spots
are seen In all grades The problem OF reform has
long awaited solution. The pupit has tried it5
political economy has ventured upon II; educati0nI
has grappled with the dinlcuties The result ia
failure. The evil stills exist; they increase; theE
spread contaglcn wider ana wider. Self-preserva-
ton demands that the remedy be applied. Bud
where and howg trust that my answer viii prove
satisfactory.
The child IL the vehicle of demoralIzati The
tenement house Is the nursery Of crime. The infant
eye opens upon misery; oasphemy first strikes upon
the ear; the early associates are squaior and bru<
tally. Penury presses upon the parent; the child
mnst supply his own necessity. The street becomes
his refuge the matured In crime his companions
Society shuns him. He real!ates. He steals, corr
upts, becomes In time a nagrant volator OF the,
law. Society is shocked, appalled,. The law must
be vindicated The penitentIary opens Its doorsd
they close upon the cuprit. Tne majesty OF the law;
is satised the dignity Of society is restored. WhaU
OF reform2 Has 1t been metz Experience points to,
existing facts.
We deal with the marured fruit; we ignore thd
germ. We punish the mani we neglect the cinid1
date Tor the penitenary, anticipate his wants,
clothe MIN. feed him. sylnpathize with him. takd
from nim the brand or caste, educate nm, make
him peer among peers. The deadly atmospheric
breathed by ms parents win he oppressive to hlmS
love will follow him there; 1t Will expand; 1t VIII re-
ceive new lile 1t VIII be purified Reform win have
abroad-a coincidence with misery. but a shrinking
from contact with squaor. We would relieve but
delicacy forbids that we 'onch we minister 10 the
evil when we would apply the remedy.
Some years ago purchased the Rutger Mansion
and twenty lots, intending 10 set the whole apart aa
free school, Ia winch the children were TO he edu-
Gated in accordance with the scheme here propOseds
General prostraton OF business rendered the under
taking impracticaDle. nave, however, decided 10
carry out the idea "a more limited scale At 81
Rutgers street. Here school OF $50 children viii
be cared for AZ above stated. My views on
education win be utilized, my theory or re-'
form tested. Chief among the instr rumentalitlea
velopment, simultaneously with the physical and I'M
tellecual training. chapel IS now IN preparation.
ana VIII be ready or dns service on Weanssdsy'
morning. Appropriate dedcatory services VIII be
performed. The Inauguration OF our endeavor wilh
be sanctiied by nvoSlng the blessing OF Omnsclenca
upon our efforts. Here children OF all creeds aDd
nationaites are united. Hele will be found true
should the Board of Commissioners wish to
strengthen my hands by their co-operalion thH
put tie grounds in order and appoint teachers
whose training for the peculiar work shall be under
my direction, together with a supervlsonary
power over the establishment. Reform, SOCIAL, poll-
tcal and educational, will soon give evidence that my
most sanguine anticpasi0ns are based upon reality
The poor. the deserted, the unwashed, the unedu-
Gated, those children OF penury for some lnscrnta-
BILE purpose Of Providence those victims OF crime by
the austerities OF society and the weakness or their
fallen nature ask OF US bread ana we give them
a stone; they ask our sympathy aud we mete out tu
them the severitIes OF the law Their necessities
pressing upon them and society holsing them under
ban 'hey array themselves against their OppressOc
in q war of opposition. Made to feel that there
no ties in common between them and the favored
sons OF wealth. they question the sincerity OF All
direct efforts at reconciliation BY lnolrect means
vn mn Inun far
strong that which sways the heart OF the noble.
Gain the love OF the child, ana every throb IN tho
parents bosom will be a plea Tor the sympathizer.
That plea viii draw together the conflicting ee<
meDts IN the harmony OF re orm.
We're my Views on educatl0n 1avoraDly ehter~
tained and my scheme for dllfusion taken up In
It's entirety, not many years would elapse before tha
schools would oe removed rom tne rnneany avy AT All.
der city ordinance would the street cars lake tne
children OF oar poor TO toe pleasant scenery and
pure air OF our recreative centre. Health bappi1
ness moral department and respectful de leanor
would tnus be brought daily into the abodes Of tha
unfortunate Morning and evening would the pa,
rents graed heart beat IN unison with The asplra-
ton Of the child Visions OF honor, OF ease and
respectabiity would cluster around the head OF the
mothers loved enc, and effort on her part woiiu
remain unemployed for the q iyancement of cause
so ausplciousiy lnaugurated by the State. Relorm
would commence Tnls Is the where and tie h0wI
JOHN HECKER.
The Recent Arrests nj Macs's.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:--
My attention has been called to various aYrice4
In the daily papers in relation TO the recen, arrests
made at my store corner OF Sixth avenue and Fonr-
teenth street. Some OF these articles calculated.
doubt not unintentionally. to do me great wrong
and injustice. regret "a much as any one can than
any innocent person should he wrongly charged
directly Or indirectly by me- My business within Z
few years has extended until my store now occupies
the space OF about seven city lots and so great has
been The throng OF visitors and customers
there, especially before and during the holidays,
That | was compened several years since for
the protection OF my customers no less inan.
myself. 10 secure the services OF skilled
police detective at my store. During some days or
the last week there times than
5000 people IN the store. Thieves and pickpocKets
are always drawn by such crowds. wish only for
the arrest and punshment AZ those common ene-
mics OF kind. OF over 100 who have BEEN
arrested at my store for stealing The case OF Mrs
Phelps u the nrst to which any exception mas been
taken. trv TO keep ony honest, truthful. capable
and civil clerks, and In all things have tried amt
snail continue to try TO do everything III my power
only for the convenience and comfort OF my
customers but Tor their projection both from insult
and rudeness Oh the part OF my employees, and from
the designs OF evi-aisposed persons not Il, my en-
ploy. Should mistake occur at any time no per-
son can regret 1t more tnan myself Respectfully,
r. H. MACY.