New-York tribune., 1873-01-25


if he pleased. Ten years ago the poor man
could afford to give his boy at least enough
time to learn at the public school TO read and
write. His bones had time TO bsrdon, the
machinery of his body to become fitted for
work, and some idea of his real position as
member OF society. and creature which G0d
has made, before the hard drudgery of earning
food to keep him alive was set before him,
entered his brain. Now, as soon as the poor
little human animal can use his hands. while
his bones are yet gristle, and his btain Is
blank, while his knowledge Of life, It's posi-
bilities and controlling forces, is limited 10
the cellar where he was born, the grog-shop
at the corner and the policeman, who now
and then drags off some of his neighbors into
unknown deeper depths of misery, anu MS
sole knowledge of God is obtained from an
oath, he is set down before machine TO earn
his bread, to begin TO fight foot by foot the life
long battle with death. The results are obvious.
These children, without exception, become
dwarfed and weakened the vigorous sap OF
life never seems to find its way into their
wthered, wan little bodies. AS for any growth
in soul or brain, they remain as they went
become dangerous animals depends solely
upon circumstances. The Ignorant boy OF
fifteen in mill or shop has learned no other
use of life but to obtain food and shelter and
to crafty his passions. If an easier mode of
doing this than work comes to him, why
should he not accept itg He knows nothing
of world of honesty, kindness, culture to re-
strain bin; nothing of God. The policeman
and the Jail behind him take the place Of
hell and heaven and all the powers therein.
1t is easy to retort that society does its part
by providing public schools. AS long as edu-
cation is not compulsory, the temptation OF
wages and the necessities of poverty will keep
these means unused. The only mode of reach
ing the evil is by such an Act as the one now
offered, in which it is provided that "No child
"under the age of ten years shall be employed
"for hire in any mar ufactOry or mechanical
"shop or at any manufacturing work within
"this State; and no child under the age OF
"twelve years shall be so employed unless
"such child can intelligibly read, under a
"penalty of five dollars for every day
"during which any such child shall be so
employed, to be paid by the employer"
And also that "No child under the age
"of sixteen years shall be employed in
"any mandatory or III any mechanl-
zeal or manufacturing shop, or at any
manufacturing work within this State for
"more than sixty hours in one week"
There are other provisions in the bill as pro
posed equally benefcent and necessary, among
which, by the way, we are glad to notice one
which gives to these poor children, with
A. hog ord
chance for Christmas and the Fourth of July,
beside weekly half holiday. All work and
no play, in this case, has too long made OF
Jack not only dull boy, but sullen,
treacherous boy, a murderous boy, boy for
whom it had been better for himself and the
world if he had gone at his birth to try the
chances of some other life than the certain
wretchedness of this. Similar acts have
already been passed in Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island, and Connecticut with
the best and most speedy results. In
New-York the evils of such over
work in mills and factories equal those in
England What shall we do for these chill
drenf With their young bodies and souls
they stand at the entrance of life left to our
keeping by their God and ours. He will some
day require them at our hands. There is no
animal to which we do not give opportunity
to grow in freedom and happiness until its
proper time for use is come. The very horse
we guard safely In its stall,
The young lambs are bleating in the meadOws,
The young birds are chirping in the nest.
But the young-young children, our brothers
Die uncared for in the play time OF the others
In the country OF the free !"
What we do must be done promptly; and
now, when the subject is for the first time
laid fully before the Legislature, we believe
they will bring it at once to the right cOnclu-
sion.