The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-21
Chimney-SWeeps.

Twenty or thirty years ago, 1t was a
common thing in New York to see mites
of boys following their masters in the
street, for issuing from the chimney.
tops with their peculiar wall. Some OF
them were not more than ten years OF
age, and they looked SO wretched that
when child was ill-behaved its mother
chimney-sWeeps.
In Germany and France, small boys
are still employed in cleaning chimneys.
In Great Britain law has been passed
forbidding the practice; but less than
fifteen years ago the sweeps, or "climb-
ing boys" were very numerous: and l.
can remember seeing a bit of lad crawl
ing out of one of the tallest chimneys in
London.
Until the reign of James the First, the
houses were built only one story high,
and the chimneys were swept from the
floor. The Scotch fashion OF multiplying
the stories then came in, and twice or
three times year boys were sent up 10
sweep down the SCOT. -.-........
There was once famous highwayman
who had been O "climblng boy" and
think he was the only one OF the tribe
who ever became notorious. AT all
events, we do not hear more about them
in history from the time of James the
First until about the middle of the last
century, when Jonas Hanway called
public attention to their condition. Han
way, you must know, was one OF the
great philanthrOpists Of his day, and was
| the man who first carried an umbrella in
London, q performance which exposed
him to the jeers of all the impudent little
bakers and butchers boys in the city. No
doubt he looked rather queer as he trot-
ted along in the rain with the new-fan-
gled thing over his head, and some folks
thought him utterly crazy. But he was
q wise and good man, living a LIE that
most of us might initiate to advantage
"When "climbing boy" came to his
house, one day, Hanway was struck with
the poor fellows woful face, and asked
him how and where he lived, The am
swers that were made excited the phi
| lanthropist's sympathy, and, through
public prints and the benevolent socie-
ties with which he was connected, ne
drew attention to one Of the worst kinds
4 of slavery that ever existed. The "climb-
ing bows, were mostly the children OF
dissolute parents, who sold them to the
men chimney-sweeps for lew soVer'
eigns, or, in American money, nlteen OF
N twenty dollars.
. The noyices had the greatest dread o.
ascending the chimney for the first time
ana tner6 are beFeIdl luoedhOSp, " u"
doubted truth, in which the little fellows
were violently thrust in by their mas
ters and driven up by fire lighted un
: der them. This seems too horrible tol
, belief, but it was sworn to by a master
ii chimney-sweep before committee o
, the British House of Commons. Tht
same man declared that he did not use
his own apprentices in that manner, ant
that when the chimney was small ant
3 | the boy hesitated about ascending, h'
!simply used stick or his fstl
f; Sometimes the beginner was INSTRUCTED
at the house Of his master before rea
. duty was required of him. An oide
: boy would follow him up chimney ant
r teach him how to climb by pressing tn
!, knees and elbows against the sides o
. the flue. 1t was most painful opera
>. ton, and the skin would be torn from th
r child's arms and feet before he ha
/ nearly reached the top. BY strivin
v very hard he would probably succeed
q but not until he had tumbied down sc,
Il eral times and alighted on the shoulder
J. of his stouter companion, who AWAY
Z kept himself firmly fixed in expectatio
4 OF such n mishap. Every time ne fell
d had 10 begin anews and, no matter no.