The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-06-12
Young Settlers for the West-EmigratiO
and its Success.
BY MARY GAY ROBINSON.

oLHer week, w eStWaru-Dound, TO ma new
homes in a new country. The restless
spirit of the street boy delights in this fine
trip, and his love of adventure is here
gratitied on grand scale. This rare OPP
portunity is offered through the wide reach
| ing benevolence of the Childrens Aid
Society.
/ Through the industrial schools and lodg-
ing houses are scattered cards, saying, GA
chance for the industrious. Poor families
! of good CHI aracter, with children and orphan
children, can find good homes and employ
ment in the West by applying at the office
of the Children's Aid Society, 10 East 4th
street." And through the days interven-
ing between each departure applications
are constantly being made by some of the
children and families that overflow the
labor market of New York. Here they are
paupers, there they can be land owners;
here they are a dead weight on charity,
there two hands to work are fortune;
here, perhaps, they are just stepping over
the threshold of crime, there they will be
moro likely to mount up the steps to self
respect and honest reputation.
The Society advertises in the daily papers
a few days before starting, that as many
as possible may avail themselves of the
chance to go where they are needed, where
work is plenty and workers few. Up to
the office they come, some representative
of a family, or boy homeless and friend
less. The name is given, the avenue he
lives in, or lodging house, and the name of
some one who can vouch for the truth OF
the boys statement. Permission is OBJ
tanned of parents or guardians. if there are
any; all legal questions are settled (if any
thing they are too particular about the
legal steps, and then the boy is told to
present himself at 10 A. NJ. Of the day they
start; while the families must send some
one on the previous day to learn where to
send baggage and when to meet the agent
who takes the party in charge.
Promptly the boys are on hand at the
office on the appointed Tuesday. Each
must have a bath; then tailor comes,
takes their measure, brings suits of ready
made clothes, and now, dressed up in the
new suit, the young gentlemen are ready
for the journey. The boys, in fine spirits,
mount the big express wagon with the
clerk who sees the party off, while the girls
or young women go in the street cars, and
all meet at the Desbrosses street ferry at
an early hour in the afternoon, that the
agent may fill up any arrangements that
of baggage, get checks, and, perhaps, for
gotten provisions.
The families, by selling off what few
effects they had here, have a little money
with which to buy provision by the way,
and have some friend at the end of the
route to meet them and help them make a
new start in life, while the Society gives or
lends the money that takes them out.
Many make fair promises to pay back the
loan, but few fulfill the promise.
To-day, December 9th, we go to see the
party off. In all they are sixty-four in
number-forty- five children and nineteen
adults; smaller company than usual, but
the funds will not admit of more. By the
rates of half fare formerly conceded, the
Society could have carried twice the num-
Der. The payment of full fare is a great
draw back to this department of work.
The Erie road used to take the children at
half price; the certainty Of commanding
their patronage amply paid for the reduc-
ton of fare. Now that the three great
| trunk roads have COMMUNICATIVE Erie, New
York Central, and Pennsylvania Central
they have agreed to sell no tickets at re-
duced fare, to force all cheap travel upon
the emigrant train, where the danger from
vermin and foul air is a great drawback.
| When railroad companies swell into the
huge proportions of a triple trunk route,
it seems they have no eyes to see the posi-
bility of carrying a hundred poor children
for the same money they generally charge
| fifty well-to- do travellers!
The Chldren's Aid Society have tried to
get an exception in their favor, but failed
to do so. One company says, "We would
agree to it, another, 8" We are willing"
but unless they all unite in a written agree
ment to make this exception, their good
will is a dead letter.
But here are the boys waiting in the
ferry house. They are of various ages,
from ten to seventeen. The little fellow of
ten is short and thickest, and he carries
the butter pail; another boy carries the
great coffee kettle, filled with cups and
knives, and another the huge bread basket
The agent telegraphs ahead to have hot
coffee ready at the stations where they must
get it, in order to take their meals on the
| train. Some have valises in hand, others
large paper bundles, and others carry all
their earthly goods on their backs the
handsome, we'll fitting suit just given them.
They tell us a little how they have drifted
| along in life thus far. One has been a
butchers boy, one packer in glassware
store, then cash boy, bakers boy, farmers
| boy, blacksmith's boy, one in a paper fac
tory, errand boy, one an orphan from the
Asylum.
One whose parents were dead had slept
at the Rivington street Lodging House,
from which in the past year one hundred
and sixteen were taken to good homes at
the West. Another said, "I've had hard
ships and some rough times. I've been
taking care of myself ten years, ever since
l was six years old. l ran errands, and
did whatever l COULD One of the larger
boys was a Scotch lad, who came from
Murrayshire, in the Lowlands of Scotland,
about six months ago. A lady who had
been on East offered him home in the
West, and in very nice handwriting he
wrote off his future address, that l might
send him paper.
Each boy gave his name, which some day
or other we may see blazoned over the
country as President of the United States,
Or better yet, as the representative of some
great philanthropy.
But it is most time for the last whistle
to blow; boy hands me something, "Can
you use that pa Brooklyn ferry ticket.