Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-24
The Training OF Chimney-Sweepers

In his speech in the House of Lords i.
May last on the Chimney-swcepers' BIZ
Lord Shaftesbury gave some revolving
details of the cruelties practiced upos
climbing boys. 1t appeared, he sale
from evidence taken in 1863 that the az
at which training commenced was fror.
six to eight, generally sx-"a mic
trainable age" said the masters. Tier
were instances of five and even of4t. TIL
hours of work in the smaller towns werl
eight to nine; in the larger from twelvI
to sixteen, work beginning at four o'cloclI
three and even two in the morning. ST.
ty-three witnesses were examined froIl
all parts of England. thirty.three q
whom were master sweeps. Then f0l
lowed The mode of doing 1t. OF I'll
training, Mr.. Kuff, of Nottingham,
master sweep, said: "No one know
the cruelty which boy has to undergl
in learning. The flesh must be hardcne
This must be done by rubbing 1t, chief
on the elbows and knees, with the stron
est brine, close by a hot fire. You mu
stand over them with cane, or coss
them by promise Of half-penny, etd
il they will stand a few more rubs. II
first they will come back from the3
work streaming with blood, and I'll
knees looking as IL the caps had bets
pulled off. Then they must be rubbed wi !
brine again" "The following desert
ton" said the Commissioners, is q
painful that we should hesitate TO recoih
1t we're it not amply confirmed" "f, II
often happens" says master swee
"a boy is gloomy or sleepy, or anywi
linty,' and you have other jobs on
the same time, though | should be
kind as could, you must ill-treat hi
somehow, either with the hand or brus
or something. IL is remembering "a
cruelty which | have suffered whies
employed. / have the marks Of it q
my body now, and believe the bigge
part of the sweeps in the town have
same. That Showing deep scar aero
the bottom OF the calf of the Leg VI
made by blow from my master with
ash.plant--i. g., o young ash tree that
supple and will not break-when l W
six years old; il was cut TO the Dor
which had to be scraped TO heal
wound. have marks Of nailed booII
etc, on other parts" Hear, hear. VI
Stransfield. another master-sweep, san
In learning child you mt
use violence. / shudder now VIII
/ think of 1t. have gone
bed with my knee and elbows scabb
and raw, and the inside Of my thighs
scarifed." Another said: AT first tn
will come back from their work W
their arms and knees streaming W
blood, and the knees looking as IL
caps had been pulled off. Then til
must be rubbed with brine again, q
perhaps go off at once to another Chi
ney. In some boys have heard that
flesh does not harden for years" Hes
~ found boy states one Of the Coz
missioners, "of about eight, In the IN
kct, who had run away frsm some plf
OF correction. Part OF the knec-caps s
torn off, the gristle all showed white,
the guiders (tendons) all around w
like white string, or an imitation OF VIII III
cotton. His back was covered with so III
all the way up" To harden his knees
lotion made of "old netting"--i. g., ur ~
kept long for the purpose, simmeis
with hot einders-was put on them. NH
was like killing him." said the swe III
"and ! had TO stand by and see 1t a l
"Why, / myself" says another, "hf3
kept lad four hours up ciimI II
when he was so sore that he COL
scarcely move; but / would not let i ~
come down till he had finished. II
often made my heart ache 10 hear thf ~
wall, even when | was what you N
call party 10 it. In learning Chi
he goes on, Myor can't be soft with h
you must use violence"