The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-19
GONE WEST.
The Work of the Chlldren's Aid Society
of New YOrk-Seventy-Six Persons
hooking for Homes.

1OOAAA8 lOT fzoHeSs
New York TribuneI
Seventy-six persons, "a of them homeless
and destitute boys, and six destitute families
numbering, with their children AZ more,
were sent West yesterday by Mr.. Whitelaw
Reid through the agency of the ChildreE's
Aid Society, to homes previously provided
for them in Kansas and elsewhere. This
was selected as the best means for using
large part of fund of $4,000 lately gwen
to Mr.. Reid By a stranger from the interior
of New England, to be spent according to
his judgment in helping the destitute. The
story of the dismal scenes which these ad-
venturers leave behind them, and of the
hopes with which they enter upon a new
life, is told in their own language.
The boys began to assemble at the rooms
of the society at about 10 a. m. yesterday,
few accompanied by friends, but most of
them alone. Some of them were dressed in
clothing which was neat and IN good order.
though of cheap material; others wore what
was little better than rags. The faces all
seemed hopeful, and bore the stamp OF IL
telligenee. A few were of foreign birth, but
nearly all were natives of the United States,
and none were the children OF pauper par
ents. In relating the simple stories OF their
lives, they told of struggles on the part OF
their fathers and mothers to keep their fam
lilies together while they lived, and of hon.
est work PERFORMED by themselves whenever
they could get work to do. Their purpose
In going West was to have homes, and to
earn an honest living by hard work. They
were older than the members of most OF the
parties which have been sent out by the
Children's Aid society. and the boys seemed
to have thought the matter over and decid
ed each for himself, that in the West were
better opportunities for attaining prosper
Gus future than IN the city which they had
tried for many years.
Soon after D. M Mr. Ried visited the
rooms of the society to bid the boys good
| bye and give them word of parting advice.
! He was introduced by Charles L. Brace, TIE
secretary, and said briefly that the gentle
man in whose interest he was acting was
giving them the best sort of help-the means
OF helping themselves. They would be
placed in comfortable homes, and there the
aid of others would cease; their future was
| in their own hands. There was nothing for
which they might not hope. He would be
glad il each boy became a farmer; they
could not find a better starting point in any
career OF usefulness. Those who had aided
them in finding homes would hear of their
| future success or want of success; and the
only reward they desired was the knowl-
| edge that their aid had been deserved and
had been fruitful in good results.
The boys gave three cheers and soon after
started for Chambers Street Ferry in omni-
buses and wagons, their small amount of
baggage and travelling equipments having
already been deposited on the latter.
The boys arrived at Payonia Ferry with
out mishap, and were soon safely embarked
on the ferry-boat, where they we're kept to-
| gether with some difficulty by the officers
Of the7 society, who had them in charge
until they should be safely landed on the
i cars. The fresh breeze on the river seemed
to put new life into the boys; they were ca
| ger to run races through the carriage ways,
and two of the little fellows executed a clog
dance on the forward part of the boat,
| which would have been a creditable per-
/ formance at a minstrel show. Arrived al the
Erie station on the Jersey side, the boys were
seated, and long period of waiting elapsed
| befora the time arrived for taking their seats
in the cars. They were all anxious for
! the departure, and we're greatly excited at
the prospect of q change. The few tears
which had started when bidding friends
goodbye had long dried, and all was joyous
hilarity. The street training of the boys
was occasionally manifested. The man who
stands at the station door, calling out the
places at which the next train will stop, was
initiated with singular success by little fel-
| low, who called out in the same tones:
"Here's your nice fresh peanuts; only five
cents quart" and when the doorkesper
called out an unusually long string of names
its conclusion was created with a chorus OF
long drawn 'Ohs," after the style of the gal
lery of the Bowery theater.
at 5:30 all were on board the train and in
their seats The car-windows were thrown
up and the boys peered out as if taking 9
last look at their old homes; but still there
was no look of sadness, all was hope and glad
expectancy. At six the train moved slowly
city toward all the possibilities which are
the inheritance of the American boy under
favorable circumstances. tt