New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
ROWLAND HILLS YOUTH.



Rowland Hills father birmingham man,
and being champion OF Prlcstleys managed "
get his injured in tho disgraceful Church ant
King riots, in which Priesteys house was burned
down. Ho married and removed to kidderminstef,
where Rowland Hill the third SOM was porn Inc
family then moved to Wolyerhampton they "e ere
exceedingly poor. and were glad TO take an old
farmhouse which they got cheap as 1t had the repu
taton Of being haunted. However, they 90 NOT
seem to have been disturbed by ghosts, ana ut t
Rowland was happy enough playing Win niue
girl Who twenty-five years afterward. WAS 10 90
his wife and making models OF water wheels ana
other mechanical contrivances. He was delicate
boy but full of ingenious plans, and always most
Trustworthy and most anxious to be OF use. me
FIRST book he ever bought was Mss or rs
Parents Assistant" and he used IN alter ire 10
say that nothing helped to form his character so
much as her stories. -
He said, and the tears came into ms eyes as iie
spoke, that he had resolved in those early days TO
be like the characters in her stories and to do some
thing for the world" 49,
Another reminiscence is interesting different
early SAW said Rowland, the terrible incon-
venence of being poor. My mother used to TAX 10
me than to all the others together OF our uii
entities and they were very grieyous. she used 10
burst into tears as she talked about them. ono DAY
sho told that she had not shilling IN the mousse
and she was afraid lest the postman might DfinB
letter while she had no money to pay the postage.
A few years passed. and Rowland Hill was at
work with his brother Matthew, teaching poys at
n peighboring school, and soon afterwaId the TWO
brothers took their fathers school into thelr own
hands. Rowland's powers were now rapidly devei-
oping, and he had attained remarkable proficiency
in mathematics and especially in mental arlth-
metc; He was also ambitions as regards rdssi the
enough and some very fanciful in reference to the
management of boys. The brothers published
book on Public Education" which made some
little sensation, and their school, which was now
established at Lakewood, near birmingham, De
came famous. Educatonalists and phIlanthr0plSts
were frequent visitors and with this new fame grew
I'D new duties and responsibilities, under wmcn
Rowland Hills health began to suffer. The site OF
his school was again removed to Bruce Castle lot
tenham and here Rowland Hill married TO the
little girl who had been his plaYfeow years before
remained till he finally gave up schOolkeeping and
undertook the task which was to earn him last
inu reputation. The most characteristic thing
about Rowland Hills early life was the way III
which he and his brothers always worked together;
The family affection was singuarly strong, and
no strain was great enough to break it, For many
wears they had all their property In common, ana
lived as the editor tells us, like the early CHRIS
tians" After the division of property, which
came later on the brothers established sort OF
mutual insurance, which they called The Family
Fund.-" and which was to assist any one OF Them
" if in circumstances much depressed as compared
with the Others though not i'll absoute poverty"