New-York tribune., 1880-01-18
CITY WAITS SENT TO THE WEST.


CITY WAITS SENT TO THE WEST.
THE WISE CHARITY WHICH GIVES DESTITUTE AND
FRIFEDLEss BOYS A CHANCE TO BECOME
THRiFrY AND INTELLIGENT MEN.
Nearly year ago gentleman from the interior
of New England called upon Mr.. Whitelaw keld'
and handing hlma roll of bills amounting to ST. ,O0O'
asked him to use the money in such manner as he
might see fit for the relief of persons in distress or
want in New-YOrk, only asking that he should DC
sure tha: the subjects of the charity were deserving
that the nelp should be given in such manner as
TO put the recipients i'll the way OF helping them-
selves and that as small a portion OF the money
as possible should he expended on the machinery OF
any charitable organization. He was consulted IN
regard 20 the emigration branch OF the Childrens
Aid Society, and expressed favorable opinion OF
it, but left the matter to MI Relds Judgment aller
more mature consideration.
The matter was examined pretty thoroughly.
Slnce the wear 1858 the Chlldrens Aid Society had
provided with homes and employment 52OO4
children and parents having young children; ana
the machinery of the society such that the cost
appeared trfmg compared with the good accom-
plished. There seemed 10 more practical method OF
charity than the taking up of poor. homeless boys
from the city streets and transpianting them TO the
sparsely settled States of the West, where their
future would be such as they could work out Tor
arms Mr. Reid accordingly decided to expend
portion Of the money i'll this way. Two parties
were sent 10 the West. and. another gentleman
having contributed $500, a third party was sent out
later-135 in all. Early reports from them,
received soon after their establishment in
Western homes, were published in The
TRIBUNE The letters from the boys and from
their employers spoke of mutual satisfaction
and gave evidence that the money had been eX-
pended judlciously
RECENT LETTERS.
Among the letters recently received which are OF
interest are the following: Little Willie C. the
haxen-haired child who went out in the Iowa party,
writes from Nebraska City: Dear FrieDd-l have
neglected to answer your letter. and am sorry l
have done 50. will try not TO do so next time We
are fattenng about forty hogs We have not done
buslliug corn vet. We have our cribs all full and
we have to build another one to hold over thou
sand bushels and will have altogether between five
and SIX thousand bushels. We have plenty OF NEE
apples to eat and everything else to eat that we
want | have a nice new ovorcoat and a new pair
of boots. | am going to school every day, aud we
have a nice new school-house only one mile and
half from home / like my teacher, and study
reading spelling, arithmetic and geography. We
have had Hne weather; only about one week OF
snow like Nebraska as well as New-lork. Write
soon, and do not do as done"
Israel johnson. with whom Henry Clifford Is lv-
ing, writes: For the first month or SIX weeks
Hcnly did moi take to work very readily, but since
that taac lie has improved very much. lie seems to
be suited with the place and pleased with the
countrv. Does not wish to return to the city. He
Is well behaved and think we shall like him very
we'll HIS brother William is living with W. L
Mcbride who is pleased with him."
Robcri Daily writes from Parsons, Kansas: " l
mn glad that i came ont West, and am doing very
good in Kansas Mr.. Hart Is very good to me. and
am getting along splendIdly, think | am very
thankful to the society aud to the kind gentleman
Mr. Reid, who sent MS boys out here. / intend TO
STAY Nith Mr.. Hart as long as can and l Will DO
all can to make things 60 on smoothly"
John CLAY writes from Parsons: 81 am
pettira along very well. / am at the same
place and mean TO stay there. l am now going
10 school. and am getting along very well
with my studies. ] live in the country,
four miles out of town, and like the
country best. l have thirty chickens and
two nice cows Ihave a horse of my and
call il Doll and the other horse call It Peter. and
have one duck, aud some of the chickens fly like
prairie hens am going to farm next Spring and
If. ida'' f. "' Church, % aud they are going to get
me an organ, and | am then going TO take
lessons aud learn how to play on 1t. IA Is intend,
ing TO get me pony when learn 10 rlde iler.
have not got any brothers sisters, but Pa Is in
Tending 70 get a little girl if You send any out"
John Metzgcr writes from Parsons: am getting
along splendid my work and everything else"
THE FIRST PARTY.
On March IL a party of thirty-four boys. without
homes OF resources here gathered at the rooms
of the society on Foarth-st., ready to start for
Kansas where homes with respectable farmers and
business men were 10 be procured for them. As
they sat in the Office waiting to leave the scenes of
their hard experiences they constituted a curious
and interesting group. They were clad IN strong,
eeryiceable garments furnished by the society," the
so,led tattered garments IN which many OF them
had arrived having been laid aside. Their ages
yanged from eleven TO eighteen, and most of the
number had earned such living for some previous
wears AS bootblacks and errand-boys had been able
IN earn Pbey were known to the superintendents
of the lodgng-houses under the Of the society;
and the circumstances Of each carefully
manfred into by Mr.. Reid. They belonged
in no sense to the criminal class OF this large city,
though how soon many might nave diliteu INTO IT,
nnder the hard conditions OF their iie here can only
he cOpjectured. They were simply homeless boys,
irving IN their poor way TO earn food aud lodging
from day to day. AS they were gathered together,
nrenaratory TO leaving the only homes they
had ever known, il was pitiful to observe how
few had friends 70 bid them goodbye. Here and
tLere amid the group could be seen sobbDg mother
cr tearfnl sister but most Of the boys seemed TO
have no one who regretted their going or would miss
them when away
When all was ready, they were taken TO the Erie
Railway station in Jersey City, and after brief
delay started for Fort Scott Kansas. by the evening
express. Accompanying them were six destitute
families numbering forty-two persons. whose cases
had been carefully inquired into aud their expens-
=. oa;a 10 the West where the parents believed