New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-26

were unknown Dinner consisted of peas and
beans boiled into sonp One slight detail, easily
overlooked in the testimony, sends VIVID ray OF
light into the squalOr and misery OF this so-called
Shepherds Fold The children took turns at the
table because there not enough soap boxes
for all to sit down at once Let it be added on the
testimony of hostile witness that the pious MrCow
ley asked the Divine blessing upon every meal. 1t
would be interesting to know what these half
starved children rs they ate their bread and watered
milk and wondered whether their semi-annual
taste OF meat would ever come again, thought OF
that invocation and the religious zeal which dc
tated it, But in other respects the parallel with
Dotheboys Hall is equally striking. We miss
the youthful WackfOrd Squeers, but there
seems to have been no necessity Tor MS
existence; the poor boys who came into
the Shepherds Fold brought new button-over
jackets and no new boots. Smike was there how
ever, and Smke-pitIful to relate-was young
girl. The story of this little drudge, told to the
Court under the glazing eye of her former master,
and evidently told in some fear, was shocking
one. No one could have read it without convic-
tion of It's truth even if it bad not been substanti-
ated III various parts by respectable witnesses.
This girl was indenturcd to Mr.. Cowley by the
Commissioners of Charities and Corrections when
years in his service Many of the facts already
noted were given in her testimony, and there were
many darker things told, some of which cannot be
even referred to here. At five O'Clock in the
morning 1t was her duty to be up. and
she, with other girls even younger, made the
fires and prepared the breakfast. One comb.
one brush and four or five towels comprised the
toilet facilities Of the establishment After break
fast, making of beds, sweeping and-scrlbbDg. No
one needs to be reminded OF the Yorkshire classes
in washing windows and wedding gardens, which
Mr.. COwley was evidently initiating As if all this
was not enough for a child to do she was made
teacher toO and her feeble instruction, given i'll the
intervals Of sweeping and scrnbbing to ten OF
the little children. seems to have been the
sum total of the educational facilities afforded
by this Institution since last Summer She acted
besides as waiter at Mr.. COwley's table. and from
that benevolent man she sometimes got bit OF
fat" But he squared the account with several bru-
tai whippings.
All these things went within the walls Of an
institution protected against suspicion by its pre-
tence of charity. But now and then the truth
would leak out. A brother and sister sent from the
Fold to public school were expelled because they
systematically stole the luncheOns of the other
children they stole nothing else, and
stole These because, tnty ealu, IHeJ MciV
hungry. One of the Folds starved sheep
nine years old. went begging one day for food say
ing that he had been sent 70 school without any
breakfast The Principal of Primary School No. q
testifes that seven of these children III all have been
under her charge; all OF them "Ofen" complained
of hunger, were miserahly clad and filthy. Two of
them it became necessary to send away. The child
who was sent to ST. Lukes Hospital the other day
in state of starvation in good health when he
entered the Fold. Another boy who has enjoyed
Mr.. Cowley hospitality for about the same length
of time left the re too weak to walk, and sorey af
hicted with vermn, diseases etc.
The public will hardly wait for Mr. Cowley's de-
fence 1t may be contrary TO the laws of evidence,
but they will be apt to conclude that no theory
Will account FOR The existence of this testimony, ex
cep the theory thai it is the truth. And if malice
might have invented these stories malice could not
have invented the diseased. half-staryed children,
who were produced in court the other day. and who
already show the effects Of week of good food
II seems se to say that the charitable career OF the
Rev. Mr. Cowley is At an end in this city. If no
other penalty can beinhiced upon him, that at least
seems inevitable.