Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-21
BAD BOYS.

The Good Work Done by One Woman.
Elizabeth Cddy Stanton in The Forum for ApriE
A grand experiment for the benefit of
boys has been made in the city Of Buffalo
by Miss Charlotte Mulligan. When a
girl of II she began her humane work.
Suddenly reduced to Strengthened circum-
stances by the failure and death of her
father, the current of her life was changed
from seeking her own pleasure to a desire
to DE useful to others. Being che only sis
ter OF five brothers she appreciated the
trials and temptations to which boys were
exposed, and resolved to devote herself to
their improvement. Accordingly, she
wendell her way one Sunday morning 10
the mission school and told the superin.
tendent that she would like TO become one
Of bis regular teachers, and would prefer
a class of his worst TOYS. ''There they
are" said he, sin that corner. They have
exhausted the patience Of five teachers.
You may try them if you desire" lmag-
inc, then, a dozen ragged, unwashed
boys, about the age of IA, with hats on,
chewing tobacco, eXpectorating in all di-
rectiOns, and passing their coarse jests
freely round; on a stool in front of them
sits a lovely girl, t|astefully dressed in
fresh summer attire, a sweet vision OF pu-
AbN AANo " hAON W ACGBCSAAhA EAlCnCt
without II word.
young gentlemen" she said, on TAX
ing her seat, II am very happy the super
intendent has assigned me this class, aud
l hope to be your teacher all summer.
When we meet in the street l shall say.
There are some Of my scholars and |
shall expect you to raise your hats and
bow TO me-" off went all the hats i sand
you Will point me out as your teacher,
and | know you will not like TO see my
dress covered with tobacco juice" (the
guilds were furtively dropped J.. She dis
pensed with the lesson OF the day and tod
them charming stories, to which they lis
tened with rapt attention to the close of
the session; and then they urged her to 90
on. She asked each boy his name, writ
ing ii carefully down, n in turn she
gave them her card, with the number and
street where she resided and said: 81
want o all to come there one afternoon
every week. ! have SO much to tell you
that l cannot crowd One-nalf of what l de-
sire to say into the allotted hOur on sun
day. ''And boys" sue added, "as water
is plenty here where w have this great
AXE Erie, | would like to have you all
come clean"
When the day arrived they were all
there, with evident attempts at cleanli-
ness. She gave them seats under the
trees. and offered them crackers and
cheese TO begin with, thinking with that
ancient sect that a mani soul is in his
stomach, II that the boy, made on the
same general plan, could be most easily
eacIe through that organ. On these
week days she taught them the decencies
Of life, good manners and good language,
incorporating her practical lessons with
amusing or pathetic stories. Step by step,
she made the acquaintance OF their
parents, helped them to find work, to bet
ter homes, better food and clothing-soOn
interesting a number OF wealthy families
IN her experiment. From week to week
and year TO year she went steadily on, her
class rapidly increasing, and she gaining
a complete influence over them, and, IN
the form Of stories, imparting much NOR
al and religious instruction, By her eff
forts the mission school was soon rams
planted from a rickety old building,
where she had often taught with an UNI
brella over her head, to a nice stone
chapel, where IN later years she met her
full-grown boys every Sunday, conduct.
ing the services and talking to them as a
mother would to her sons on all their
practical duties. In addition she has a
large hall uptown near her own residence
where they meet one evening In the week
tor music aud conversation. Many see
ing her good work have contributed get-
erously 10 forward her plans. The BOYS
have sets OF musical instruments and
well-trained bands OF their own. They
have their boats, too, and during the SUM
mer enjoy ia turn an evening row on
their beautiful lake. They have their se.
cret society and monthly paper, both call
ed the "Guard OF Honor" designed for
mutual aid, and TO help younger boys jus
starting in the thOrny paths THROUGH
which they have travelled.
over three thousand have already pass
ed TO manhood under these influences,
and OF these over t~hree-fourths have re-
NAMED true 90 their pledges, and many
are filling responsible positions IN the
world Of work.
Ia an inte view with NJ 50 Mulligan, a
few years ago. she said: "What is needed
20 complete my experiment is large build
ings, wnere my bows can find lodgings
aud rational amusements, removed from
the demOralizing Influences OF those parts
OF "A city where the poor are compelled
10 dwell. Could 1 have changed their
environments" said sbe, IL could have
saved ten thousand as easily as ] have
three"