Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16
LONDON'S OUTCASTS.
The Work of Rich and Educated
Young Men in the Slums of
ENGLAND'S GREAT METROPOLIS.
Story Of the Heroic Life and Death of
Herbert Ross Webbe.
INNOCENT ATTRACTIONS FOR THE POOR
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH. /,

LONDON, June lone of the most re-
markable associations in the world is down
in the dirty, foul, ill-smelling and revolving
Whitechapel district
Seven years ago London society was
startled out of its customary complacent
propriety by the publication of a series Of
newspaper and magazine articles under the
title of ''The Bitter Cry of Outcast Lon
don." The awful conditions under which
thousands upon thousands of the very poor
est of the great metropolis lived and moved,
the foulneSs of their lodgings, the moral
and physical rottenness of their surround
ings were all set forth in language which, if
sometimes over-colored and occasionally
hysterical, attracted the public ear and
caused great wave Of pity and indignation
to pass over the whole country. Rich men
subscribed their money and a few gave per-
sonal help in seeking cut and relieving the
misery of the masses. Stunning" be-
came fashionable, and for a time the police
men stationed in the east end of London
reaped rich harvest of fees from the we'll
to-do visitors from the far west who focked
10 London's plague spot, but feared to ex-
anime it without guides and protection.
But the great wave soon spent itself; the
money, although freely given, was badly
administered, men and women gradually
tired of the soul-searing and dIsheartering
work of battling with the great evil and
dropped out Of the ranks. Only very
few worked sturdily on, content if by their
| personal efforts they could Tighten the lot of
the least of those among whom they tenn
porarily dwelt.
A PHILANTHRoPIC CoLLEGIAN.
Foremost among these were a number of
young graduates of Oxford University, who,
deeply moved by the "bitter cry" formed
themselves into the Oxford University Mis-
sion, took house in the very poorest part
of Bethnal Green, and moved into it, re-
solved to live among the people. One of
the most enthusiastic of the little band was
tall, handsome young fellow named Her
bert Ross Webbe, member of a well-to-do
family and himself distinguished scholar
and famous athlete, whose intellectual and
physical prowess won glory for him at Win
chester College, where he was educated, and
at Oxford University, where he took his de-
gree.
Young Webbe from the first devoted him
self to the welfare of the poor working bows
tablished an influence almost magnetic over
the most of them. Hundreds were soon at
traeted to the humble rooms in which the
young enthusiast had set out mis- desk and
books, and after time well-attended even
ing classes were in full swing. Gymnasium,
football and cricket clubs, musical societies
and other social and recreation agencies
were in due course established. The work
went steadily forward, widening its sphere
OF action and influence, and giving daily
promises of incalculable results when it was
suddenly and tragicslly arrested by the
death of the founder. Herbert Webbe died
on duty. One Sunday afternoon last year
he had'been sitting in the midst of his bows
reading the Bible to them. He had not felt
we'll for day or two previously, but he
would not quit his work, and that last
Scripture lesson was as lovingly and care
fully given as any of the many that had
preceded it. The lesson ended, the young
teacher commenced to read the Lords
prayer, but had only reached the words
''Thy kingdom come" when he fell forward
and died in the presence of his class.
THE wEBBE MEMORIAL.
The good that Herbert Ross Webbe did
during the brief period of his sojourn on this
earth lives after him, thanks to the gold of
his rich admirers and the copper of his
humble proteges. Tablets recording his
brief lIfe's work have been placed within
the stately walls of Winchester school and
New College, Oxford; but, much more fit
tingly, his virtues and his Iabors have been
commemorated in an Institute for Working
Lads, situated within few hundred yards |
of Oxford House, in the midst of the dwell |
ings of the humblest of London's industrial |
Door. and not more than a stones throw |
from some of the most dreadful slums the |
miseries and depravities of which first |
moved him to noble actions.
"The Webbe Memorial for Working |
Lads" Hare street, Bethnal Green, is not |
an imposing edifce. 1t is not even new, its |
architects brains being confined to the task |
of making the most of some buildings |
erected many years ago as merchants stores. |
Already there are 300 working lad members,
and the number is increasing every week. |
The house was opened last January, hut its |
formal Inauguration was postponed until |
Jew days ago when young Prince AL
bert Victor OF Wales, who will one day be
king OF England, went In state to the east
end of London, the most forlorn spot In the
vast empire over which he is destined to
rule, and performed the simple inaugural
ceremony. A royal visit is something
unique and to be cherished in Bethnal
Green. The whole of the grimy populace,
men, women and children, crowded into the
narrow streets to see the stranger prince. I
was there, and cannot truthfully say that
there was any enthusiasm except among
the boys.
1t is creditable to Prince Albert Victor
that his face did not bear the bored express
sion which it usually does when he performs
a public function. He showed hearty in
terest in the work of the Oxford men, and
the little speech which he delivered was
spoken with real feeling
A ROYAL TRIBUTE.
"I have much pleasure" said His Royal
sin declaring this institute open
to the young lads Of this district. You have
heard the details of its foundation and the
story of the man whose name it bears, who
devoted his life to the benefit of his fellow
men, especially those moving in a lowly
sphere. No better memorial to man who
devoted himself to seli-denying efforts to
make the lives OF others better and brighter
could have been constructed. / trust that
its future will be successful one, and that
it will in many ways tend to the advantage
0f the young people around"
Then Prince Albert Victor and his aris-
tocrat ic suite returned to the more con-
genial west end, and Bethnal Green relapsed
into its normal state.
The work, of which Herbert Ross Webbe
was one of the philanthropic pioneers, is
still carried on under the direction OF COM
nittee at Oxford, of which Sir W. Anson,
Warden of All Souls College, is the Presi-
lent
Oxford House is humble building stu
tied in Viaduct street, Bethnal Green.
Years ago, before steam power and i'm
proved machinery worked revolution, the
treets around were inhabited by silk weav-
RS, of whom there are still left few ven
rable specimens. Outside Oxford House
ooks almost as grimy as its squalid neigh
1he house Was once q school and If has heen |