Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-SUNDAY APRIL H. 1882


at a ferrous rate at first, then die COM
pletely out.
Take, for example, our bold start in a
society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals" See how il was prefaced
by the eloquent prayers and speeches OF
the eminent of the land. Where is it to-
day? Ask OF the brutal driver who
loads his willing and noble animal until
with strained sinew and vein it can
hardly move up the billy streets OF our
city under the tornado OF heavy blows
and kicks TO which it is at the same
time subjected.
Now, it is indeed pitiful to know and
see O poor dumb brute who cannot COM
plain for himself thus dealt with. but
not 80 pitiful aud distressing as to see
children-beings who we are taught TO
believe are created after the image and
likeness Of Almighty God--in our Jail
and penitentiary associating daily with
old and hardened criminals stepped IN
vice and infamy. And for what are
these children here ? Some rich man
perhaps with a charitable, noble heart
has suffered a small loss through way
ward boys. and in the righteousness OF
his soul Of he has one). instead OF giving
little OF his boarded treasure for the
reformation Of his felIow-being, he, on
the contrary, feels in duty bound to
have these miserable children Incarce-
rated in these foul dens Of iniquity. No
doubt after eating his meals he wipeth
], leny tfnn
well"
Now, let any woman or man in our city
visit either our Jail or penitentisry, and
il there be one spark OF tenderness and
sympathy in his nature Qeaving out
Christ anityl he will lit his voice and
cry for House of Correction Who
is there among you that has no pity for
an unfortunate child and who would
not raise his voice and hand to keep a
child from gong TO destruction? You
may be correct yourselves and your chill
dren may be now. but you cannot read
the future, and you don't know
when hayward child or grand
child may send your gray
hairs sorrowing to your grave, when pro-
baby If there were such II place he
might learn the error OF his way, reform,
and in time make worthy man but
when On erring child for some petty
offence is put in the Jail or penitentiary
because there is nowhere else to put him
shameful excuse), and perhaps no one
to protect him, and said child ia thus
made to associate daily with vile robbers.
murderers, adulterers, &C., every latent
germ of good which might be left in that
child's nature Is necessarily crushed out.
Ills future for this world and eternity is
forever blasted.
Take for example the city of New
York, which is surpassed by no other
city IN the world for its charitable and
humane institutions. There we find to-
day several thousand worthy and hon
orable men. taken from houses OF cor
rection, daily filing the various trades,
occupations, and even professions. when
/ these very men, if they had not been
saved by these institutions. or If when
+ boys they had been dealt with as we
/ Nireinians deal with our bad boys, they
/ would have perhaps died on the gallows
/ or to-day be incarcerated in prisons for
life. Very few in this city know that a
child eleven years of age was ever in
our penitentiary and occupying the same
cell with man imprisoned for most
fearful and disgusting crime. Consider
how easily child of that age
might be led into evil without ever
rejecting or discriminating be-
tween right and wrong specially
a child without proper home-training.
Look at your own wiliul little boy eleven
years Old as he stands before you
scolded perhaps for some small fault
and ask yourself, no matter what his OF
fence, would not his tender years plead
for him
BE not like the Pharisee-" thank
God that such is not the case, &c, bu
rather like the good Samaritan-help al
on the roadside to eternity. especially
those poor unfortunate children whC
have 10 protection and whom we have
every reason to believe We can save j
the proper course Is taken to aid anC
correct them.