The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-19
FORTY soYs.
Each Soy Carried slack Bag and
had Great AntIcipations OF Amerl-

ca.
Those whose curiosity prompted them to
90 down TO the wharf where the Sandman
lay yesterday saw novel and pleasant
sight. A Canadian Pacific train had pulled
up to the very entrance of the Grand
Trunk station,-seemingly rather a saucv
performance. by the way,-and had loaded
on over hundred emigrants. One
of the cars had the appearance of a human
bee hive From every window protruded
the heads Of the brightest, liyeliest ana
happiest crowd of boys seen in that locality
for some time. A visit to the interior Of
the car disclosed the fact that the bows
were all about of an age, apparently from
seven to ten years of age, that thew were
dressed alike, and that each bow bore a
black cloth bag of the capacity Of about q
bushel No family, not even that of the
old lady who lived In her shoe could INNS.
ter such an assembly Of boys. There
were forty OF them. and forty of the black
bags. There was also aboard
venerable black man and his wife.
This pair were Bishop Hawk
ing and wife. He is Bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal church. and resides
in Canada. BE has been to England col
Letting funds, and has been made con-
siderable of social lion of over there.
The venerable bishop looked so good
hearted and antique that the forty boys
could not wholly abstain from little good
ratured mischief of which he was the OBJ
ject. As the reporter of the PRESS en-
tered the car pleasant but authoritative
voice was saying, "Boys, let the black man
alone"
Mr.. Alfred B. Owen, of Toronto. travelling
agent of DR.. Barnardo's home is one Of the
most famous charities in the world.
Twenty-Five years ago DR.. Bernardo was
young physician In London hospital. He
saw considerable Of the poor, and became
interested in the little boys. He began to
help them in whatever way he could, and
finally took one home to his lodgings. This
was thej beginning of the home. There
are now over four thousand boys In that
home. In ten years three thousand boys
have been sent over to Canada and located
In good homes.
The boys who passed through Portland
yesterday have graduated from the home,
and are ready for the farm life. They
were collected In the slums Of the east end
Of London and In other places in England,
absolute restitution being the condition of
| admission to the home. But they were not
| generally or In any considerable numbers
to children or criminals. They were
principally the children of artisans who
had died leaving orphans unprovided for
or In the care Of mother who could earn
only pittance. The home took them,
cared for them and educated them until
they were Of age to go to homes in Ameri-
ca. Mr.. Owen will take them to Toronto,
where there is distributing agency. The
boys are put out with farmers, with whom
a regular contract is drawn up. The far
mer is to keep the boy until he is eighteen.
At that age the boy is to receive 500 from
the farmer, and begin life for himself.
Generally the farmer receives nothing but
the assistance Of the boy. but In the case
of some of the younger ones who need
more schooling. the home pays sum to
the farmer. The boys are in great demand
among the Canadian farmers, and the
agents have no trouble In disposing of
them. This is no wonder, for a cleaner
brighter and healthful set of boys could
not be found. Some Portland gamins who
stood outside the car and whistled through
their fingers at the newcomers. were clear
| ly In the presence of their superiors.
The Bernardo home has a distributing
point at Peterboro for girls, and another
at Manitoba for older persons. Mr..
Owen will make another trip this year,
| and will bring back about three hundred
boys. Probably they will come through
Portland, but may come by way of Bos-
| ton. -