The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-14

berlcss times sufTcringfor bread. Final
ly in 1875, he managed to publish his
book, "Our Canal Population" With
this he made England stand still and
listen again. In 1876 he had succeeded
In enlisting the government 80 far that
II instituted official inquiries and took
evidence; and then he was asked to
frame bill. This was "blocked" in all
manner oil ways in committee, and for
a time the measure seemed lost; but on
the final day OF the session OF parlur.
mcnt In August, 1877, but not until
Home Secretary Cross had been called
to Osborne House for an interview con.
corning the matter with the queen,
who has always been sympathctically
and practically n friend OF this unlct.
tered philanthropist, his second great
triumph for England's lowly children
was achieved, and tho bill was unani.
mously passed while, half fainting
with anxiety, and with not 4 sixponcc
in his pocket, he sat in the speakers
gallery thanking God for what had been
accomplished.
Briefly, this bill provided for the
registration OF canal.boats in England
by the sanitary authorities precisely
the same as any residence habitation,
which absolutely abolished the former
abominable disease breeding and carry
ing character OF the tiny crafts. 1t
brought all the 10000 canal-boat child
rem under the education act. so that by
Il system OF pass-books they wcro
enabled TO attend any school where
they might be temporarily tarrying. 1t
abolished, by inspection on the part OF
local authorities, all possibility OF Illicit
relations OF canal-boat folk who had
heretofore been under no authority and
surveillance. 1t limited the number OF
occupants in tho diminutivc cabins,
and it resulted in placing threc-fourths
OF the entire canal.folk OF England in
homes along the canal banks. Evils, OF
course, still exist; but the change for
the better has been OF marvellous
character.
George Smith, OF Coalvillc, not only
brought about both the great brickyard
and canal-boat reforms, but he has been
us persistent M agitator in seeing that
the provisions Of the two bills were car.
ried out. lie has tramped thousands OF
miles in doing this; his long flowing
white hair and beard, his kindly smil-
ing, fathcrly face, his powerful figure,
his benign though piercing eyes which
seem to instantly penetrate the very
marrow OF incidents. homc-lore and Sc
crets OF watcrsidc, brickyard and Gypsy
communities. being familiar everywhere
in England among the lowly. His face,
form and figure arc just as familiar in
the streets oil London among the haunts
OF the rich, where he comes with blunt
words and ways TO make the fortunate
help tho unfortunate; and lie gets it,
too. And no man within the walls OF
parliament house is more known, noted
and beloved, even BY those who oppose
his efforts in behalf OF children, than is
the man who has no actual right to any
OF the countless privileges which are
his; who refuses to be sent to pariia-
ment by those who would be proud to
give him Il seat; but who, by general
and genial sulferance from lords and
commoncrs, is practically the Hon.
George Smith, OF Coalvillc. member ior
Everywhere, and representing con-
sutuenry more powerful than any
statesman or leadcr-thc millions OF
British children whom billions OF Brit
ish capital would otherwise remorse-
lessly cnthrall.