The Irish standard., 1897-10-09
ON PRISON LIFE IN ENGLAND.
Friend of the Waits and Strays
of the English Cities.
RESCUlNG THE FALLEN WOMEN.
Good Work Accomplished by the
Aged Philanthropist.

Mgr. Nugent the famous philanthro-
pist, has delivered two addresses in
Minneapolis on criminal life In the
great English cities. In his first lec.s-
ture at st. Stephens church he spoke
on THE Waits and Strays of Liver
pool" and in the other at Immaculate
Conception church his subject was
1.-The Rcscuing of the Fallen" On
both occasions he attracted large audi
ences who admired the eminent eccles-
iastic for the grand work he had per-
| formed In the cause of suffering hu-
manity by aiding the homeless and des-
titute and reclaiming the fallen and
abandoned and making them useful
members of society.
In his first lecture he said In part:
IL wish to paint for you a series OF
memory pictures of the life and habits
I of the poor children who crowd the
streets OF one OF the largest cities OF
England. 1t may be | shall not only
awaken sympathy for the children, but
|
sibly awaits this city unless you take
early precautions to care for and watch
over the children who daily ply their
avocations on the streets to gain a
copper.
| There Is no more practical school in
which to study men than within the
walls of the prison. Constant inter-
course with class, by nature quick
! and keen, and one which has had to
| live by sharpness must give an insight
into tho mysteries of criminal life and
the causes which lead men to enter it.
For three and twenty years my work
lay within the walls Of one OF Eng
lands largest prisons. From 5000 to
| $1,000 persons camo within my reach
and I gave my earnest efforts to reform
and restore them to society improved
In principles and habits. Reformation
OF the adult criminal class Is a hard
but not impossible task. 1t Is disap-
pointing and, In most cases Il failure.
experience l have found
the effective method Of reform Is to
|
the children. A bright young criminal
once said, It's no use spending your
time on us old guns, father. Try your
hand Oh the kids. Don't let them see
the inside Of Il stone jug till they are
l6 and they never will then. Believe
me father, thicving is n hard crust to
eat
In 1868 there were 100000 children
knocking about London. In Liverpool,
there were 1882 children between the
ages of and IA, who did not 70 to
school $4,000 of these were at large
upon the streets. visitor was struck
with the number OF dirty, ragged chill
dren, nrbOdy's children without heart
to love them or hand to guide The
keen and cunning contrivetl to live, tho
others suffered hunger and want, The
children slept In empty boxes over
bakers ovens, under theatcr bill boards
and any other shelter which might pro-
tect them in measure from the snow
and bitter cold. The street children
grow in the lap Of misery as flowers
|
OF crime In which the girl, scarce in
| her teens becomes a degraded outcast.
and the boy a thief and convict. They
| arc endowed with brain power which,
lf cared for and shown the path Of duty.
might adorn any position and shed
honor on any country. Genius and tai
ent run to waste in the CUTTERS"
| Father Nugcnt then drew an Interests
ing picture Of little waif whose am.
bltlon was to become a juggler and Of
the child actors, who trampetl from
Liverpool to London, acting bits of
llchard ILL.,, "Dr. Faustus" and other
dramas which they had seen in the low
thcittcrs. These lads landed in jail. but
Il sidewalk artist, who drew lifelike
sketches of men and women, famous
and infamous upon the pavements tn
win penny, was taken in charge by
Father Nngcnt, educated and sent to
this country, where he has since be-
come an illustrator on a New York
paper. Many singer who rolls to the
theatcr in his brougham was once q
child on the streets.
In 1864 Father Nugent succeeded in
establishing number of homes for
these children of the street. In 1867 the
work had so grown that 4$,205 children
were given suppers and 2,915 had
nights lodging. No child was ever
turned away on account of his religion,
No advantage was ever taken of its
destitution to tamper with its religloua