Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-05-02
STUDYING THE HoLLIGAN.
An Effort to Check the Growth of
Juvenile Ruffianism.

Street rufianism and its cure, or,
discussed at meeting held yesterday
afternoon in the Egyptian Hall, at the
Mansion House, says the London
Telegraph of February %. The Lord
Mayor presided, and supporting The
chair were included the Bishop of
Rochester. the Bishop of Kensington,
the Roman Catholic Bishop of South
wark, Sir Henry Burdett, Mr. w. H.
Dickinson chairman of the London
County CounciD, the Hon. Alfred
Lytelton, K. c., M. p, Canon Ingram,
and Lady Mayoress and others.
The actual business for which the
meeting had been covened was to
sanction the establishment of a
body which its full title describes as
THE Twentieth Century League for
remedying the neglect that has led to
the present condition of disorder
community in and around London
The resolution embodying this step
was agreed to without dissentient
voice after some Introductory and ex-
planatory remarks by Mr.. Dickinson
and the Bishop of Kensington, all dis
mans request, until a later period of
the proceedings. The meeting was
asked to consider the report drawn up
''by number of men and women" as
it was worded, including many
present at the meeting.
Referring to the spread of juvenile
reffianism, the report says; "a com
plete cule for such an evil can only
be found in the amendment of The
social conditions from which ii
springs. Short of this, however
means can be found to mitigate this
evil and prevent its increase"
This is to be effected or attempted
by augmenting the number and Utility
of continuation and technical schools
polytechincs, boys brigades and cadet
corps and clubs for boys and girls
The conference at present only in
tends to work on these old lines, but
to vastly increase their sphere OF
influence. How they hope to obtain
the satisfactory result is, first, by
personal service, voluntary effort on
the part of those willing to go and
work among these rough lads and
lasses, to endeavor to give them
agreeable and elevating amusement
and by pleasant recreation draw the
young generation out of the streets;
secondly comes the question of funds
to keep such institutions going. Al
this juncture, although donations will
be readily an9 gratefully acknowl
edged it is the question of personal
service which is the most pressing
and willing workers may be recruited
up to any number
Mr.. Dickinson, who was the first to
address the meeting, said that the
evil could be met and checked il
proper steps were taken. He put the
causes into three heads-frst, the
social conditions which at present
exist in the matter of overcro wGed
dwellings, the conditions of the
streets, dark an! Unprotected, The
remedy, however, to be left to iOcal
administration; secondly, the relation
between employer and employed, by
which at present the latter went
sarly to work, did no real useful work
and then left to do as they pleased
That was also question which the
proposed council could not take up,
but the third, that of relaxation and
education, it would be their duty to
undertake, and the Bishop of Kensing-
ton, who followed, heartily supported
the scheme. Mr. Alfred Lytteiton
amused his listeners by saying how,
when he was at school, boys who were
now eminent divines and prominent
men used to punch each others heads
for the mere fun of the thing. What
the Holligan wanted was proper out
let for his exuberant feelings They
wanted cricket, football and athletic
clubs, where they could turn out men
and lads qualified to have influence,
able to organize and able to lead.