The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-08
HOW THE "BARNARDO
HOMES" WERE BEGUN
One Little Wait Led Young Doctor
Into Far-reaehing Rescue
Work.
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.

By FRANCES SHAFFER.
| Some years ago. in the crowded heart
of London, a young doctor became deeply
the big city, and. though barely beyond
the student period of steady application.
he devoted his ''betweentimes" in a school
for ragged boys.
| One cold night in midwinter as the doc
tor-Dr. Thomas ]. Barnardo-tired and a
bit heartsick with the effort Of caring for
the young toughs was about to close the
school for the night, he noticed a lad who
seemed very reluctant to leave. Jim. they
called him, and when the doctor saw him
linger long after the rest had filed out.
he told him to hurry home. But still
the boy hung about, and, after a bit.
doubtfully asked If he might stay in the
schoolroom.
Then the doctor took a second look at
the little waif, and something he saw in
the boys appealing eyes made look again.
but still his response was that the idea
was absurd, for what would his father
and mother say? But Jim settled that
he had no father, no mother, not a friend
nor a home, and mightnt he stay?
| Down in his heart the doctor scarcely
believed that in all the great city of Lon
don there could be child SO friendless
as that, and he questioned and cross-ques-
toned, but the answer was still the same.
Then, with another look at the boy, ne
determined to let him act as guide and to
learn IL IL was true that there were other
homeless boys slowed away wherever
they coudd find an apology for shelter.
So the strange search-party Of two start
er out. half an hour after midnight.
silent on the Roof
Down in the sections where waits
would be likely to gather they went
about, up and down dark alleys, peer
ing into out-of-the-way corners, fol-
lowing narrow passages. even peeping
| in barrels, for homeless boys. But not
| one was in evidence, and the doctor,
growing more skeptical as he proceeded.
| thought his doubts were well founded.
But the lad knew his London and knew
| his boys and he told the doctor the
reason they did not see them was be-
cause the boys were sharp enough to
keep out of sight of the policemen, who
were always on the lookout down there.
Then they came to a spot that to the
doctor appeared no different from the
| rest, but the boy paused and announced
| that IF YOU don't wake 'em up you'll
see lots of 'em now" The doctor could
mot see, even then, but he watched
| Scrambling up a brick wall by stepping
| in little holes where the mortar had
been dug out or had fallen away, the
| boy soon stood the top Of tin
roof. Then he held out a stick to the
waiting doctor, who scrambled up too.
And there on the open roof, in the
biting air of winter, was his revelation
In all, the waits numbered eleven. and
they lay there, without covering of any
kind. ragged all and unkempt. with the
moon shining down. In age, they ran
from nine to fourteen. with one big
boy about eighteen, so the doctor re-
ported.
Then he knew, without any doubt.
that they were homeless and penniless.
And looking down upon those boy-fig-
ures. cuddled up in all sorts Of shapes
and sizes. he guessed that they were
but a handful of the homeless. parent
less boys scattered about on open roofs
and in other dreary hiding places.
Began His Life Work.
Dazed by the awful discovery, and de-
termined that whatever else happened,
| the poor lad who had acted as guide
must be cared for and rescued the doc
| tor and Jim slipped away as quietly as
they had come, without arousing one
homeless leepers.
Then the doctors lifework began. In
lowly street of London an old house
was repaired and made ready for TWEEN
ty-five boys. Two whole nights he
spent on the city streets, getting to-
gether lads like Jim, and it was easier
this time. for he knew the boys might
be found for the looking.
And from that first boy-shelter there
grew others and still others. At pub
lie meeting the doctor was asked to tell
about his little mission, and, though in
experienced as speaker, he realized
that that was a chance to relate the
story of his waits He started with
JirnS and simply and convincingly told
| of the boys and their need. 1t made an
| impression. the press gave it wide pub
licity, and the Earl of Shaftesbury in
vited DR.. Bernardo to dine with him
and talk it over At dinner. the doctor
went over the whole story from the
very beginning but the earl and his
guests did not believe the report Of
child-poverty in London. The suggestion
was made that they look for themselves.
and, in evening dress. they started out
In cabs, down to the lowest of London
slums. But the boys were well in hid
ing and it needed friendly policeman
and the offer of pennies to coax them
out.
I" OTA LAp0nOcus
And then the earl had his awakening
For from a pile of boxes, barrels, and
old crates heaped together. with a COW
erinz Of cloth over all, the boys came
tumbling out-seventy-three homeless
lads. And his doubts were dispelled. Be-
fore parting with the doctor that night
he promised that all London should hear
the story.
With the earl's help in the background
and with contributions springing up
everywhere, the work expanded with
wonderful rapidity. At the time of the
doctors death about eight years ago 49,
go children were being cared for in the
Bernardo homes. with trained workers
going out in the lowest sections Of the
city, looking for waits hidden away in
the most unlikely places. rescuing others
from degraded homes and from criminal
parents, seeking for every kind of waif
In need of help, making them over. for
themselves and for society.
And today there is a chain of the
homes, Of one kind and another. reach
T., la.