Macy's Reading-room—The First-ward Room—Mr. J. Couper Lord—Mr.
Hawley's Exertions—The Free Reading-room a Recognized Means of Moral
Improvement … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … pp. 286–297
CHAPTER XXV.
HOMELESS GIRLS.
The President of the Society—Mr. William A. Booth—His Character and
Capacity—His Policy in Regard to the Lodging-houses—His Suggestion
about the Street-girls—The Histories of these Girls—Causes of their
Condition—Their Unstable Character—Their Condition Fifteen Years Ago
Hopeless—THE GIRLS' LODGING-HOUSE—Its Plan—Means of Filling
it—Miserable Girls who Applied for Admission—Great Difficulties
Encountered—Necessity of Confining it to the Young, and Those not
Vicious—Principal Frequenters, Young Girls between Fourteen and
Eighteen—The Matron—Her Characteristics—The House was not to be an
Asylum—Our Effort to put the Girls in Places—Struggles of Mr. and Mrs.
Trott—Incidents from the Journal—Cases of Reform—THE SEWING-MACHINE
SCHOOL—Its Great Success—TRAINING SCHOOL FOR SERVANTS—Results from
the Work of the Lodging-house … … … … … … … … … … pp. 298–315
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE NINETEENTH-STREET GANG OF RUFFIANS—"A MORAL DISINFECTANT."
History of the Formation of the Nineteenth-street Gang—Our Efforts to
Reform it—Mr. Slater's Labors—Improvement of Vagabond Boys—Reform of
Petty Thieves—Good Fortune of a Homeless Lad—Warning, in 1854, from
the Danger of these Lads—Their Extraordinary Crimes—Murder of Mr.
Swanton—Murder of Mr. Rogers—Failure at that time of our Reformatory
Efforts—Renewed In 1865—Lodging-house Founded in Eighteenth
Street—The Superintendent—His Characteristics—The Assistance of a
Benevolent Gentleman—His Influence over the Boys—Mr. Gourley's
Economy—A Test of his Patience—The Ingratitude of Two Boys—Their
Improvement—The Reformatory Effects of the Lodging-house—Its Tabular
Statement … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … pp. 316–329
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE MINISTRY OF FLOWERS—THE LITTLE VAGABONDS OF CORLEAR'S HOOK.
The Rookeries of the "Hook"—The "Gavroches" and "Topsies" of the
Quarter—Great Number of Homeless Children—A School-building turned
into a Lodging-house—The Superintendent—His Artistic
Faculty—Flowers—A Novel Reward for the Children—Distribution of
Flowers among the Poor—An Aquarium and Green-house—The Industrial
School—An Earnest Teacher—The Children Like Little Indians—The
Night-school and Free Reading-room—Sunday-evening Meetings—Assistance
by various Gentlemen—A Young Army Officer and others—The Effect of
these Meetings—The Purchase of the House—Begging Money for
Charities—A Disagreeable Duty—Liberality of New York Merchants—Labors
of Two of the Trustees—Gift of a Beautiful Conservatory to the
Lodging-house—The Attractions of the School-room—Mothers'
Meetings—Statistics of the Lodging-house—ELEVENTH-WARD
LODGING-HOUSE—The Little Copper-stealers—Difficulties of the
Superintendent in this House—Final Success—The Night-school,
Day-school, and Bank—Sunday-evening Meetings—Labors of One
Trustee—Our Hopes to Secure Better
Lodging-house—Statistics … … … … … … … … … … . … .pp. 330–338
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE CHILD VAGRANT.
Passion for Roving Among Children—A Rover Reformed—Sent to the West,
and Wanders over the Woods and Mountains—The Habits of Little
Street-Vagrants—Unaccountable Preference for Particular
Lodging-houses—Greatest Number in the Spring—Different Class of Boys
in each House—Mystery of what Becomes of a Great Number of
Them—Down-town Boys Sharper than the Up-town—Influence of Theatres
upon them—The Salvation of New York its Climate—A Corrective—A
License should be Required of each Street-trader—A License to be
Accompanied by a School Certificate—Such a Law could be
Executed—Success of similar Boston Laws—School-training Preventing
Vagrancy and Pauperism—Truant-schools not Needed—Compulsory
Education—Half-time Schools—Such a Law not Needed Formerly, Now
Required Everywhere—Statistics of Illiteracy—The Ignorant Form the
Dangerous Classes in this City—The Power of Prussia in the Compulsory
Law—An Approach to in the Legislation in the Different States on
Factory children … … … … … … … … … … … … … . … .pp. 339–352
CHAPTER XXIX.
FACTORY-CHILDREN AND THE NEW LAW PROPOSED.
Experience in the Night-schools—Great Numbers of Young Children
Employed in Factories—Their Eagerness to Learn—Experience of
England—Statistics of Children Employed in Factories in New York—Facts
and Incidents—Mr. Mundella's Views of the Evils in this
Country—Massachusetts Legislation—Effects of the Law—Half-time
Schools—"Double Gangs"—Rhode Island Legislation—Connecticut
Legislation—Description of the Act—Defects of the Law—Hearty
Co-operation of the Manufacturers—The New York Law Proposed, Drawn up
by Mr. C. E. Whitehead, Secures Education for all Children Employed, and
Protects them from Dangers … … … … … … … … … … … pp. 353–365
CHAPTER XXX.
ORGANIZATION OF CHARITIES.
Enthusiasm of Humanity—Necessity of Machinery—Danger of
Routine—Importance of Interested Motives—Duties of
Trustees—Compensation—Charity