On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (7)
-
976 THE LEADER- [No. 342/Saturd^t,
-
Mr. Commissioner Goulburn : " Hudson ! H...
-
^ *. cy *\ vPflttt-..(lbfltttt£tl# • ¦ ¦ +
-
* . [IK THIS I>EPAimiF.NT, AS ALL OPINIO...
-
There is no learned man but -will confes...
-
BOOK ADuT^TERATICmS. (Tothe Editor ofthe...
-
MORE ANECDOTES OF PATRON AGE. (. To the ...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Kingswood Reformatory. Whateveb Doub...
Park-row . There are now 37 boys in the Kings-wood Institution , varying in age from 9 to 18 , and whose preyious commitments range from 1 to 6 times . Their offences were mostly small thef ts , though now and then indicating tie germ of progressive guilt . It is to be regretted , however , that there is no means of separating the younger from the elder boys . The former are usually the most promising , but their amendmeut is oftentimes retarded , if not altogether prevented , ft ^ . ^ - ^ ^ k ^ k 4 ^^ h * V *»*« J « I * . 4 ^ L ^ ' T i i-fc - B b _ J ri ^ . » - ~ \ I - J ' b tact with the hardened depravity
^^ *^^ . * ^^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^^ * y con more of their seniors . It is sad , too , to see lads of 17 or 18 playing at marbles , and treated in every respect like children . It is true that in ideas they are little better , bub when ideas do begin io sprout with them , their growth and development are far more rapid than at an earlier age . The greatest trouble 13 generally given by the clever boys , whose superiority of naind soon makes itself felt among their comrades . The dull , unimaginative i unrenective lads are easily moulded
for good or for evil , and readily follow the lead of their sharp-witted associates . At Eangswood there are twelve acres of land , of which eight acres are laid out as garden ground , solely cultivated by the boys , under the direction of a regular gardener . It appears to he exceedingly well stocked with a great variety of vegetables , and is kept in excellent order . It is also worthy of remark that this garden is fenced round by an ordinary quick-set hedge , in which are several gaps , but , nevertheless , during the last six
months only four attempted to abscond , of whom two were brought back the same afternoon . The inore trustworthy boys are sometimes sent on errands into the village , or even into the town , biit are never known to abuse the confidence placed in them . Besides gardening , they are also taught tailoring and shoemaking , and with their own hands make nil the clothing which is used in the establishment , with the exception of socks , which are furnished from Red Lodge . As a
substitute for gardening in the winter months , flaxdressing ; is about to be introduced . The greatest -thirst for useful information is evinced by all ages .- Their chief delight is to listen to pleasant lectures delivered by Miss Carpenter on foreign shells , flowers , and animals , On the manners and customs of strange people , and on the nature and uses of economic productions ; a still higher treat are the popular experiments in magnetism and electricity occasionally exhibited by that lady ' s brother . Unfortunately , there is a
scarcity of books suited to their comprehension . " Well-meaning persona are too much in the habit of forcing dry , repulsive works upon the poor , until morality cornea to be looked -upon as a bore , and useful knowledge is associated only with yawns . They do not act thus towards their own children . They know that these must be lured on to study by anecdotes , and illustrations , and suggestive stories . The useful and the agreeable must be blended together , or the former will certainly be rejected .
Narn veluti pueris absinthia tetra medentes Quatn dare conantur , prius oras pocula circum Contingunt mellis dulci flavoquo liquore , Ut puerorum oetas improvida Iudificetur Labrorum tcnus ; intcrca perpotet atnarum Abs ' mthi laticem , deceptaquo non capiatur , Sed potiua tali attactu . recreata valescat . The same rule applies with tenfold force to the
unfortunate beings detained in Reformatories and similar institutions . What they cl Jy want are good maps , engravings of all descri ptions , and specimens of natural history and manufactures . They would certainly acquire far more information by hearing these subjects orally explained , than if the library of the British Museum were placed at their disposal . Wo do not pretend to
assert that books are altogether superfluous , but that they should be a secondary and subordinate means of instruction ; and generally of a comparatively light and amusing nature . Jtobinson Crusoe will be found far more suggestive than a dozen Milkmaids of J & nchley , and there is no lack of pleasant books of history , travels , arts , and economies , admirably adapted to the calibre of such minds . The date of the Battle of Marathon , or the distance of Saturn from the Sun , are matters of very little moment to a marketgardener , or a shoemaker ' s apprentice .
The Kmgswood boys are allowed one penny per week for pocket-money , wMcli most of them save up until their release . Some of them , however , invest their little store in rabbits or pigeons , and a few indulge their personal vanity "by the purchase of a smart neck-tie , or jaunty cap , to be displayed on Sunday as they anarch to the village church . The pigeon-holes in the schoolroom in which they keep their little treasures are open and unprotected , but they seldom rob one another , and rarely allude to their past career , except in confidential conversation with their in ^
telligent and sympathizing governor , Mr . O-eobge HAB . TiiA . ND . It must be observed , however , that the weekly allowance is forfeited by misconduct ; The ordinary punishment is confinement for so many hours in a light or dark closet—according to the enormity of the offence—and restriction to bread and water . The diet is plain , but wholesome and abundant . Indeed , it is absolutely necessary to give sufficient nourishment to growing lads constantly at work . A large proportion on their admittance are found to be afflicted with scrofula and hernia ; and , until the bqdily functions do their duty satisfactorily , it is vaia to think of cultivating either the intellect or the disposition . Some persons object to the air of substantial comfort which pervades the -Reformatory Schools , and maintain that it holds out an inducement to parents to neglect their children . But the parents are held liable for the maintenance of their children to the extent of five shillings a week . And , besides , it is useless to struggle against necessity . The Question is simply whether by dint of perseverance and a slight expenditure of money , seven boys out of ten shall be saved from crime , and the public from their depredations and bad example ; or whether all these ten shall be allowed to pursue their guilty career , to their own utter misery , the infinite anuoyance of their respectable neighbours , and the deterioration of the rising generation . The total cost of each inmate is about seven
shillings and sixpence a week—three shillings , however , sufficing for the diet—for a period varying from two to five years , and for this outlay it is expected that twenty-five out of the thirty-seven will he reclaimed from vice and restored to society . The prospect is surely most encouraging . There is no good citizen but must sympathize with , and wish success to , this great work of regeneration .
976 The Leader- [No. 342/Saturd^T,
976 THE LEADER- [ No . 342 / Saturd ^ t ,
Mr. Commissioner Goulburn : " Hudson ! H...
Mr . Commissioner Goulburn : " Hudson ! Hudson What Hudson is it ? " Mr . Johnson : " The celebrated George Hudson , tho late Railway King . " Tho Commissioner looked incredulous . Mr . Johnson assured tho Court that it was rightly informed . Tho Commissioner : " la it como to thia , that his acceptance for 1000 J . is to be compromised for 150 / . ? " Mr . Johnson : " -The aabignees consider tiicmaclves very fortunate in getting that 8 vwa . " The compromise was accordingly ordered .
Tins Railway King and his Acoeptancks . —In tho course of an examination in tho Bankruptcy Court into tho affairs of W . Tingey , proprietor of tho Bedford Pantechnicon , Tottenham-coiirt-road , Mr . Johnson , for tho assignees , applied for tho sanction of the Court to a compromise which tho assignees proposed to make with reference to a bill of exchange for 1000 ? ., bearing the names of Mr . George Hudson and Mr . Mould , a railway contractor , and for which they had been offered 150 ?
^ *. Cy *\ Vpflttt-..(Lbfltttt£Tl# • ¦ ¦ +
dDpnt Cnumtl ; —^— .
* . [Ik This I>Epaimif.Nt, As All Opinio...
* . [ IK THIS I > EPAimiF . NT , AS ALL OPINIONS , lICWEyEIt EXTJIem ,, . „„ ALUWKD AJf KXl'HKSSION , THE EMTOK NECESSARILY UOLDs ' im , SELF ItESPOXSIBXB FOlt NO . N'E . J * A « ia > S HIM .
There Is No Learned Man But -Will Confes...
There is no learned man but -will confess he hitv , m-ucb profited by reading controversies , his senses a-wakened , and bis judgment sharpened . If ¦ thPTilt be profitable for him to read , why- should it no ? " ^ le ast . be tolerable for his adversary to write 1—Milton
Book Adut^Teraticms. (Tothe Editor Ofthe...
BOOK ADuT ^ TERATICmS . ( Tothe Editor ofthe Leader . ' ) Sib , —Observing the letter addressed to your con . temporary , the Athenmum , with reference -to your article on " Book Adulterations , " I , as another publisher , wish to make a remark or two . Your own observations , and those of 3 our contemporary , are very just ; the puffing houses will discover , lu time , thai they gain nothing by their forgeries of literary flattery . But when " The Lover of Consistency " urges that it is wrong to assist in tlie circulation of
such , puffs , he should remember that what is true of the Leader inthis respect is true in . an equal degree of the Athenaeum , Examiner , Spectator , and Times . It is the known rule in this matter to allow an advertizer to insert in his announcements whatever he pleases that is not libellous or offensive . I do not think the authors are to blame . Mr . Albert Smith ; for instance , cannot be believed ; chargeable with this : "Albert Smith has achieved even greater things than the ascent of Mont Blanc * he lias written Z "
Yet this is not the worst aspect of the system . When a book fails to sell , it is put forth in successive " editions , " the title-page being reprinted , and the cover changed from sober cloth to vermilion or amber paper , villanoiisly illustrated . Again , the railway stalls have lately been crowded with reprints of old works under new titles , so that purchasers are positively deceived . A Publisher . Paternoster-row .
More Anecdotes Of Patron Age. (. To The ...
MORE ANECDOTES OF PATRON AGE . ( . To the Editor of the Leader . ) Srit , —I have just i * ead your article on " Patronage . " Expose the iniquities of the system , and let the people know how are used the powers entrusted to various public officers for the public service , and not for private gain . I * et me tell you what I have seen . I was in Hamburg when the chaplaincy was vacant , and in the gift of Lord Palmerston , as Foreign Secretary . He offered the nomination to the British residents . One can hardly expect a large body of men to be \ waninious on a public question , but the British residents were on thia as nearly
unanimous as possible , and by an overwhelming majority chose a gentleman as chaplain . As a quiet clergyman this gentleman was . unknown , to fame , but , alas ! he had a relative who sat upon tlie Opposition benches . So Lord Palmerston disregarded the nomination of the Hamburg residents . For three ot four months tlie gentleman in question performed tlie duties of the chaplaincy , when one day over came a chaplain with his lordship ' s appointment in his pocket—a , ma ' n utterly unknown to the residents tliere , and utterly unfit for the post . He first emptied the chapel , and then exhibited liimsulf in another capacity . But then he had probably a relative who supported Lord Palmerston .
Again , I know , proh pudorl ji dignitary of the Church , a man great in . placo and pay and power , who had the official patronage of some dozen livings . Moreover , he had a son , who was so clever as to get plucked at Cambridge for his degree , and plucked by the bishop for his ordination . What was to be done ? Why he offered to a friendless clergyman aay patronage he could accept , provided he should pay a handsome percentage to the snid pluckce . Once more , I know a constituency whose member
is so utterly bankrupt , that he has borrowed not only the Bpare cash of farmers an / 1 tradesmen , but the very savings of labourers and domestic servants . Of course , he is a supporter of Lord I ' almcrstoii . That man applies for every post in dockyards , Excise , and so forth , and has been probably more successful than nny man alive . The service in thoso inferior , but useful and honourable walks , is crowded with men whose sole qualification has been dishonoured notes for money in the hands of thcif parents or friends .
These three anecdotes are not bad from one quiet hermit in tho country , but I pledge myself to their truth , and as guarantee send you my name and address in confidence , and am ready to fu rnish proot of all that I advance . Get others to send you similar atorioa of Patronage , till the country begins to underatand the meaning of tlio word . Yours , fee ., A . IIwrmit ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 11, 1856, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11101856/page/16/
-