On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (8)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
^v /iy ?< ,;¦• ¦ dDpn Cmtnnl.. > KDIXOlt
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
Untitled Article
Park-row . There are now 37 boys in -. b « Kingswood Institution varying m ago ' ¦ ¦ £ 9 to 18 , and whose previous ^ ominih _^ range from 1 to 6 times . Their -neej Were mostly small thefts , thougL ^^ then indicating the germ ofprogr ^ ^^™ It is to be regretted , however , ^^^ no means of separating the jcr , , ^ 2 ° ^™? elder boy , The former ^ Jg * *™* nromis-msr , but their amf ; : »\ , , P . rui x " ' >? . „> , + aii _ > cher prevented , times retarded , if not all ¦ . > , _/ , _„ . . ; I ^ iu ""<» -- > " " ^ " ~ ardened depravit
, y trcontact with the ^ nor t q ^^ £ of their seniors It i ^ ' and treated in 17 or 18 playmg P ^— It is tme ^ every respect lik mm hett&r bufc when in ideas ^ liq ^ pi ^ tr ^ iUthemy their ideas ^ do beg velopinent are far more rapid growth aua rKer . The greatest trouble than at a ^ giveil by the clever boys , whose is gene- of mind aQon makea itself felt supe- ^ coinrad . The dull , unimagianr' f r unreflective lads are easily moulded
* ^ ood or . for evil , and readily follow the ^ of their sharp-witted associates . ; xt Kingswood there are twelve acres of -id , of which eight acres are laid out as , ardeh ground , solely cultivated by the boys , under the direction , of a regular gardener . It appears to be 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 bacfc the same afternoon . The more trustworthy hoys are sometimes sent on errands into the village , or even into the town , but 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 nre 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 persons are too much in the habit of forcing dry , repulsive works upon , the poor , until morality comes to be looked upon as a bore , and useful knowledge is associated only with yawns . They do not net 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 . ' *
Nam veluti pueris absinthia tetra medentes Quam dare conantur , prius oras pocula circum Continguut mellis dulci flavoque liquorc , Ut puerorum setas improvida ludificetur Labrorum terms ; interea porpotot amarum Abainthi laticem , deceptaquo non capiatur , Scd potius tali attactu recrenta valescat . The Bame rule applies with tenfold force to the unfortunate beings detained in Reformatories and similar institutions . What they chiefly want are good maps , engravings of all desenptums , at \ d specimens of natural history and manufactures . They would certainly acquire far more information by hearing these subjects oraUy explained , than if the library of the British Museum were placed at their disposal . Wo do not pretend to
nstjert 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 . Robinson Crtisoe will be found far more suggestive than a dozen Milkmaids of Jffinchley ^ and there is no lack of pleasant books oi 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 Kingswood boys are allowed one penny per week for pocket-money , which most of them save \ xp until their release . Some of them , however , invest their little store in rabbits or pigeons , and a few indulge their personal vanity by tbe purchase of a smart neck-tie , or jaunty cap , to be displayed on Sunday as they march to the village church . The pigeon-holes in tlie 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
intelligent and sympathizing governor , Mr . George Ha ! b , tIjA . nd . It must be observed , however , that the weekly allowance is forfeited by miseonduct . 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 . Tlie diet is plain , but wholesome and abundant Indeed , it is absolutely necessary to give sufficient nourisliriient to growing lads constantly at work . A large proportion on their admittance are found to be afflicted with scrofula , and hernia ; and , until the bodily functions do their duty satisfactorily , it is vain 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 neglecb their children . But the parents are held liable for the maintenance of their children to the extent of five shillings a week ; And , besides , ib 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 annoyance of their respectablo 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 be 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 .
Untitled Article
There is no learned man but will confess he h-ifh much profited by-reading controversies , his senies awakened , and his judgment sharpened If thpri be profitable for him t o read , why should it no ? ' ^ least , be bolerablefor his adversary to write 7—Mii / rov
Untitled Article
BOOK ADULTERATIONS . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sib , —Observing the letter addressed to your contemporary-, the Athenceum , with reference to your article on " Book Adulterations , " I , as another publisher , wish to make a remark or two . Your own observations , and tliqse of your contemporary , are very just ; the puffing houses will discover , in time that they gain nothing by their forgeries of literary flattery . But "when " The Lover of Consistency " urges that it is wrong to assist in the circulation , of such puffs , he should re . meniber that what is true of the Leader in . this respect is true in an equal degree of the Athenceum , 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 has written ' -. " 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 clotli to vermilion or amber paper , villanously 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 . •;¦
Untitled Article
MORE ANECDOTES OF PATJiONAGrE . : ( To the Editor of ' the Leader ^) ; Sir , —I have justread 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 . Z . et me tell you what I have seen . I was in Hamlmrg when the chaplaincy was vacant , and in the gift of Lord Palmers ton , as Foreign Secretary . Ho offered the nomination to the British residents . One can hardly expect a large "body of men -to be unanimous on npublic question , hut the British residents were on this 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 I ho had a relative who sat upon the Opposition benches . So Lord Palnierston disregarded the nomination of the Hamburg residents . For throe or four months tlie gentleman in question performed the duties of the chaplaincy , when one day over came a clvaplain with his lordship ' s appointment in his pocket—a man utterly unknown to the residents there , and utterly unfit for the post . He first emptied the chapel , and then exhibited himself in another capacity . But then he hail probably a relative who supported Lord Puhnerston .
Again , I know , proh pudor ! a dignitary of the Church , a man great in place and pay and power , who had tlie official patronage of some dozen livings . Moreover , lie 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 ho olTered to a friendless clergyman any patronage he could accept , provided he should pay a handsome percentage to the said pluckee . Once more , I know a constituency whoso member
is so utterly banlcrupt , that lie has borrowed not only the spare caah of farmers and tradesmen , but the very savings of labourers and domestic servants . Of course , he is a supporter of liord Palmerston . That man applies for every post in dockyards , Excise , mid go forth , and lias been probably more successful than any man alive . The service in those inferior , but usofu . 1 and honourable walks , is crowded with men whose sole qualification has been dishonoured notes for money in the hunds of their parents or friends . These threo anecdotes are not bad from one quiet hermit in the country , but I pledge myself to their truth , and as guarantee send you my name and address in eonfidenee , and am ready to furnish proof of nil that I advance . Get others to send you similar stories of Patronage , till the country begins to understand the weaning of the word . Yours , &c , A IIebmit .
Untitled Article
976 ______ ^ THE JiE APE b ' [ No . 342 , Satttrday ,
^V /Iy ?≪ ,;¦• ¦ Ddpn Cmtnnl.. ≫ Kdixolt
dD | rm CnunriL ¦
Untitled Article
The Railway Kino a 2 J » his Acceptances . —In tho course of an examination in tho Bankruptcy Court into the- affairs of W . Tingey , proprietor of tho Bedford Pantechnicon , Tottenham .-court-roa < l , 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 J ., bearing tho names of Mr . Georgo Hudson and Mr . Mould , a railway contractor , and for -which they had been offered 150 ? . Mr . Commissioner Goulburn : " Hudson ! Hudson ! What Hudson is it ? " Mr . Johnson : " Tho celebrated George Hudson , the Into Kailway King . " The Commissioner looked incredulous . Mr . Johnson assured tho Court that it was rightly informed . Tho Commissioner : " Is it como to this , that his acceptance for 1000 / . is to bo compromised for 150 £ . ? " Mr . Johnson : Tho assignees consider themselves very fortunate in getting that aum , " The compromise ) waa accordingly ordered .
Untitled Article
w . . [ IN THIS DEPARTMENT , AS ' AIX OVIXIOKS , nOVTKYEn - EXTnVMV . t , t , ALLOWED -AN KXPKKSStON , TUB KDITOK NECESSAUlLY 110 LB = l . £ ; . SELF KESrONSlBLE I'OE SOSE . 1 "ULJJ 3 Ulil
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 11, 1856, page 976, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2162/page/16/
-