The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among ThemBrace, Charles Loring
History
The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among Them
Brace, Charles Loring
Child welfare -- New York (State) -- New York; New York (N.Y.) -- Social conditions; Poor -- New York (State) -- New York
"MR. BRACE--_Dear Sir:_ You request me to send you some reminiscences of
the early life of Michael S----n. My most vivid recollection of him is
his taking the broomstick to me once, as I was about to punish him for
some misdemeanor. Being the first and last of my pupils who ever
attempted anything of the kind, it stands out in bold relief in my
memory. I soon conquered the broomstick, but on the first opportunity he
ran out, thus ending his Industrial School career.
"His most marked characteristic was a desire to travel, and he presented
himself with the freedom of the city at a very early age, going off for
weeks at a time, sleeping in entries and around engine-houses, and
disdaining bolts and bars when they were turned upon him. One of your
visitors calling to consult with his mother as to what could be done
with him, found him vigorously kicking the panels out of the door, she
having locked him in for safe-keeping till she came home from work. The
Captain of Police, tired of having him brought in so frequently, thought
one day of a punishment that he expected would effectually frighten him,
which was--to hang him. His mother consenting, he was solemnly hung up
by the feet to a post, till he promised reformation. This failing to
produce the desired effect, she placed him with "the Brothers," who put
him in a kind of prison, where he had to be chained by the leg to
prevent him from scaling the walls. Taking him from there, after some
months of pretty severe discipline, he very soon went back to his old
habits, when she had him sent to Randall's Island. Here he was
discovered in a plan to swim to the opposite shore (something of a feat
for a boy of twelve). Fearing he would attempt it and be drowned, she
took him away and put him in the Juvenile Asylum, where he remained
several months, and finally seemed so much tamed down that she ventured
on taking him out and sending him to a place which you procured for him
at Hastings. But, pretty soon, the ruling passion, strong as ever, took
possession of him, and he started on a tour through the surrounding
villages.
"Being brought home again, he told his mother very deliberately, one
morning, that she need not expect him home any more; he was going to
live with a soldier's wife. Knowing that if he went he would be in a
very den of wickedness, she came to the resolution to give him to your
care, and let him be sent to the West.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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