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The Poor Boys of London

HE boys and girls stant fight for existence. Some years of America do not ago, Lord Shaftesbury founded what are know much about called "Ragged Schools." You can chimney-sweeps understand from the name that these and street-sweep- schools are for ragged boys, boys that are ers. These are turned out in the streets to care for themcommon in all the selves, and who are gathered into the great cities of Eu- schools to receive instruction and to be rope, especially in cared for as they could not be in their London. London own wretched homes. We in America. is a vast city, con- would not take kindly to the name of taining, with its surroundings, between Ragged School, and our boys here would. four and five million people. You would be too proud to attend such a place; but. want months to visit all its interesting the Ragged Schools of London have done places, and you would be surprised, per- a great deal of good, and have saved many haps sometimes shocked, at the scenes a poor boy from the life of a criminal. witnessed in the streets.

The boys in these Ragged Schools have The poor boys of London are legion their own uniform. They are dressed in in number, and many of them have a con- red suits, and every morning they go out to various street corners with their black- Besides these boys, there are little ing-boxes, and engage in the highly honor- urchins in London that pick up a penny able occupation of blacking shoes, earning or two by sweeping the crossings of the considerable money. Of course, persons streets. As a rule, they are not very 7 MILWAY SMOUTH