employed by this society in its efforts to help and save these "dangerous classes" of New York. There is also a large amount of missionary work done among the poor by the visitors of the society and by the teachers in the industrial schools. In addition to the number regularly employed, many ladies volunteer as teachers and for missionary work; in 1874 there were seventy such, who it is stated were accomplishing a vast amount of good. The crowning work of the society, however, is believed to be its emigration-feature, the placing of orphan and homeless children in good country homes, and, often, the settlement of whole families where they can earn a living. For the well-doing and proper treatment of the children placed by it, the society considers itself in a measure responsible, and for information keeps up a correspondence with them and their guardians. In 1874 the society provided in this way for 1,880 boys, 1,558 girls, 242 men, and 305 women, a total of 3,985, or 284 more than during the previous year. The number placed in homes since 1853 is 36,363.

AID SOCIETY SCHOOLS AND THE NEW EDUCATION LAW.

The Children's Aid Society has been for years urging upon the legis lature of the State of New York the necessity for a law similar to that recently passed securing the attendance of all children upon school a portion of the year, and the officers of the society have offered their hearty co-operation to the public-school-board in carrying it out. In view, too, of the possible effects of the law, the society has opened a larger number of night-schools. It is not thought probable that the new law will lessen essentially the necessity for these industrial schools; first, because most of the children received are too poor to forego the noondaymeal supplied; secondly, they are too ill-clad to obtain admittance into the city-schools, even if they were to seek it; and, thirdly, a majority are compelled to work in the streets a part of the day for their living. The city pays semi-annually to the society a certain sum for each pupil, as allowed by law.

COUNTRY HOME.

One of the most beautiful of charities was, during the summer of 1874, incorporated with the work of this society. For many years excursions and picnics for the poor children have been provided by this and other societies and by the New York Times fund. These, however, afforded too brief a relaxation to accomplish all the good desired, and a lady, about two summers ago, opened and supported a house on Staten Island as a summer-resort for these children, and especially as a sanitarium for infants. She afterwards proposed to this society the opening of a similar home, on condition that she and the society should raise the sum required, about $4,000. This was soon done; the same house was rented, (a spacious villa with some eight acres of land,) furniture was purchased and borrowed, three cows were bought, and a garden made ready, and

early in the summer detachments of 70 from the schools began to go, each remaining a week. It was a gospel of good-will to the poor chil dren. The whole expense was $3,384.84; and this gave a week's sunshine and country air to 1,260 children.

FLOWER MISSION.

The superintendent of the Rivington-street school and lodging-house has in the rear, and opening out of the school-room, separated only by glass doors, a small green-house. The children are given young plants as prizes; they take them to their homes and after a certain number of months return them to show what care has been exercised, and the result of their efforts. During the past four years Mr. Calder has thus distributed 1,300 plants, besides many bouquets of flowers to the sick. The idea was his own, and it has been carried out at large pecuniary cost to himself.

A mission, kindred in character, is carried on in Boston by a society organized for the purpose.

CHILDREN'S LODGING-HOUSES.

The Children's Aid Society provides five lodging-houses in New York City, four of them for boys and one for girls, where a night's lodging may be obtained for five cents and a meal for six, all, however, being received, whether able to pay or not. If a child be out of employment or alone in the world, every effort is made to provide for him according to his age, capacities, and necessities. Meantime he or she remains in the home enjoying the benefits of the schools, either day or evening, connected with them, as well as whatever provision is made for industrial training. The demand for a small payment, invariably made of those who are able, is regarded as an important feature in the plan to aid and elevate this class, taking away, as it does, the sting of charity, and making the children feel rather like independent guests in a hotel. Another important feature is the savings-banks which have been opened in the houses, and pay a liberal interest-sixty per cent.—for all moneys deposited by the children, who are thus taught lessons of economy and providence. Girls pay their way by housework, if they have no other means, and are trained in that, in dress-making, and on the sewing-machine.

The newsboys' lodging-house, whose accommodations have long been inadequate, has lately taken possession of a new and commodious building on Duane, William, and New Chambers streets, costing $216,000. It is 109 feet long, with an average width of 60 feet. The building is seven stories high. It contains dining-room for the boys, with accommodation for 400 at table. The school-room has seating capacity for 500 boys. There are comfortable single beds, in well-ventilated apartments, a savings-bank, a school-room, (answering also for chapel,) bath

and wash-rooms, private lock-closets for each boy, games-as chess and checkers-interesting reading, and every evening a brief devotional

exercise.

"The savings-bank," the superintendent states, "has been used by 1,272 boys, who have saved $3,330.86, being a large increase over last year-say 38 per cent. During 1874 there were 8,913 different boys who contributed $6,167.53 towards the expenses, which were $16,470.61, including gas, fuel, food, salaries, rent, bedding, &c., but not improvements and fittings up in the new house. The receipts from the boys were 43 per cent. more than ever before.

"During the year 472 boys were placed in good homes, and 912 lost and truant ones (an average of nearly three a day) restored to relatives and friends. Parents and others often visit the home to learn about lost children."

There has been during 1874 an average of 195 lodgers nightly. A total of 70,681 lodgings were afforded, and 72,567 meals. Since its first establishment, twenty-one years ago, nearly 10,000 boys have been provided, through its agency, with permanent homes and employment.

The superintendent of the Girls' Lodging House, St. Mark's Place, reports a total for 1874 of 1,507 lodgers, who received 12,750 lodgings; a little more than half of which were paid for. There are, it is stated, seven roomy and well-ventilated dormitories on the third, fourth, and fifth floors, in which are 53 single beds. The girls have the use of the laundry every Thursday, and can take baths at any hour of the day or evening. During the year situations were found for 683 girls; 38 went west. All these express themselves as delighted with the change, saying that western people do not treat them as servants.

The lodging-house in the eleventh ward, No. 709 East Eleventh street, lodges an average of 55 nightly. A marked improvement in the boys under its care is reported. The house at 211 West Eighteenth street makes a similar statement. Of the 800 boys connected with this last-mentioned house, 70 were learning trades.

The Rivington-street house reports having provided for more boys, furnished more lodgings, and received more from the boys than during any former year. The great want of the boys, the superintendent has found, is for a sympathizing counselor and friend, in whom they can place implicit confidence and to whom they can always go for assistance and advice; and this want Superintendent Calder is just the man to supply. During 1874, 167 friendless boys were placed by this home in permanent homes, and, from funds contributed by several benevolent gentlemen for the purpose of "setting up boys in business," 254, who came to them utterly destitute, were enabled to commence business ard support themselves as newsboys, bootblacks, and peddlers.

The Bethel Home and Newsboys' Association in Cincinnati, and the Newsboys' and Bootblacks' Association in Chicago, are operating in a similar direction to this branch of the Childrens' Aid Society work.

So also is the St. Vincent's Home for Boys, 53 Warren street, New York City, a lodging-house for boys, established in 1870 by the Roman Catholies, which differs but little in its methods from those already mentioned, the great effort being to surround with wholesome home-influences and supply with the necessaries of life a class of boys who must otherwise roam the streets, plying their various vocations, destitute and neglected. During the past year, so great has been the increase in the number applying for shelter, it has been found necessary to increase the accommodations by adding the adjoining house, thus affording sleeping. room for 200 boys, together with a gymnasium, school-room, 200 small wardrobes with locks and keys, wash-rooms, bath-rooms, &c. During the winter every bed in the house was occupied, and, rather than go elsewhere, many slept on benches and tables; and it is felt that another similar house should be opened for this class of boys immediately.

An evening-school was connected with the home during the winter, in which great progress was made by the pupils, numbers of whom acquired a knowledge of the rudiments of education who could previously neither read nor write. Instruction in the higher branches was also imparted to those capable of receiving it. In connection with the school was a singing class, which likewise met with much success. There is also a dramatic club, composed of the members of the home, which is a source of pleasant entertainment and instruction to the boys. An exhi bition is given once a week by the members, to which all the others are invited. In fact, no means have been left untried to amuse the boys and to induce them to spend their evenings within the home.

Mass is said every morning in the chapel for all who wish to attend. After mass, short instructions on the christian doctrine are given to the boys in the lecture-room before morning-prayers, which take place at 6 o'clock. The hour for breakfast is from 6 to 7 o'clock, after which every boy leaves the home, to pursue his usual daily avocation.

Many bad boys have already been weaned from their vicious habits, steady situations obtained for them, and, instead of being temporary lodgers, have become regular boarders, paying their way weekly, and clothing themselves with the remainder of their wages.

The total receipts for the year were $13,224.55; the expenditures, $15,209.47; leaving a balance of $1,984.92 due to friends, who loaned it without interest.

The Boys' Home Society of Baltimore, and the Lincoln Institution, Philadelphia, while aiming at the same general end, differ considerably from the lodging-houses just mentioned in their methods. Boys are not received for a night or a few hours, but all entering are expected to remain until other provision be made for them, until they shall have served an apprenticeship at some trade, or become established in some business by which a good living can be made. The superintendent finds employment for the boys and acts as their guardian as long as they remain in the institution.

The Boys' Home Society of Baltimore was organized in 1866, and is under the supervision of a board of directors.

This institution is not properly a reformatory, neither is it an orphanasylum. Its object is to provide a home for youths between the ages of 10 and 20 years, either orphans, half-orphans, or outcasts and homeless. They are the material which, when neglected, corrupt the public virtue, busy our criminal courts, and crowd our houses of refuge, jails, and penitentiaries. When sheltered and helped they make good men, and add to the wealth, virtue, and prosperity of the community.

A sketch given of this society says:

"Before reaching the ages referred to, our orphan-asylums and childrens' aid societies, homes for the friendless, and other excellent institutions look after and care for them.

"In former years, at 10 years of age and upwards, boys were apprenticed to tradesmen or mechanics, to learn the so-called "art, trade, and mystery" of some useful handicraft; but the whole system has fallen into disuse, being practically prohibited by the trades-unions of the times and other associations.

"For boys of the ages referred to, therefore, there is very little provision. The street is their home; idleness and, consequently, viciousness their heritage.

"Even if his hand were willing and his heart brave to struggle for a livelihood, how could the boy hope to be successful? for insuperable obstacles are in his way. On the one hand, the high cost of living, and on the other the low value of his unskilled labor. It was for the purpose of aiding him in this unequal fight that the Boys' Home Society was formed. At this critical period in his history it reaches out to him the helping hand; it invites him into a cheerful home; it finds work for him at fixed wages, however small; it extends over him shelter, protection, guardianship, in all his feeble struggles; it speaks words of encouragement if he falters in the stern strife of life; it makes no exacting demand upon his slender store, either of muscle, of brain, or of earnings; it tides him over the rocks and shallows of inexperience, and bears him on towards a manhood of assured self-respect, probity, and self-dependence; it gives him, withal, the elements of a good English education and teaches him his duty to God and his fellows.

"Any destitute or homeless boy, between the ages of 10 and 20 years, may be admitted, if he express a willingness to become an obedient member of the household, to work for his living at any employment or occupation to which the superintendent may assign him, and to con tribute out of his wages the following sum weekly, viz: $1.75, where wages are $3.50 or less; $2.00, where wages are over $3.50 and not exceeding $4.50; $2.50, where wages are over $4.50, towards the maintenance and support of the home; and should there be parent, guardian, or other person or persons having the custody of the boy, such parent, guardian, or other person shall execute and deliver to this

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