Each cottage has its little garden, and a plot of ground for recreation. A little stream of water, meandering through the property, adds to the charms of the little spot which yields to none in those thrown around it by sublime philanthropy. The characters Mr. Wichern had to deal with may be conceived, as from the description given by various parties, "the scum and off-scouring of a great commercial town; a species of human vermin, baffling the power of the authorities to suppress; hardened veterans in some iniquitous practice, or malicious disposition, such as had been pronounced or regarded as incorrigible—one of whom, though only in his twelfth year, had been convicted by the police ninety-three times." Inmates, character of. The reader, if ever sceptical as to the power of penal or Results. reformatory schools, by this time will take it for granted that incalculable good has been achieved at Rauhen Haus, when informed in general terms that the oncehardened wretches have, with their own hands, transformed the single cottage into a large establishment, accommodating seventy boys and twenty-five girls, and converted the barren patch of earth into a thriving reformatory settlement. During the great fire at Hamburgh, these adepts at vice, let alone, would have contributed to the horrors and ruin of the devouring element. History, however, has left on record, that the inmates of Rauhen Haus formed the most daring and efficient assistants to the city fire brigade. Thus have we completed a general survey of ragged and Conclusion. 'industrial schools; of dormitories and training establishments; of reformatory and penal reformatory schools; as existing in England, Scotland, America, France, Prussia, Holland, and Germany. Surely we have found out a favourable answer to the question proposed at the head of this chapter: Is there no way to bring home a wandering sheep but by worrying him to death? Reader, recall the multitudes who have been, within the last twenty years, snatched as brands from the burning. Think not only of the temporal gain to myriads that has been reaped by means of these few establishments of mercy-look higher still. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he who converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." The world has had a line of heroes, whose names history has emblazoned with blood and fire, or whose memory the votaries of fame have embalmed in the traditions and rhymes a nation loves to hear. But have you seen the scroll of fame, where stand engraved the names of Raikes, Pounds, Wilson and Nash; of Watson, Rushton, Wright, and Demetz; of Kopf, Friedner, Wichern, Hermon, and Von der Reck? Look not for these under the domes and fretted roofs of temples made with hands. But see, the vault of heaven is bespangled and brilliant with their glory. For the Lord of all power and might, and the fountain of honour, has declared of such, that "they shine as the brightness of the firmament," and because they have turned many unto righteousness "as the stars for ever and ever." CHAPTER VII. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIONS, OBSTACLES, AND INDISPENSABLE QUALIFICATIONS. "Spake I not unto you saying, Do not sin against the child, and ye would not hear? Therefore behold also his blood is required. We are verily guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear. Therefore is this distress come upon us."-Gen. xlii. 21, 22. § 1. In the preceding chapter we have kept out of sight Remarks. certain grave considerations. Many things of the nature of the quæstio vexata have been regarded as questions that have been set at rest. Many difficulties that are found in practice have been passed over as if they were not palpable to us. We have not, however, been evading the difficulties that beset our path. On the contrary, we have been allowing them to accumulate that, when all together, if possible, we may annihilate them at one blow, or be overwhelmed in the attempt. stated. The most serious objections that have been urged on our objections consideration, as we went from place to place inspecting these remarkable institutions of the day, are those that refer, first, to the interference with parental rights and responsibilities, the encouragement given to vice, the injury done to the honest but struggling tradesmen; and, Their character. Objections considered. secondly, those that refer to the difficulties of a legal character; and, thirdly, those that refer to obstacles that will arise of a pecuniary nature. Had we commenced with these objections, they would have appeared very formidable, at least to the inexperienced. But the advantage of persevering in our philanthropic tour, notwithstanding the inconveniences and obstacles that were said to be in anticipation, is this, that they have been overcome one after another, as most satisfactorily proved by the fact that our journey is accomplished in safety and comfort. When a plan is proposed for the good of suffering humanity, a very common objection is, "good as a theory, but it will be found beset with difficulties that will render it impracticable in practice." Now who urges the objection? A theorist himself. Has he tried it? Nay, has he bestowed half the mental toil you have done to plan and propose? And, it is obvious, that from this class alone will come the objector, whose fears are palpably as groundless as he asserts your hopes to be. For the practical men are those who have thought and achieved their thoughts, in the shape of the ragged school, the industrial school, the night refuge and dormitories, and the penal reformatory establishments, that honour both the old and the new world. We are not, however, disposed thus summarily to dismiss the still important questions broached by the objectors to our modern expedients to rescue the outcasts of society. As one of the most important, we will take up the discussion of the right to compel to school, and detain till children stay of their own accord. It may, however, be premised that this objection can be levelled at only a part of the institutions whose claims on the public it is our desire to plead. For, while the institutions in Aberdeen and Glasgow, in Boston, and Westborough, and Mettrai, are in the possession of certain legal powers; there are therefore, comes too late to do extensive good. If such be § 2. We reply first, that from time immemorial the Classified. principle, in one or two particular applications, has been granted and universally acted upon. But as precedent will not justify every action, we reply, secondly, that for the speedy and complete suppression of juvenile delinquency compulsory power, vested in the proper hands, is absolutely necessary. And, again, as precedent may be set aside, and necessity laughed at as imaginary, or denounced as a plea based upon the principle of doing evil that good may come, we reply, thirdly, that compulsory power, in certain cases, may be exercised righteously and in harmony with the most enlightened views of the liberty of the subject. power already The power is already possessed, and exercised without Compulsory scruple and without evil consequences, as the sole result of used. that power. From what has been advanced in Chapter III. of the divine origin of parental authority, it will be conceded, that great care and delicacy should be observed in every act of interference between the parent and the child. Our first and general object should be not to weaken, but to strengthen a sense of parental responsi |