Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/700

 RELIGION 67. DR. BARNAR.BO'S HOMES By BRIDEY M. O'REILLY How the Work was Started in a Disused Donkey Stable— The Story of a Winter Night— The Stepney Home — Emigration to Canada "T^HE great institution known as " Dr. ^ Bamardo's Homes " was founded by the late Dr. Bamardo forty-four years ago, with the object of rescuing destitute children, and this is now a national incorporated associa- tion, of which her Majesty Queen Alexandra is the patron, and the Duke of Somerset the president. The headquarters of the associa- tion are at Stepney Causeway, London, E. At this Home no destitute child is ever refused admission, and 73,658 boys and girls have been rescued and trained in forty-four years. The founder of this association. Dr. Bamardo, was born in Ireland. His father was bom in Germany, but was of Spanish descent. His mother was born in Ireland, but of English parentage. And although Dr. Barnardo was not an Orange- man, he was a strong Protestant. The Day of Small Things With a view to undertaking mission work in China, he came to London and entered the London Hospital as a student. But shortly after this cholera broke out in London, and a stampede took place, leaving room for volunteers. And although Dr. Barnardo was then only a student, he volunteered for cholera service, and was accepted. He thus began a house-to-house visitation of the East End poor, which gave him a deep insight into the conditions of their lives. Two nights in the week he devoted to Ragged-school work, in which he was assisted by a few other medical students. The school was held in a disused donkey- stable in the heart of squalid Stepney. To this place a poor ragged boy. named James Jervis, came one night in 1866, but he was only known as Jim. He came, not with any desire to be taught, but to get warm. Another lad liad told him of the school ; or, as Jim put it, "He tell'd me to come up 'ere to the school to get a warm, an' he sed p'r'aps you'd let me lie nigh the fire all night." It was a raw winter night, and when all the scholars had left the room, little J i m lingered, casting a longing look at the fire. He had neither shirt, shoes, nor stockings. He had the careworn features of an old man, although only ten years old ; and he was stunted, pinched, and starved. The young student ordered the boy to go home, but the poor waif pleaded to be allowed to stay by the fire, as he had no home or friends. The young student did not believe the boy at first, but having learned from him that there were many others equally destitute, Dr. Barnardo gave the* poor child food, and went with him after midnight to see the sleeping-quarters of the " Don't Live Nowheres." Jim trotted along, leading his new friend down lanes and alleys until they came to a high, dead wall, on the top of which, on an iron roof, lay asleep eleven boys, from nine to fourteen, with no covering of any kind over them except their rags. The sight of these upturned, piteous faces as they slept on the roof in the moonlight haunted Barnardo, and he vowed to dedicate himself to save the arabs of the street and leave the Chinese missions to others. Dr. Barnardo's First Helpers Young Barnardo himself was at that time comparatively friendless and unknown in London. Nevertheless, he resolved to accom- plish his purpose. Now, some weeks after, whilst dining at a great man's house, he spoke of what he had seen, and some of the guests went with him after dinner to see for themselves the lairs where destitute children slept at night. Amongst others, there was one at Billingsgate where, under a pile of old crates, boxes, and empty barrels, seventy-three boys were sheltering for the Young b&kers at the Stepney Home. Boys over school age, with an aptitude for technical work, are apprenticed to and taught various trades in the great workshops attached to the Home Frpt't a photograph taktii at Dr. Rarnardo's Hottte