RIGHT TREATMENT FOR LARRIKINS.

Evening Star, Issue 2962, 16 August 1872, Page 4

RIGHT TREATMENT FOR LARRIKINS.

{From the Melbourne Argun, July 16.)

A visit to the free night-school established within the past fortnight in the building known as the Gospel Mission Hall, Melbourne, would satisfy the most sceptical that the Victorian larrikin is not irreclaimable. Frum 120 to 130 boys, from six to fifteen years of age, who would otherwise be wandering through the streets, assemble here from half-past seven to half-past nine o’clock every evening. Many of them are without shoes or stockings, and are equally ill furnished in the matter of education; while others are very decently clothed ; but they are all either occupied in the day or are the children of parents who cannot, or will not, send them to school. They receive instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the attention they pay to lessons is remarkable, considering the short time they have keen subject to discipline. Regular instruction terminates at a quarter to nine o clock, and the boys are then allowed to amuse themselves until half-past nine o’clock, with games of draughts and dominoes, looking over illustrated papers, or reading , books of an entertaining character. It i®. interesting to watch the eagerness with which the majority of these heretofore neglected children seize upon the draught boards and boxes of dominoes. As the supply is limited, however, these games are only permitted to the lads who have distinguished themselves by good conduct, and this arrangement has an excellent effect on their behaviour. During the three-quarters of an hour devoted to recreation, there is scarcely a sound to be heard. The school is divided into eager groups, the members of which are wholly intent on the particular amusement they have in hand. The bright looks of the youthful players, expressing unalloyed happiness, are an abundant reward to the teachers, for their labor in the earlier part of the evening. Attention, however, is not exclusively devoted to games. The practice is followed of giving out books—often a novel of Scott or Dickens, or a volume of interesting travels. Many of the elder boys ask eagerly for these, and are found night after night reading the same story, a sufficient evidence that they take a substantial interest in it, and intend to persevere to the end. There are also always some who prefer continuing their arithmetic to joining in any game. As the school does not close until half-past nine, the boys are kept out of harm’s way for the part of the night it is presumed they would otherwise be most actively employed in mischief, or in being initiated in the first steps of crime. When they leave school it is sleeping time On Saturday there is no regular instruction, but the Mission hall is made attractive by the games and an occasional lecture on some subject of interest. This school is entirely dependent for support upon voluntary contributions. It is managed by a committee of the Young Men’s Ch.istian Association, and a number of skilled teachers from various parts of th© city and suburbs have given thsir services gratuitously.