GINX’S BABIES.

Evening Star, Issue 3280, 25 August 1873, Page 3

GINX’S BABIES.

To the Editor.

Sir, —Alluding to the two boys Gately and Mulligan, I may say it is no small matter that “ Ginx’s baby” has attracted the eye of intelligent Christians and philanthropists of every shade of opinion; and although m tbe marvellous diversity of sentiment as to the best course to be pursued with him, he is still exposed to no inconsiderable peril and suffering ; yet it is a point gained that the eye of the community has been fastened upon him. This forlorn infant is blessed with a powerful voicb, and Hboner or later he will make it to be effectually hcArd. He is an object of ho little controversy now between Roman Catholics' end Protestants, sectarian boards, street missions and asylums, congregate and family schools ; biit the £ontr6very itself'teases it so prominent in object that he cannot be covered out of'sight by the smoke of the fight. He js in the newspapers, fills magazines originated in his interest, breaks, in upon tbe monotony of the stately quarterlies, and like the memorable “ Smike ’ of Dotheboys’ Hall, although now one of the most conspicuous personages in modern fiction, is ■till clamoring, not without success, for “ more,” and demands a far wider hearing. Pe is an admitted and terrible fact in modern civilisation, and the only question for discussion now pertinent in reference to him i 8 > what shall we do with “ Ginx’s Baby ?’’ The qommupity cannot long endure that condition of tilings which gives the stinging point of tnith to the capital volume of satire bearing the expressiye title which I have quoted, pnfl which it has now permanently bestowed fipop the neglected waifs of our streets. It ijj vpry evident that “ Gina’s Baby ” will not much longer plead in vain! That will not always be a true charge against British and American civilisation, which this author so nervously urges in this volume. Your dirtiest British youngster is hedged round with principles of an inviolable liberty, and rights of habeas corpus. You let his father, mother, or anyone who will save you tbe trouble of looking after him, mould him in his years of tenderness as they please. If they happen to leave him a walking invalid, you take him to the Reformatory; if they bring him up a thief, you whip him and keep him at high cost in gaol; if his passions, never controlled, break out into murder and rape, you may hang him, unless his crime has been so atrocious as to attract the benevolent interest of the Hen. the Minster e! Justice. 11 he com-

rnits suicide, yon hold a coroner’s inquest, which costs money ; and, however he dies, you give him a deal coffin and bury him. Yet I may prove to you that this being, whom you treat like a dog in a crowd, never had a day’s—no, nor an heur’s contact with goodness, purity, truth, or even human-kindness. What right have you, then, to hunt him like a wild beast, and kick him. and whip him, and fetter him, and hang him by expensive, complicated machinery, when you have done nothing to teach him any of the duties of a citizen. The writer answers the natural responses to his question- that there are endless means of improving the lad : industrial schools, reformatories, asylums, hospitals, &c,—by saying : “ They don’t reach one out ten and he continues, “I do not say that it can he done, but in order to transform the next generation, what we should aim at is to provide substitutes for bad homes, evil training, unhealthy air and food, dulness, and terrible ignorance, in happier scenes, better teaching, proper conditions, of physical life, sane amusements, and a higher cultivation.” But who is to pay for all this? “The Colony,” which means society, the whole of which is directly interested. Thus yon see, sir, that “Ginx's Baby” has, for one of its age and circumstances, a powerful voice, and will be likely to make himself heard in the long run. Mrs Browning has caught the echo of it in her sensitive ear, and has poured it back again in affecting strains.

And well may the children weep before you, They are weary ere the run ; They have never seen the sunshine nor the glory, Which is brighter than the sun.

They know the grief of man, without his wis

clom ; They sink in man’s despair, without ms calm; Are slaves, without the liberty in Christdoin, Are martyrs by the pang, without the palm. Are worn, as if with the age ; yet unretrievingly, The harvest of its memories cannot reap ; Are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly, Let them weep ! let them weep ! They look up with their pale sunken faces, And their look is dread to see ; _ For they mind you of their angels in high

places, With eyes turned on Deity. How long, they say, how long, oh cruel nation, Will you stand to move a world on a child’s heart ; _ . , . . Stifle down with a mailed heel its palpitation, And tread onward to your throne amid the mart ? Our blood splashes upward, oh, gold-heaper. And your purple shows your path ; But the child’s sob in silence curses deeper

Than the strong man in his wrath. If the child be left to grow up in utter ignorance of its Maker, of its relations to society—l» grow up in an atmosphere of pro faneuesa and intemperance, and in the practice of falsehood and fraud—let not the community complain of hia crime. It has quietly looked on and seen him, year after year, arming himself against its order and peace, and who is most to blame when at last he deals the guilty blow ? A moral care over the teinpLd and ignorant portion of the State is a primary duty of society.—l am, ike., Belfast, Stuart street, August 23.