nvited to take a share in
the work, and, as the efforts were necessarily directed to the most
palpable and terrible evils, the means used by all would be essentially
the same. Even those of no defined religious belief were gladly welcomed
if they were ready to do the offices of humanity. The fact that
ninety-nine hundredths of these poor people were Roman Catholics
compelled us also to confine ourselves to the most simple and
fundamental instructions, and to avoid, in any way, arousing religious
bigotry.

In the meeting, gathered at the house of Dr. P., were prominent ladies
from all the leading sects.

An address was delivered by the writer, and then a constitution
presented, of the simplest nature, and an association organized and
officers appointed by the ladies present. This was the foundation of
the

"FOURTH WARD INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL."

In the meanwhile, we went forth through the slums of the ward, and let
it be widely known that a School to teach work, and where food was given
daily, and clothes were bestowed to the well-behaved, was just forming.

Our room was in the basement of a church in Roosevelt Street. Hither
gathered, on a morning in December, 1853, our ladies and a flock of the
most ill-clad and wildest little street-girls that could be collected
anywhere in New York. They flew over the benches, they swore and fought
with one another, they bandied vile language, and could hardly be tamed
down sufficiently to allow the school to be opened.

Few had shoes, all were bonnetless, their dresses were torn, ragged, and
dirty; their hair tangled, and faces long unwashed; they had, many of
them, a singularly wild and intense expression of eye and feature, as of
half-tamed creatures, with passions aroused beyond their years.

The dress and ornaments of the ladies seemed to excite their admiration
greatly. It was observed that they soon hid or softened their own worst
peculiarities. They evidently could not at first understand the motive
which led so many of a far higher and better class to come to help them.
The two regular and salaried teachers took the discipline in hand gently
and firmly. The ladies soon had their little classes, each gathered
quietly about the one instructing. As a general thing, the ladies took
upon themselves the industrial branches--sewing, knitting, crocheting,
and the like; this gave them also excellent opportunities for moral
instruction, and winning the sympathy of