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Article Round and About. ← Page 4 of 4 Article THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Round And About.
the Penny Illustrated Paper have increased and improved their splendid property beyond all praise . It is now a wonderful production for a penny , and will safely withstand any rival that can be placed against it . Mr . Thomas has lately been giving us some interesting particulars about the running of the Graphic . The Jubilee Commemoration number , which was printed in black and
gold , with remarkably fine engravings on wood , cost the exact sum of £ 9 > 750 to produce , and although an edition of 206 , 000 copies was printed and sold in a few days , there was an actual loss of £ 4 . 0 by the transaction . * * *
The greatest hit the journal ever made was , of course , the publication as a Christmas Supplement of Millais ' s " Cherry Ripe . " Of this , half a million copies were sold in a fortnight , and it was an impossibility to supply the demand that was made by the trade for a larger supply . Five hundred pounds a week is what the illustrations now cost to produce , and many of the very finest artists in
black and white are engaged on the staff If some of the longhaired , starving parasites of the Royal Academy would turn their hands to a perfect study of pencil work , their names and their banking accounts would increase in value .
* * -it-Mr . George Alexander is leaving the Lyceum and the higher branch of his art , to assume the lead in the commonplace but popular melodramas of the Adelplii . I am sorry both for Mr . Alexander and his art , for he has done such work as places him above the class
of plays he will degenerate into . I suppose it is a question of salary , and if under Messrs . Gatti he can command double the fees he has to accept from his present principal—well . Human nature , you know !
* * * I sincerely hope our clever Brother Willard will succeed in his joint tenancy at the Shaftesbury . Willard is a man I am always pleased to see in any of his characters . He seems to put himself heart and soul into his work , to ignore entirely the existence of his
audience , and to give us purely and simply a natural portrait of the character he represents . There is really nothing in the " 'igh falutin' " declamatory demeanour of the man who struts upon the stage like a peacock across a strawberry-bed . Willard's sketches are purely natural ones , seasoned with the necessary condiments of dramatic force , without which the substance might lose some of its tastiness .
* * it-Charles Cartwright also is a dramatic artist of superlative ability . We shall see this actor some day—with natural good fortune—do something very far in advance of what he has hitherto attempted . His forcible delivery is very fine—better than Willard's , in fact ,
which is stronger in subdued and calmer passages—and his very finger-nails almost assume the emotions of his heart in furthering the effect of his powerful acting . Cartwright is a follower of Willard in many things , and they both stand out quite clear of any equality from their fellow men .
* * * Professional playgoers must not forget the compliment they owe to old Mrs . Stevens . A special performance for her benefit will be given at the Shaftesbury Theatre on an afternoon of the present month . This benefit is not a fraud .
* * * I must thank E . T . W . " for his kind offer of assistance , which I am sorry to decline ; Mr . Frederick Batchelor also for his contribution , which is unsuitable ; and " Nemo" for his letter , which I shall be pleased to publish if he will permit his name to be attached .
I refer the latter gentleman to " Our Preface . " To those gentlemen and brethren who have already sent me their hearty good wishes , and our publisher their subscriptions , I return my thanks . THE DRUID .
The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
IT is late to discuss the report of the Pliilbrick Committee of Investigation appointed under the resolution of the Quarterly Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys of July 27 , iSSS ; but , under the circumstances of our birth—call it a posthumous birth—it must be done . The report is dated April iS of the present year , and discloses such a state of things as never were heard of in any kindred institution . After dealing in a careful and complete manner with every department of the school management at
Wood Green , and from reminding us of the astonishing fact that , £ 85 , have been spent upon the buildings in the vicinity of Muswell Hill , to the no less astonishing disclosure that 50 per cent , is the average loss in cooking and boning the meat consumed by the pupils , the report is one painful history of mismanagement and disgrace . Wc quote from it the following : —
' I his deficiency in class-rooms is the more remarkable , as the library ( a large room ) lias for some time been kept locked up , by direction of the Head Master , as a store for books , whereas it might well serve its former use as ,-i class-room part of the day , and its original purpose of a library at other times . There is also a large quantity of space on the ground-floor , formerly a laundry , but now practically unused , which could readily lie made available , by a small outlay , and cither afford accommodation for classes or set free other apartments for that purpose . One of these unused rooms , of considerable size , was at our visit occupied by dogs , kept therein by the house steward . " " The lion , surgeon-oculist told us that double the ordinary percentage of defective sight occurs among the pupils , many of whom have , in consequence , to undergo treatment and use spectacles "—
owing to the shortsightedness caused by the careless arrangement of the gasburners in the class-rooms . " In the upper floors we ascertained that in the alterations made since first construction one-half the bath-room accommodation was removed , and no substitute provided ; in other words , half the accommodation is now provided for double the number of boys , so tint the bathing accommodation now left is four times loo small according lo the original design . " " Apart from the deficiency in wann-ljath accommodation already noted , the plunge-balli is neither in
construction uar mode of beating satisfactory , ll is difficult and expensive to warm ; when used the entire school enter in detachments , the water being practically unchanged ; the bathing is so hurried , moreover , as to preclude the idea of its being a means of cleanliness ; while for the last bathers the ' state of the water , as described to lis , is revolting . " '' We carefully observed the boys ill both schools in play-hours and when at dinner . We were unfavourably impressed with their general appearance , aud remarked the deadness and want of activity they displayed . There was a lack of animation even in their games . The physique is low , aud they crowded aimlessly about the playgrounds ( where we watched lliein unobserved ) in a manner very ditVerent to healthy boys al play . This was especially obvious in the younger boys , and we attribute it
in part to the insufficient playgrounds and over-long hours of study . " "Complaints of the quality of the clothes supplied were laid before us . One fum , recently gone out of business , chiefly supplied the clothes , on contracts made after liniiled tender . A sample of the clothing was examined by us , and from it and what we observed on the boys we arrived at the conclusion it is of inferior quality ( this does not apply to the boots ) . " "As to the towels , each is used in common by several boys ; and this occurs even when buys are suffering from ringworm and other infectious diseases , unless the case be removed to the infirmary . It is hopeless to attempt to eradicate such diseases from the school while this system prevails . " "We have adverted to thisas well as to other matters in themselves minutebecause throughout our
, , inquiry we found an absence of system , and a want of control , pervading the domestic management . On this head of cleanliness , so important as regards health , there is not enough intelligent supervision of the personal cleanliness of the pupils , especially the younger ones . Wc are aware o ( the dilficulties of securing this with boys without systematic and orderly attention . We had evidence of neglected headscases of vermin , not accounted for by supposing them brought back after the ho ! id ,-i 3 \ s , inasmuch as such things occurred during the term , and were first detected by the masters iu the class-rooms . Proper precautions are not taken to examine the boys on re-entry after holidays ; nor when these complaints arose were the means adopted to eradicate the evil satisfactory . "
On the question of food : — " No systematic rule is adopted in ordering supplies of meat . All depends on rule of thumb . " "At our visit we saw great waste thus caused . 'The food was badly prepared , and roughly served . The Assistant Malion , who is appointed by tile Matron , professes to lake orders only from her . The antagonism of the house staff against the educational extends to the junior school , so that remonstrances by the Head Governess were disregarded for some lime . " " The medical men think that the fourteen hours from tea to breakfast the next day are too long for growing children to be kept fastingespecially the elder onesand that there should be some provision
, , lor a slice of bread for thos ., who want il al bedtime . We ihorovighiy concur in this recommendation . " On the question of management : — " There are two factions , each dissatisfied with the proceedings of the other , which il watches with jealous eyes . The house is divided against itself , and the real interests of the Institution suffer . No establishment could be conducted on these principles . When the constant friction and ill-feeling thus engendered rcsull in a formal complaint , the House
Committee has not adequately supported the Head . Master . T / tis action Units to destroy fit ' s legitimate authority , au . it ifperscz'crcd in must cntt in the ntin of the School . * ll is plain that so long as any one occupies the position of Head Master , the authorities are bound to uphold him . If bis acts are such that the ) - cannot give their hearty support , then their plain duty is to dismiss him . A gentleman of education and attainments , as the Head Master ought to be , will never accept such an invidious position as the present system has created . " " With respect to the kitchen-garden , we find , ill the year 1 S 87 , no less than , £ 47 . 16 s . was expended in manure , purchased and carted 10 the spot , this sum being iu addition to ordinary expenses for seeds and plants , and the labour of gardeners . "
After detailing the particulars of the Secretary ' s duties and salary—which latter amounts , with a fixed annual allowance of . £ 200 , in lieu of a commission formerly granted when he occupied the position of collector to the charity , to , £ 700 a year—the question of accounts and reports is considered : — "On inquiring for the books we found that no cash-book , in the ordinary sense of the term , nor any hook showing the daily current receipts and payments , has ever been kept in the office .
The receipt of money is recorded solely by the amounts being entered on the counterfoils of the receipts given for subscriptions and donations . There is no entry made showing how a particular amount is received , whether in cash or by cheque , or identifying the payment with the letter or advice covering the remittance : the latter are not preserved , ao that , if accidentally or otherwise , a receipt is omitted to be given , all trace of the transaction would be lost . " " The bankers are virtually made to keep the cash account of the Institution , so fur as one may be said to be kept . " " The books kept are not arranged on any systematic plan , nor are they such as would he permitted ill any business establishment . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Round And About.
the Penny Illustrated Paper have increased and improved their splendid property beyond all praise . It is now a wonderful production for a penny , and will safely withstand any rival that can be placed against it . Mr . Thomas has lately been giving us some interesting particulars about the running of the Graphic . The Jubilee Commemoration number , which was printed in black and
gold , with remarkably fine engravings on wood , cost the exact sum of £ 9 > 750 to produce , and although an edition of 206 , 000 copies was printed and sold in a few days , there was an actual loss of £ 4 . 0 by the transaction . * * *
The greatest hit the journal ever made was , of course , the publication as a Christmas Supplement of Millais ' s " Cherry Ripe . " Of this , half a million copies were sold in a fortnight , and it was an impossibility to supply the demand that was made by the trade for a larger supply . Five hundred pounds a week is what the illustrations now cost to produce , and many of the very finest artists in
black and white are engaged on the staff If some of the longhaired , starving parasites of the Royal Academy would turn their hands to a perfect study of pencil work , their names and their banking accounts would increase in value .
* * -it-Mr . George Alexander is leaving the Lyceum and the higher branch of his art , to assume the lead in the commonplace but popular melodramas of the Adelplii . I am sorry both for Mr . Alexander and his art , for he has done such work as places him above the class
of plays he will degenerate into . I suppose it is a question of salary , and if under Messrs . Gatti he can command double the fees he has to accept from his present principal—well . Human nature , you know !
* * * I sincerely hope our clever Brother Willard will succeed in his joint tenancy at the Shaftesbury . Willard is a man I am always pleased to see in any of his characters . He seems to put himself heart and soul into his work , to ignore entirely the existence of his
audience , and to give us purely and simply a natural portrait of the character he represents . There is really nothing in the " 'igh falutin' " declamatory demeanour of the man who struts upon the stage like a peacock across a strawberry-bed . Willard's sketches are purely natural ones , seasoned with the necessary condiments of dramatic force , without which the substance might lose some of its tastiness .
* * it-Charles Cartwright also is a dramatic artist of superlative ability . We shall see this actor some day—with natural good fortune—do something very far in advance of what he has hitherto attempted . His forcible delivery is very fine—better than Willard's , in fact ,
which is stronger in subdued and calmer passages—and his very finger-nails almost assume the emotions of his heart in furthering the effect of his powerful acting . Cartwright is a follower of Willard in many things , and they both stand out quite clear of any equality from their fellow men .
* * * Professional playgoers must not forget the compliment they owe to old Mrs . Stevens . A special performance for her benefit will be given at the Shaftesbury Theatre on an afternoon of the present month . This benefit is not a fraud .
* * * I must thank E . T . W . " for his kind offer of assistance , which I am sorry to decline ; Mr . Frederick Batchelor also for his contribution , which is unsuitable ; and " Nemo" for his letter , which I shall be pleased to publish if he will permit his name to be attached .
I refer the latter gentleman to " Our Preface . " To those gentlemen and brethren who have already sent me their hearty good wishes , and our publisher their subscriptions , I return my thanks . THE DRUID .
The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
IT is late to discuss the report of the Pliilbrick Committee of Investigation appointed under the resolution of the Quarterly Court of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys of July 27 , iSSS ; but , under the circumstances of our birth—call it a posthumous birth—it must be done . The report is dated April iS of the present year , and discloses such a state of things as never were heard of in any kindred institution . After dealing in a careful and complete manner with every department of the school management at
Wood Green , and from reminding us of the astonishing fact that , £ 85 , have been spent upon the buildings in the vicinity of Muswell Hill , to the no less astonishing disclosure that 50 per cent , is the average loss in cooking and boning the meat consumed by the pupils , the report is one painful history of mismanagement and disgrace . Wc quote from it the following : —
' I his deficiency in class-rooms is the more remarkable , as the library ( a large room ) lias for some time been kept locked up , by direction of the Head Master , as a store for books , whereas it might well serve its former use as ,-i class-room part of the day , and its original purpose of a library at other times . There is also a large quantity of space on the ground-floor , formerly a laundry , but now practically unused , which could readily lie made available , by a small outlay , and cither afford accommodation for classes or set free other apartments for that purpose . One of these unused rooms , of considerable size , was at our visit occupied by dogs , kept therein by the house steward . " " The lion , surgeon-oculist told us that double the ordinary percentage of defective sight occurs among the pupils , many of whom have , in consequence , to undergo treatment and use spectacles "—
owing to the shortsightedness caused by the careless arrangement of the gasburners in the class-rooms . " In the upper floors we ascertained that in the alterations made since first construction one-half the bath-room accommodation was removed , and no substitute provided ; in other words , half the accommodation is now provided for double the number of boys , so tint the bathing accommodation now left is four times loo small according lo the original design . " " Apart from the deficiency in wann-ljath accommodation already noted , the plunge-balli is neither in
construction uar mode of beating satisfactory , ll is difficult and expensive to warm ; when used the entire school enter in detachments , the water being practically unchanged ; the bathing is so hurried , moreover , as to preclude the idea of its being a means of cleanliness ; while for the last bathers the ' state of the water , as described to lis , is revolting . " '' We carefully observed the boys ill both schools in play-hours and when at dinner . We were unfavourably impressed with their general appearance , aud remarked the deadness and want of activity they displayed . There was a lack of animation even in their games . The physique is low , aud they crowded aimlessly about the playgrounds ( where we watched lliein unobserved ) in a manner very ditVerent to healthy boys al play . This was especially obvious in the younger boys , and we attribute it
in part to the insufficient playgrounds and over-long hours of study . " "Complaints of the quality of the clothes supplied were laid before us . One fum , recently gone out of business , chiefly supplied the clothes , on contracts made after liniiled tender . A sample of the clothing was examined by us , and from it and what we observed on the boys we arrived at the conclusion it is of inferior quality ( this does not apply to the boots ) . " "As to the towels , each is used in common by several boys ; and this occurs even when buys are suffering from ringworm and other infectious diseases , unless the case be removed to the infirmary . It is hopeless to attempt to eradicate such diseases from the school while this system prevails . " "We have adverted to thisas well as to other matters in themselves minutebecause throughout our
, , inquiry we found an absence of system , and a want of control , pervading the domestic management . On this head of cleanliness , so important as regards health , there is not enough intelligent supervision of the personal cleanliness of the pupils , especially the younger ones . Wc are aware o ( the dilficulties of securing this with boys without systematic and orderly attention . We had evidence of neglected headscases of vermin , not accounted for by supposing them brought back after the ho ! id ,-i 3 \ s , inasmuch as such things occurred during the term , and were first detected by the masters iu the class-rooms . Proper precautions are not taken to examine the boys on re-entry after holidays ; nor when these complaints arose were the means adopted to eradicate the evil satisfactory . "
On the question of food : — " No systematic rule is adopted in ordering supplies of meat . All depends on rule of thumb . " "At our visit we saw great waste thus caused . 'The food was badly prepared , and roughly served . The Assistant Malion , who is appointed by tile Matron , professes to lake orders only from her . The antagonism of the house staff against the educational extends to the junior school , so that remonstrances by the Head Governess were disregarded for some lime . " " The medical men think that the fourteen hours from tea to breakfast the next day are too long for growing children to be kept fastingespecially the elder onesand that there should be some provision
, , lor a slice of bread for thos ., who want il al bedtime . We ihorovighiy concur in this recommendation . " On the question of management : — " There are two factions , each dissatisfied with the proceedings of the other , which il watches with jealous eyes . The house is divided against itself , and the real interests of the Institution suffer . No establishment could be conducted on these principles . When the constant friction and ill-feeling thus engendered rcsull in a formal complaint , the House
Committee has not adequately supported the Head . Master . T / tis action Units to destroy fit ' s legitimate authority , au . it ifperscz'crcd in must cntt in the ntin of the School . * ll is plain that so long as any one occupies the position of Head Master , the authorities are bound to uphold him . If bis acts are such that the ) - cannot give their hearty support , then their plain duty is to dismiss him . A gentleman of education and attainments , as the Head Master ought to be , will never accept such an invidious position as the present system has created . " " With respect to the kitchen-garden , we find , ill the year 1 S 87 , no less than , £ 47 . 16 s . was expended in manure , purchased and carted 10 the spot , this sum being iu addition to ordinary expenses for seeds and plants , and the labour of gardeners . "
After detailing the particulars of the Secretary ' s duties and salary—which latter amounts , with a fixed annual allowance of . £ 200 , in lieu of a commission formerly granted when he occupied the position of collector to the charity , to , £ 700 a year—the question of accounts and reports is considered : — "On inquiring for the books we found that no cash-book , in the ordinary sense of the term , nor any hook showing the daily current receipts and payments , has ever been kept in the office .
The receipt of money is recorded solely by the amounts being entered on the counterfoils of the receipts given for subscriptions and donations . There is no entry made showing how a particular amount is received , whether in cash or by cheque , or identifying the payment with the letter or advice covering the remittance : the latter are not preserved , ao that , if accidentally or otherwise , a receipt is omitted to be given , all trace of the transaction would be lost . " " The bankers are virtually made to keep the cash account of the Institution , so fur as one may be said to be kept . " " The books kept are not arranged on any systematic plan , nor are they such as would he permitted ill any business establishment . "