148

the lads. She and the sewing-mistress and a sick-attendant arc the only feminine elements of the Asylum, which manned from Commandant to cook by the - SIronger scx. After 3.30, when all book- work 1s over, the

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hoys cither play games or do band cxercise, sewing, or tatloring, the entire school being divided into halves, which alternately play and work in the afternoons. In the scwing- room, in which were some fifty boys making 1lannel vests, and darning and repairing, we were able to delight the heart of the scwing-mistress by our enthusiastic and truthful praises of her pupils’ work. Such wonderfully neat darns! It almost scems as if the fingers ot the British boy, when trained, are more expert than thosc of his sister. Ifrom the sewing-room we went to the tailoring-room, which is under the supermtend- cnce of a master. There was an unconventionality and freedom here which , delighted us. The boys L sat on benches in their flannclshirts,whilstseveral

had dispensed with more

indispensable garments.

One small boy, whom our

artist was lucky enough

to catch, was cnergetically

ironing his trousers, hav-

ing mecanwhile artistically

draped himself in aleather

apron. There i1s a fas-

HH

THE STRAND MAGAZINI.

cinating hittle kit-bag with which cach boy 15 provided ; 1t 1s a tiny little arrangement holding a ncedle and a thimble, whilst cotton is ccrved out by the master, 1 suppose with a view of its not being squandered by in- egcniously reckless boys. At the top of the room one little fellow was working a sewing machine, and v All the children were mun]} pl\ ng / the needle with relaxation in the shape of subdued conversation. Perhaps more actual enjoyment in theirr labours was cvinced down- stairs 1 the big play-room by the band of musicians, whose cnergies were sct on mastering intricacies of drum and fife. The sound ot fifty learners operating on fifes and wooden pads covered with leather, which do duty for drums, made our stay rather shorter than it would otherwise have been; and we were fain to acknowledge, as we lingered for & moment watching the absurdly small players encrgetically pufling away, that the drum and fifc band scemed to require dis- tance and atmosphere to make 1t pleasant to the car.

I.caving these bright, hcalthv looking voungsters, we pay a visit to the pale- faced invalids upstairs who are in hospital. Most of the patients who are convalescent, clad in long grey-blue flannel coats, arc amusing themselves in the day-room with books draughts, whilst the sick boys in the spotless white and blue quiit beds appear to be suffering from nothing much

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‘“THE DRUM AND FIFE BAND,