150

frst.” On the whole, however, [ was not particularly impressed with the clhiciency ol the amateur hre- men, though there was no denying their zeal.

Lastly, but

the least

I not pleasant

o

AT \'m

oyl g

A T L3S L e S Y

stght, is the monthly rcd- letter day, when the bovs receive their friends, and 27 pleascd and proud g mothers stride

about the grounds with little fellows” arms stowed away 1 theirs, whilst tongues — generally re- counting the owners’ heroie deeds in athletics —wag fast and furious. The mothers and friends arc very rightly thankful tor their good fortune, and | indeed, if companionship, habits of ordcr, decency,and industry, and healthy surround- ings mecan anything good, then the little lads of the Duke of York's School are to be congratulated.

What is being done for our future army at Chelsea is also being carried out for the navy on a smaller scale aboard the training- ship THarspise, with, however, one essential difference. At the State-supported institu- tion m Chelsea there is no lack of funds, whilst the Tarspite, which relics cntirely o voluntary subscriptions, is, in common with so many other philanthropic under- tukings, suffering from the loss of subscrip- tions and donations, which during the last year have been diverted in favour of

THE “Cwanserr,

7.1 (. AZLIN /Y,

untried and doubtful experiments. The traming-ship Iving some way off \Woolwich Pier is a big

fn e meemeen . Lhirece-decken,

which in former days, as the Con- - queror, saw a t o good deal ofactive B o oservice. As soon

aswe were sighted

| 4 boat manned by o acrew of twelve little tars put off . Lo fetch us, and as - they approached the landing stage, - gIving usa proper , - naval salute, wo | ' had an oppor- . tunity of admir- ting the smart and - steady way with which they pulled together, and on rcaching along- side the training- ship, “tossed” and “laid down " oars. All the decks, as bright and necat as pos- sible, were full of small, barefooted bluc-jacketsin- tent upon their different naval duties; and, watching their ex- pertness at knot- ting, splicing, gomg aloft, &c., it was almost impos- sible to believe that not one of the bovs had undergone more than nine months' training. This 15, however, the casc.

The boys, all of whom, though of good character, arc destitute, are only admitted between the ages of 13 and 16, and are only kept on the Warsprte for nine months, alter which they are drafted into the navy or the merchant servicee.

Onthe day of my visit a batch of boys, many ol whom had been taken from the streets, were having their first meal. They had all been washed, combed, and put into their new togs, which they wore with a mingled air of pride and embarrassment. About many of them there was a noticeably hungry expression, which made one rejolce