About 6,000 of the little ones are yearly looked after, at a cost of somewhat under £200. Parties wishing to thus shelter their children must prove the latter's legitimacy, and bring a recommendation from employer or someone known to the manager.
Children's Emigration Home, St. Luke's Road.—Though ranking among our public institutions, the philanthropic movement of picking up the human waifs and strays of our dirty back streets may be said to have hitherto been almost solely the private work of our benevolent townsman, Mr. Middlemore. The first inmate received at the Homes (in 1872) was a boy who had already been in prison three times, and the fact that that boy is now a prosperous man and the owner of a large farm in Canada, should be the best of all claims to the sympathy and co operation of the public in the beneficent work of pacing our "Street Arabs" in new homes where they will have equal chances of getting on in the world. The batch of children leaving this town (June 11, 1884), comprised 110 boys and 50 girls, making the total number of 912 sent out b}' Mr. Middlemore in the twelve years.—In connection with the Bloomsbury Institution there is also a Children's Home, from which 23 children have been sent to Canada, and at which some 30 others are at present being trained ready to go.
Deaf and Dumb Institution, Church Road, Edgbaston.—This is the only institution of its kind within a radius of a hundred miles, and was the second established in England. Its founder was Dr. De Lys, an eminent physician, resident here in 1810, in which year a society was established for its formation. The first house occupied was in Calthorpe Road (1812), Lord Calthorpe giving the use of the premises until the erection of the institution in Church Road, in 1814. The school, at first, would accommodate only a score of pupils, but from time to time additions were made, and in 1858 the whole establishmant was remodelled and enlarged, at a cost of £3,000, so that now there is room for 120. The number on the books at Midsummer, 1883, was 109—64 boys and 45 girls. The year's receipt's amounted to £3,152 12s. 4d., and the expenditure to £2,982 12s. 8d. The children, who are elected at the annual meeting of subscribers in September, are received from all parts of the kingdom, but must not be under eight or over thirteen years of age. Subscribers of a guinea have the right of voting at the elections, and the committee have also power to admit children, on an annual payment of £25. The parents or guardians of the elected candidates, must pay £6 per year towards clothing, &c. The office of the Secretary is at City Chambers, 82 New Street.
Friendless Girls.—The Ladies' Association (established 1878) for the recovery of girls who have given way to temptation for a short time, or who have been convicted of a first offence, has been the means of rescuing many from the streets and from a life of crime. The Home is in Spring Road, and Mrs. Pike, Sir Harry's Road, is the treasurer, to whom contributions can be sent; and that they will be welcome is shown by the fact that there is a balance at present against the Institution's funds.
Girls' Home, Bath Row, established in 1851, to provide shelter for young women of good character, when out of situations. A free registry is kept, and over 300 girls avail themselves of the Home every year.
Girls' Training Institution, George Road, Edgbaston, was opened in 1862, to prepare young girls from twelve to fifteen, for domestic service.
Industrial and Reformatory Schools,—Gem Street Industrial School, for the recovery of boys who had began a life of crime, was opened in 1850, and at the close of 1883 it contained 149 boys, under the charge of nine officers.
