LITTLE BAREFOOT.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5022, 4 October 1887, Page 3

LITTLE BAREFOOT.

(From the ' Boston Herald.') Mr Maithi-.w Arnold was greatly struck by this democratic government of our reading room when be was in Boston. He camo in here one day and saw a little barefooted newsboy sitting in one of the bett chairs of the reading room, enjoying himself apparently for dear life. The great essayist was completely astounded. - ' Do you let barefooted boys in this readiagroorn ?" he-ask-d. ' You would never see such a sight as that in Europe. I do not believe there is a reading room -in all Europe in which that boy, [ dressed as hp i?, would enter.' . Then jMr Arnold went over to the boy, en- | gaged him ia conversation, and found that he was readiog the 'Life of Washington,'and thai "he was a young i gentleman of decidedly anti-British j tendencies, and, for his age, remarkably well informed. Mv Arnold remained talking with the youngster for some time, and, as he came back to our desk, the great Englishman said : ' I do nob think I have been so impressed with am thing else that I have seen tince arriving in this country as I am now with meeting this barefooted boy in this reading room. What a fribnte to democratic institutions jifc is to say that, instead of sending, that boy uufc to wander alone in the streets, they permit him to . come in here and excite,his youthful imagination by reading such a book as the Life of Washington ! The reading of that one book may change the whole course of that boy's life, and may be the means.of making him a useful, honorable, aud worthy citizen of this great country. It is, I tell you. a sight (hat impresses a European not accustomed to your democratio ways.'. •