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dear little people must be wanting in so many humanising
experiences of innocence and tenderness； as to be quite an unsafe
monstrosity among men。 Therefore I set the assertion down；
whenever I happen to meet with it … which is sometimes； though not
often … as an idle word； originating possibly in the genteel
languor of the hour； and meaning about as much as that knowing
social lassitude； which has used up the cardinal virtues and quite
found out things in general； usually does mean。 I suppose it may
be taken for granted that we； who come together in the name of
children and for the sake of children； acknowledge that we have an
interest in them； indeed； I have observed since I sit down here
that we are quite in a childlike state altogether； representing an
infant institution； and not even yet a grown…up company。 A few
years are necessary to the increase of our strength and the
expansion of our figure； and then these tables； which now have a
few tucks in them； will be let out； and then this hall； which now
sits so easily upon us； will be too tight and small for us。
Nevertheless； it is likely that even we are not without our
experience now and then of spoilt children。 I do not mean of our
own spoilt children； because nobody's own children ever were
spoilt； but I mean the disagreeable children of our particular
friends。 We know by experience what it is to have them down after
dinner； and； across the rich perspective of a miscellaneous dessert
to see； as in a black dose darkly； the family doctor looming in the
distance。 We know； I have no doubt we all know； what it is to
assist at those little maternal anecdotes and table entertainments
illustrated with imitations and descriptive dialogue which might
not be inaptly called； after the manner of my friend Mr。 Albert
Smith； the toilsome ascent of Miss Mary and the eruption
（cutaneous） of Master Alexander。 We know what it is when those
children won't go to bed； we know how they prop their eyelids open
with their forefingers when they will sit up； how； when they become
fractious； they say aloud that they don't like us； and our nose is
too long； and why don't we go？ And we are perfectly acquainted
with those kicking bundles which are carried off at last
protesting。 An eminent eye…witness told me that he was one of a
company of learned pundits who assembled at the house of a very
distinguished philosopher of the last generation to hear him
expound his stringent views concerning infant education and early
mental development； and he told me that while the philosopher did
this in very beautiful and lucid language； the philosopher's little
boy； for his part； edified the assembled sages by dabbling up to
the elbows in an apple pie which had been provided for their
entertainment； having previously anointed his hair with the syrup；
combed it with his fork； and brushed it with his spoon。 It is
probable that we also have our similar experiences sometimes； of
principles that are not quite practice； and that we know people
claiming to be very wise and profound about nations of men who show
themselves to be rather weak and shallow about units of babies。
But； ladies and gentlemen； the spoilt children whom I have to
present to you after this dinner of to…day are not of this class。
I have glanced at these for the easier and lighter introduction of
another； a very different； a far more numerous； and a far more
serious class。 The spoilt children whom I must show you are the
spoilt children of the poor in this great city； the children who
are； every year； for ever and ever irrevocably spoilt out of this
breathing life of ours by tens of thousands； but who may in vast
numbers be preserved if you； assisting and not contravening the
ways of Providence； will help to save them。 The two grim nurses；
Poverty and Sickness； who bring these children before you； preside
over their births； rock their wretched cradles； nail down their
little coffins； pile up the earth above their graves。 Of the
annual deaths in this great town； their unnatural deaths form more
than one…third。 I shall not ask you； according to the custom as to
the other class … I shall not ask you on behalf of these children
to observe how good they are； how pretty they are； how clever they
are； how promising they are； whose beauty they most resemble … I
shall only ask you to observe how weak they are； and how like death
they are！ And I shall ask you； by the remembrance of everything
that lies between your own infancy and that so miscalled second
childhood when the child's graces are gone and nothing but its
helplessness remains； I shall ask you to turn your thoughts to
THESE spoilt children in the sacred names of Pity and Compassion。
Some years ago； being in Scotland； I went with one of the most
humane members of the humane medical profession； on a morning tour
among some of the worst lodged inhabitants of the old town of
Edinburgh。 In the closes and wynds of that picturesque place … I
am sorry to remind you what fast friends picturesqueness and typhus
often are … we saw more poverty and sickness in an hour than many
people would believe in a life。 Our way lay from one to another of
the most wretched dwellings； reeking with horrible odours； shut out
from the sky； shut out from the air； mere pits and dens。 In a room
in one of these places； where there was an empty porridge…pot on
the cold hearth； with a ragged woman and some ragged children
crouching on the bare ground near it … where； I remember as I
speak； that the very light； refracted from a high damp…stained and
time…stained house…wall； came trembling in； as if the fever which
had shaken everything else there had shaken even it … there lay； in
an old egg…box which the mother had begged from a shop； a little
feeble； wasted； wan； sick child。 With his little wasted face； and
his little hot； worn hands folded over his breast； and his little
bright； attentive eyes； I can see him now； as I have seen him for
several years； look in steadily at us。 There he lay in his little
frail box； which was not at all a bad emblem of the little body
from which he was slowly parting … there he lay； quite quiet； quite
patient； saying never a word。 He seldom cried； the mother said； he
seldom complained； 〃he lay there； seemin' to woonder what it was a'
aboot。〃 God knows； I thought； as I stood looking at him； he had
his reasons for wondering … reasons for wondering how it could
possibly come to be that he lay there； left alone； feeble and full
of pain； when he ought to have been as bright and as brisk as the
birds that never got near him … reasons for wondering how he came
to be left there； a little decrepid old man pining to death； quite
a thing of course； as if there were no crowds of healthy and happy
children playing on the grass under the summer's sun within a
stone's throw of him； as if there were no bright； moving sea on the
other side of the great hill overhanging the city； as