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LONDON MISSIONS.
100,000 BOYS UNDER CANVAS.
LONDON, Monday.
In spite of the rough weather which
is being experienced in the South of
England just now, there are at least a
hundred thousand boy scouts and lads
belonging to other organisations, such
as the Public School and University
Missions, under canvas for their
annual holiday.
great .many of the large Public
schools and university colleges support
missions in various parts of
poorer London. A typical mission is
one in the Netting Hill district, which
is entirely supported and run by tbe
boys and old boys of one of the most
famous of the public schools. There
i. resident secretary or manager in
charge of the mission, which owns a
large building, including gymtiasiun,,
swimming bath, billiard room, reading
room, etc. Any boy in the neighborhood
under a certain age is eligible
to Hie ,a member of the mission, so
long as his habits and character are
sufficiently good. The 'hoys are n.it
os-Tted to give a money contribution to
the upkeep of the establishment, but
in order that they should feel some
property interest and pride in it. they
make small weekly payments ot a
penny or twopence towards various
objects, such as the library, etc. The
annual camp is held in August, and
lasts for about a fortnight. The mission
owns a permanent site on the
Kentish coast, including a small
builrliiiir where the tents, etc., are
stored during the rest of the year. A
hundred or more boys go down there
every year, and there is an afterguard
of some twenty or thirty members ol
the schoolmasters, boys, and old boys
to assist iu keeping discipline, and
to arrange games and sports. Strict
discipline is insisted upon, but except
for fatigue parages and roll calls, tlie
whole of the time Is spent in recreation.
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