ad the citizens of other large towns to
inaugurate comprehensive and organized movements for the improvement of
their "Dangerous Classes," my object will be fully attained.

I have the hope, too, that these little stories of the lot of the poor
in cities, and the incidents related of their trials and temptations,
may bring the two ends of society nearer together in human sympathy.

The discussion of the Causes of Juvenile Crime contained in this work
must aid others who would found similar reformatory and preventive
movements, to base them on principles and motives which should reach
similar profound and threatening evils.

CHARLES LORING BRACE.

19 EAST 4TH STREET, NEW YORK.

June 1, 1872.

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS.

-----

CHAPTER I.

CHRIST IN CHARITY AND REFORM, AND CONDITION OF NEGLECTED CHILDREN BEFORE
CHRISTIANITY.

Exposure of Children in Rome--Comments by Latin Authors upon the
Practice--Terence--Seneca--Suetonius--Rebukes by Early Christian
Preachers--Quintilian--Tertullian--Lactantius--First "Children's Asylum"
under Trajan--Charity of the Antonines--Legislation of the Christian
Emperors--Influence of the Germanic Races--Legislation on the Exposure
of Children--First Children's Asylums in the Christian Era--Brother
Guy--Neglected Children the only Remains of Ancient "Dangerous
Classes"--Change Wrought by Christianity--Influence of Christianity in
Reform........................................................pp. 13-24

CHAPTER II.

THE PROLETAIRES OF NEW YORK.

Not so Numerous as in London, but more Dangerous--Dens of Crime and
Fever-nests--Advantage of Breaking them up--The Unrestrained Vices of
this Class--Their Ignorance and Brutality--Dependence on
Politicians--Gangs of Youthful Criminals--Similar Dangers here as in
Paris--The Riots of 1863--Numbers of the Vagrant Class--Composition of
this Dangerous Element........................................pp. 25-31

CHAPTER III.

CAUSES OF CRIME.

Preventible and Non-preventible--Ignorance--Numbers of Illiterates in
City Prisons and Reformatories--Orphanage--Statistics--Orphans in
Mettrai--Emigration--Effect in Producing Crime--Numbers of Prisone