98 THE WORLD'S WORKERS. 



said he had never seen such girls. They had insulted 

 the officers, and been so outrageous, that he had given 

 two a slap in the face, and locked them all in separate 

 cells, whence they called out, screamed, and sang in 

 such a manner that those six were enough to corrupt 

 a hundred. 



" He then led us to the entrance of the corridor, 

 where I listened to sounds that indeed shocked me, 

 and that revealed the wicked and audacious state in 

 which they were. These cells had doors made of 

 strong iron bars, so that we could see and hear what 

 passed within. 



" He then accompanied me to the door of each 

 cell, calling each little girl to the door, as one would 

 call a wild beast to the front of his den. If I had felt 

 any doubt before of the useless and injurious effect of 

 physical coercion, and the force of kindness and moral 

 influence on these poor children, all doubt would have 

 vanished. As I approached each girl, and told her 

 how grieved I was to see her here in such a condition 

 when I had left her good and happy the day before, 

 she hung down her head and was quite softened ; one 

 affectionately took my hand. 



" There was now no fear. I requested that they 

 might be released, which was done, and said we 

 would walk with them to the old Market Stand, and 

 thence take flys. The superintendent objected, saying 

 that there were always bad people about who might 

 misunderstand our motives towards the children, and 



