The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-06

SOCIETY FOR THk REFORMATION OF JUVENILES
DELNoUENrs.-It appears from the twenty second
annual report of the managers of this society,
that the "House OF Refuge" has since its esta-
bshment in 1925, received 500 children, most
of whom have been indentured to farmers or
mechanics to learn practical agriculture, or
trade by means of which they might obtain an
honest livelihood
It is really gratifying to learn, one may learn
by perusing this report, how much can be done
by the systematic exercise of benevolence,
towards changing the current which is apparent.
ly hurryng youthful delinquents towards the vor-
tex ofrrecaimable crime and hopelessignominy.
The efforts of the society in this respect have
been productive of excellent results. Since the
organization Of the institution, twenty-five years
ago, register has been kept, in which, under the
name of each child, a brief history of his or her
life, from the time the managers of the society
became their guardians, until they established
in the world, or given up as past reclaim, is writ
ten. To make up this history various means
are resored to in order obtain corr ect nforma-
ton; but principally from correspondence with
the children themselves, and with the persons to
whom they are indentured, the managers are ena-
bled to judge of the permanescy of the impress
OF Refuge; and the present report states that
"More than threefourths of those who come to them
1.-THE managers) destitute OF moral religious or inteec
tual culture, have been reformed"
The first thing taught at the House Of Refuge
is systematic division of time, and the devotion
of certain hours to study, profitable labor active
recreation and rest. A library of upwards OF one
thousand Volumes and continually increasing
furnishes proper reading for the inmates. Three
teachers employed in the school, and it is the
design Of the managers to have impaired to all
the children an education sufficient to enable
them to manage the business, trade, &C.
cupation to which they are indentured. One OF
the teachers in the institution, worthy man, was
once an inmate OF the Refuge In alluding to him
the language of the report is -
Here he laid the foundation of his education and as
his mind developed under the influence of religion and
moral instruction. he learned to discriminate, and
choose that which led to responsibility and happi
ness BY that light he has been guided, and has been
that school where he learned the first lessons
ralty and virtue"
A little spice Of romance is to be met with occa-
sionally, arising out Of the separation from, and
restoration to, society Of these youthful delin-
quents, as the following case will show:-Some
six years ago, promising pupil, named nj. w.,
left the school at the Refuge, being indentured to
halter in Connecticut About two years after
wards a girl, named M. X, was indentured from
the same institution 10 gentleman living in the
same neighborhood with the halter. The young
couple were entire strangers to each other, but as
their employers were near neighbors, and the ia
miles attended the same church, strong at
tachment sprung up between them. 1t was not
until several months had passed that the lovers
learned that they sustained towards each other the
faternal reaton-they were brother and sister
They had been separated foryears and had grown
entirely out of each others recollection, and the
girl had assumed another than her family name
They were not driven to despair, but like sensi-
BILE young people served out their time to their two
masters, and are now worthy members ofsocety
The expenses of the institution, for the wear
1916, was $22,572 IL, of which 81 ,l6l IL was
received from contractors for labor performed
by the children on the premises; $4,000 from
the Corporation of New York city, the amount
received from excise fund, and $3,Ol5 IS
from theatre and circus licenses. The balance
was made up by receipts from the Health Com
missioner and State Treasurer, and from amount
advanced by the treasurer of the society. The
health OF the inmates OF the Refuge is excellent.
Not death occurred during the year, and a strict
regard to cleanliness may no doubt, be given as
the grand health-preservng recipe.
The Society Tor the Reformation of Juvenile
Delnquents is grand institution, having its very
existence in consequences OF the necessity which
vice and degradation imposes. 1t seeks to reform
those whom it would benefit; coercion is only
used in extreme cases, and then in such man.
ner as to awaken no vindictve or revengeful feel
ings; and the consequence is, that three fourths
OF those with whom they have to deal, as crimi-
nails, at first, turn out, after a little care-a little
mercy shown-a little sympathy evinced-good
members OF society. What pity the philosophy
of the managers of this institution could not be
generally taught and practised in tire world
There would be many reformed delinquents-
many an erring one brought back to rectitude
who now becomes brutalized by harsh treatment,
or hardened into recklessness by the chilling
scorn OF q censorsus and philosophical comnu.
nifty.