The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-24

Renee unvaryng in its results proves beyond aues
ton that, without nee to religious
tio9S, the morality the comfort and happiness Of q
community are Intimately dependant the periodical
opportunity for calm reflection and respite from the
cares the tolls and exctements of ordinary lfe af
forded by the of day in seven for re-
pose In this view alone apart from all religious ob
CATION it is in the opinion Of the Grand Jury greatly
to be desired that the increased numbers
of the police well other means, might be employ
ed efIectuay in diminishing the very large resort
chiefly of the young to cigar shops public houses
groceries, which present scarcely any perceptibe
difference between Sunday aud the other days of the
week-the difference indeed if there be any being to
because that day the equenters of these places
more at leisure than on any other.
Anequally conspicuous ground for censure is the
practice Of racing at least of furious driving for
which our principal avenues and of the streets
are made, Sunday, the This, and the noto-
known, it said, to the police fitting ubjects
the interference Of the police authorities and cry
aloud for amendment.
1t is not too much to say that the evils Of which
day ideness and its concomtant Sunday drinking
no unprolfc sadly brought to view in the
progress of visit to the City Prison. where IL Is Ia
mel table to behold many human ings deprived of
that liberty which they have used to the prejudice Of
society The Grand Jury found this institution ply
sically in good condtonclean toleraby well ventila
ted and free from confusion and disorder. They
greet to say however that want of good moral organ
zation Is painfully perceptibe; classification Of the
prisoners is but very mperfectly ned and there is
an almost total want of such employment would at
once conduce to the welfare of the inmates and the
pecunary advantage of the city The fault here lies
not with the able and faithful Superintendent, Mr.
Edmonds, but with the public authorities, whose agent
he is and to whose province of duty it belongs in
troduce a better system.
In happy contrast, under this especial head is the
House of Refuge ut the foot of Twenty-thrd street
Here for nearly quarter century has been in active
aud successful operation of the noblest and most
benefcient reformatory systems ever devised by hu
man philanthropy. The physical moral and intellect
ual redemption Of thousands who almost lost has
BEEN hieved and still the good work is going on
faithfully, efficiently under the intelligent administra
ton of the Society for the Reformation Juvenile
Deinquents, and of the various officers to whom the
execution OF its designs Is intrusted. There now
in the refuge two hundred and fifty boys and sixty
girls chiefly supplied from the city though small add
tions made from other parts Of the State The in
mates carefully instructed the useful bra inches
Of plain English education and are besides usefully
employed in various handicrafts. qualifying them to
fill reputable and advantageous stations in society
when they are fitted for return to Its duties and its
prvileges-a great step to such return being effected
by the system of binding out those whose conduct in
the refuge proves them worthy to such employers
siding in the country, as are willing to take appren
tices from the institution The records abound with
proofs and illustrations of the happy agency exertcd
in this way by the refuge.
The best evidence that be afforded of good and
humane management on the part of those having the
charge of these youthful candidates for reform is the
fact that notwithstanding the unfavorable influences
amid which their childhood generally passed natu
rally tending to SOW the seeds of disease the Grand
Jury found only two girls and not boy the sick
list. Equally strong testimony to the excellence Of
the moral employed is presented in the established
the institution leave it thoroughly reformed. Visits
continually received from SUCH become pros
porous and respected members of society.
About third of the expense is betrayed annually
by the proceeds of the boys labor the residue is met
by grants from the State, and by the license tax on
The physical condition the refuge appeared the
GrandJury all that could be desired cleanliness and
order strictly observed throughout, and the
whole system Of government is manifestIy happy
combination of frmnoss kindness, judcious control
and mild persuasion
he Rell
Hospital, occupying the site formerly known the
Aims House, extending from Goth to 2Sth street. and
from the First Avenue to the East River This great
charity though greatly relieved from the immense
burden of disease that unexpectedly thrown upon
1t by the pestentia Immigration Of last year, still has
about five hundred sick under medical care Its capa
blities have been severely tried we'll the fort
tude skill and industry of the resident physician and
his assistants and it gratifying to the Grand Jury
to see how ample, systematic and efficient all the
arrangements for the relief of that suffering which lit
Is the province Of the Hospital to alleviate Notwith-
standing the large number of patients. all the provi-
sions for cleanliness and ventilation most
plete, and strictly attended to while tho assiduous
care OF the medical gentlemen and their attendants
seemed rather to indicate the kindness Of friendship
than the mere cold observance Of compensated duty
The attention of the Grand Jury called to the
great superiority of iron bedsteads with which
only of the wards furnished The substitution of
these, for the kinds in n all the other wards
Is suggested as eminently desirable.
The new Nursery buildings on Randall's Island, ten
in number, were inspected with unmingled satisfac-
ton Nearly thousand children-the orphans of the
city-are here comfortably provided for enjoying the
indispensable requisites lot always accessible to the
children even of pare nts comfortable
Of pure air and water wholesome food clean clothing
spacious dormitories ample play grounds wearraDged
schooro and, in short, every thing conducive to
healthy and happy aevelopement. The appearance of
the inmates abu ndantly shows that all their
humanely and wisely cared for.
Not the least satisfactory visit made by the Grand
Jury was to Wards Island, where the Commissioners
Of Emigration have been for some time engaged in
making arrangements for the reception of the unfor
Inmates who claim their peculiar care. Ample build
purpose
thing else needfu and there is hope be-
leve that even such another vast influx az that of
last year would find the commissioners, at all points
ready to meet the exigency The only thing yet
wanting is hospital for the sick among the immi-
grants and this is now in progress.
Here we found nearly five hundred recent emigrants
(of whom two hundred are children) mostly Of that
themselves, and require temporary shelter. This
featsre in the eeemosynary operations of this city in
trusted to the superintendent of small number Of
our fellow citizens, well known for their public spirit
and philanthropy, presents many characterst
thy of especial observation.
Though state institution, the commission is per-
forming great amount of labor Of incalculabe bene-
fit to the city. This being the point to which nearly
all the emigration from the various countries Of the
Old World is converging, the mnging Of these people
with our own poor-as must have been the under
former circumstances the admission of so many
into institutions, filed they already are almost
to repetion must necessarily have burdened them to
an intoerabe extent The substitution of this mode
OF experimenting the affairs of the recent emigrant
population independent ii is Of political mutations
and intrusted to well known hands, cannot but
gard as happy Improvement. The appearance of the
establishment at Wards Island IL highly creditabe to
all parties concerned and. though in existence but
year and commenced under unfavorable circumstan-
ces it is inferior TO none we have seem and we have
good assurances that it is managed with the beat
Monty and discretion.
They have thoughts it alo in the line of their duty
make some inquiry into the in force,
protect our citizens against the encroachments Of the
diseases which are brought in great abundance from
foreign lands by immigrants concerning the spread of
which through the city much apprehen sion has been
entertained For this purpose they visited the qua
rantipe establishment about six miles below the city
where is stationed the health officer and where
the marine hospitals
The plan Of operations found to be follows
Immediately upon arrival at the quarantine station
and often before coming to anchor each vessel subject
to examination Is boarded by the health officer The
passengers who able all ordered deck. and
made to pass singly through gangway, where
each one Ia critically examined and all who show any
signs Of sickness separated from the rest The Of
cer then descends into the cabin and steerage and