The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-07-21

II lHe BouF oil rising, In the morning, going TO
school, beginning and ending work, are indIca-
Ted by the ringing OF the bell. Sundays, Christ
mas, and Thanksgiving days, devoted 10
worship and religious instruction. The females
are at all times separated from the males; and
each inmate has Seperate dormtory. All are
classed according to their conduct and good be-
havior tor five successive months, entities the
sinmate to a badge OF honor. sNeither SpirituouS
liquor nor tobacco may be used, nor, during the
gperlods 1or recreation, are any games allowed
(which have tendency towards gambling.
The rigid enforcement OF these rules has the
Traditional value OF nculcatlng practically the
sx9tue Of restraint. | term it virtue in this
connection; because, without restraint, rigid,
eHactlng, and answering, it would be idle TO
attempt the reformation OF those who have so
far lived without it. Not the harsh and repuI-
slve restraint of the prison cell, into whose
chilling portals no ray of sympathy ever pene-
trates, but rather that ofa judiclous parent, who
inllexibly though kindly controls waywa:d
and reckless child.
Amongst the admirable arrangements that
have increased, if possible, my confidence in The
future OF tins Institution, is the fact that, in the
execution of It's details, the active agency of
woman is to be employed. Her spirit is to
preside in some departments at least And to
whom could the work OF diSinterested benevo-
lencr be more properly confided Her heart
is the fountain OF the purest affection, and her
Influence over the obdurate and wicked, is ever
the most soothing and powerful.
''Iler might is gentIeness-she winneth sway
BY soft word and sober look
Let her voice fall in tones OF kindness and love
on the ears of even the waYward and vicious,
and deep from the Utmost soul of such will
come up response, indicalinga a return of moral
srnsbilty, and that the heart is not all evil
that there is still hope of reformation.
This agency OF love and benevolence will at
all times be essential to the triumph of the In
Stitutlon. Not sickly senimen,alism, but an
active and vigilantWlnclpc. There is no re-
deeming infuencass9 potent as pure and dis
interested alectioha ''lt is mightler than the
sword OF the magistrate, or the armies of the
monarch, to conquer evil. it Will touch the
heart hardened against all other influences. 1t
will say to the reckless transgressor, in the on
ly language he can understand, that be IS not
an outcast from bis race. Depravity must, IN
deed, have wrought a fearful moral change in
that soul, where there fingers not single chord
responsive 10 the manifestations OF goodness
Even the raging maniac is Subdued by its nfu-
eace. In it consisted the secret of Howard's
power over the degraded, the wicked, and yio-
lent. In it was found the magic spell that
flowed from the lips OF Elizabeth Fry.
s'Would'st thou a guardian angel seem
/ o one who loug III guilt hath trod
tfo kindly to hlm-take his hand,
With gentler words. within thine own,
And by his side, brother stand,
Till all the demons are dethrOned.'
But let us turn for moment from the mere
arrangements Of the Institution, TO notice more
particularly the objects Of its care. Possibly
some may be ready TO inquire. why all this la
Dor. this preparation and care for youthful Of
tenders Why not impose upon them the
stern demands of the law! We answer, be-
cause many, very many Of these unfortunate
creatures cannot be properly rated as aceounta-
BILE. Often the victims OF shameful parental
neglect, and IN some instances of witul- paren-
tai degradation, their offences are moi their own
They sin habitualIy. if not unconSClouSly. How
shall youth who never perhaps witnesses a
virtuous example, find out the ways OF truth
and wisdom How shall he who has been
reared in the midst Of sin and depravty, learn
to respect and observe the rights OF others, or
10 dtport himself consistently with the rules of
society? How shall the child understand the
duty it has never been taught, or 10 resist the
influence Of an evil parental example How
shall he escape the injection of a moral disease,
if constantly subjected to If in IFS most malig
nant type? Can it reasonably be expected
that a child shall unaidpd escape the evils of in
temperancr-that most prolific of all the causes
of vice and crime, and that which, since it can
be removed, most loudly demands efficient ac-
IN at 4 n | bp Spn-
ably expected that a child shall unaided escape
the evils of intemperance, if continually sur
rounded by drunken parents and associates, or
be induced to attend church or the Sabbath
School, whilst his parents and associates 90, in
preference, to the betrothaI and gambling house
To hope for voluntary reformation, under
such circumstances, would be as unreasonable
as TO expect 10 gather ''grapes from thorns, or
figs from thiStles;' or to look for "pure stream
from corrupted fountain" The sympathy be-
tween the parent and child is naturally strong,
and under these forbddng circumstances must
almost inevitably lead the latter captive in the
wavs of tranSgresSion. And shall such unhaI-
py victims thus allured into the paths Of vice
and crime, by the most powerful and sacred ties
that operate upon the human heart, be made TO
endure the vengeance of the law-be doomed
TO prison--to lasting dlSgrace-to be forever
cut off from society? Mercy, with the consent
OF Justice, answers no! The House of Refuge,
in a voice OF true benevolence, answers NO
Another class, not so numerous as that just
named, are the victims of penury and want.
Often parentlpss aud homeless, struggling for
mere ANNA! Subsistence, with no hand to guide
them, they wander and beg through the day,
and steal in the dark and yet they are not SO
bad as the hardened villain who delights in
crinne InAaninn Tie lIttle. halt-Clad sufferer.