Washington telegraph., 1855-08-01
From the Tuscardras .4drocdfe1
House of Correction for Juvenile
Offenders,

ANY person who will visit the Ohio PEN
sentiary, cannot help but be struck at see
ug numbers of mere children there incar-
eerated- Boys from II TO 10 years of age,
who from defective education-bad exam
PIE, want of moral training, have fallen
into crime, and that too, through the intri-
CUES Of some willy old criminal As these
poor boys are compelled TO associate daily
with these hardened offenders. what chance
5 there in them for moral reformation p
Thev have no mother to inculcatc into them
moral principles-no one is near them who
feels interested in their behalf.
In several OF the States, Houses of Cor
reetion have been built for Juvenile offend
ers Michigan has made an appropriation
10 purchase few hundred acres of land
to put ID the necessary buildings. and when
completed VIII employ moral men,-not
such scamFs as have been connected with
the Ohio Penitentiary, to impart tc them
the right kind of instruction. Pennsylva-
MA and Massachusetts, have not in this par
ticular been backward. But in Ohio no
such law has yet been passed Although
bills have been introduced to build House
Of Refuge, they never yet received the sane
tiOn Of the majority.
The editor Of the Sandusky lIirror was
formerly Warden in the Ohio Penitentiary
lie gives the following as one of the incl
dents which occurred while he had control
Of that institution
THE LOST BOY
had been but few months in charge
Of the Prison. when my attention was at
tracted to. and deep interest felt in, the
numerous boys and young men, who were
confined IN, and permitted to work in the
same shops with old and hardened convicts
This interest was increased every evening,
as | saw them congreeated in gangs, march
ing 20 their silent meals, and thence to
their gloomy bedrooms. which are more
ike living sepulchres, with iron shrouds,
than sleeping apartments These young
men and boys, being generally the shortest
in height, brought up the rear of the COM
panies, as they marched to the terrible lock
step aud consequently more easily attract
cd attention To see many youthful forms
and bright cOuntenances. mingled with the
old and hardened scoundrels. whose visages
betOkened vice, malice and crime, was sick
enIng TO the soul But there was one among
the boys. a lad about seventeen wears of
age, who had particularly attracted my at
tentiOn not from anything superior in his
countenance or general appearance. but by
the look of utter despair which ever sat up
on his brow. and the silent, uncomplainins
manner in which he submitted TO all the
hardships and degradations of prison life.
He was often complained of By both officers
and men. and thought unnecessarily, for
light and trivial offences against the rules Of
propriety; yet he seldom had any excuse OF
apology, and never denying a charge. He
took the reprimand, and once punishment,
without a tear or murmur, almost as a
matter Of course, seemingly thankful that it
was no more He had evidently seen bet.
ter days. and enjoyed the light of home. ia.
rents and friends. if not the luxuries of life
But the light Of hope seemed to have gone
Out-his health was pOor-his face pale
his frame fragile-and no fire beamed in his
dark grey eye. | thought every night, a.
saw him march to his gloomy bed, that
would 60 to him and learn his history-but
there vas so many duties to perform so much
to learn and do, that day after day passed
and would neglect him-having merely
learned that his name was Arthur Lamb
and that his crime was burglary and Iarce
ny Indicating very bad boy, for one 5,
young He had already been there a wear
and had two more to serve, He neve1
could OutlIve his sentence, and his coun,e
nance indicated that he felt it. He worke,
At stone cutting on the new State House
1ence my opportunities for seeing him wer
less than though he had worked in the pris
on yard-still his pale face haunted me da,
and highland l resolved that on the mex
Sabbath, as he came from Sabbath School
l would send for him and learn his history
1t happened, however, that was one da,
N store, waiting for the transaction @
some business, and having picked up an old
Newspaper, had read and re-read. wfil
ueayed, until at last my eye fell upon a,
advertisement Of ga LosT Boy W Iufor
nation wanted of boy named Arthur