New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-10
Netu7prk Dailp Tribm,re
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE.

City Of New-1Ork have read Win sorrow eIu noI
without indignation two communications from Mr..
james R. Hole, recently pub isbed in The TRIBUNE.
They deeply regretted that stsmstc asmp should
be made in any quarter to impsi the usefulness OF an
Institution which they believe TO be doing great good
ard to which they have devoted much time and
thought and sbor-msny Of them for long series OF
yesrs, without any possible selfish or unwsrthy
motive. They were indignsst that such a'temPi
should be made for the gra.ifcat o. personal Ill
feeII e. and in spirit Of realisation for supp )sed
personal injury; that it should be founded upon mis-
representations and distortions Of fact; upon tup-
pr ssoIs Of the Truth which were full equivalent o
ia school; and upon infereDces snd genersl4a'ions
unfairly drawn from sir gle cases selected logeaJusly
ard Cd imperfecty; am that task so Ferrous and
cad this ought to have BEEN TO writer 'tusted by
preIer motives alo convinced Of the ruth OF nis
IosiuOI 6, should have been Performed In tone
4 vlty bId saTcaFm.
So much. 10 tho-e fauiIia, with the institution,
,ppsJeIt upon the face OF The ARTICLES referred 20.
Much Of what Was sta ed the maIsgers kneF TO De
unjust. At the saue time, II was possible thst incl
coIfoepce in n cir xscutiye officers had been ms
tlsced and that abuses mis exist shlca all their
aicbfu'n 81 bad falles to detect II such we're the
case the msDagere would be the lsst 10 trefae con-
cesimeIt. Tneu OILY wish was 10 know what vas
wIoI e. nd if in treir power TO Set /, nigh. They
would ! 0 doubt, have preferred to be a1monshed OF
their shor 60 in firndy NAM er, and Sit1out
the in ervenion of the puoc press. But If there was
WI <, they were glad 10 karb ~ even roM al uh-
friendly sOurce.
They have acoordrely made a thorough inv eetiga-
ton the &C mbist alive manager ent OF the douse
They Rave examined par icuary with reference to
cue parts OF Mr. dalee charges as they did not be-
fore fully understand. Nearly every ole OF tue OIL
GERS and employees Of toe es,ablfhntnt has been
sepsra ely AID infinitely questioned. The manaSers
ave confirmed in their eooo epioion OF nel' oHc1r'
corscieDlious, kind men, competent to their duties
Lot false, Lot u, just, nor cruel.
The articles Of Mr. Hale have enjoyed the wide cir.
cula,ion OF The TRIBUNE. Many persons have read
the who knew little or nothing about the House OF
X. fuge. la oil probability some have derived Al un-
favorable impression from them. The Managers in
oivoualy would trust 10 time 10 set this rlglt; but
being charged with an important public trust they
might vel be cepsured il hey permitted misstste-
mt MS Injurious to the IDttu ion to pass uncOrec ed
They do no, however, propose to make aug further
reply TO Mr.. Hae's a. ticies han brief statement OF
facts explanations bearing manly upon the points
in which wrong is imputed 10 them or their OIL ,ers.
First IL If Dc per undtrstaI the pout OF view
from which Mr.. Hae has surveyed the lsstitutioo.
His cor ut c'ion with it commenced about the mIdoe OF
April last when he appointed one OF The assistant
teachers, and terminated III August last by his re
uoyal and dice bar. @. He had been previously re-
owed for serious violation OF he b. LAYS, ou had
been reDststd upon al am pie apology and promise oil
amendment. His final discharge wac rendered neces;
sary BY subOrdnstoD ssiiUg OF continued refusal
Oh bis part 10 obey the directions Of he Supennend
ent ss 10 duties wholly Ger the coctro OF th,t ot-
Ger. Tbs led TO dangerous confu-lon among the
bows and thIea ned d time ~ subvert the dis
cipline of tie House. The material ia ts upon
which his removal Was founded, were admitted by
him. He CLAIM ed, however, that they were not suti-
enn 20 }1s Tia, bs remoys vac lust and
indispensable.
Second The reader must also bear in mind what are
he ia ia and chsrac OF the inmates OF the II louise
If X. fuge. Here $50 boys from ten TO eighteen
Years OF age-Lo rage class OF DOS such a. sse
cts with any phtre else out fer the Oct part crm
pas except 20 far as tn youth and Surroundings III
many cases psa,e tbeic guilt ana entile tnen 10 tue
ncer designation OF oeii. queDts. Most OF lhen are
indeed committed for minor oifenses, bat macy are
bod bad sropg boy who have been guilty. d cr'es
of violence ano uLfelueDtly OF reoeDl )n a. g.
their phreLs or matters such as ordinary aorty
or puni-bmeLt could quell Among $50 d,p4uen's the
nun Ter OF such urbuient, uDuy, bad -puis Is Always
go large 6s 10 creste Anxiety and conpe unceseibg
yioi spce AZ evde o. the danger 10 be g1sfded
aVainst the follow Ing occurrence is eo, which took
place in the month OF Maica last. patty oil tue
boys tai 10 the ysr 10 the evening" as ID Gus
tomary, under the care OF one or more ofhces gu
Denly ejph cen of them being some OF ths largest and
worst OF the boys TUNED upon the officers, and WITH
knives stolen from the WORKSHOPS and heavy s'opes
attacked them and others woo came 10 tneu assst-
al ce partially stunned and seriously injured ode OF
the men with stone, sligh y wounoed ano her WIN
a uife and did lot abandon the plan of escape IA
I'll they met aLd put down by the entire available
force Of the Houie.
Third: Such beifR the materials it is evident thst
firm gorernment is the fret essential and that without
il lot only DO Improvement can take place, but the
Institution itself capnot exist. Some meals must De
acopteo TO insure the obedience Of the wors boys
Percussion aid expOstulotion are always employ 60
fret but if they fail punishment must be resote, to
al often Of necessity severe puui. hment Contne
ment tor tbort rioos is omenfe Ell, c'us but In
general II is fouLd that proper corporal punishment
the least injurious to young persons ard the most
efectusI ano in many the only mo ie OF puo-
sbn en that will proc nee any good effect Hence /;
s authorized AID required In proper cases 70 Do IL
icted by the ndeDt or Assistant Sipern'end-
eDt ano in school BY the Principal; and the oy-a~5
and reg ula ions OF the Institution have been fsmsd
With ttdulous care to pevent any sbuse OF this form
OF guhh hmenf: ~. .x.s, and os-..iolv
the most ooious OF the charges made by M ale lie
chsIses in substance Is, that The b. lass regu.
Ia ing corporal ubishnsD are hat ualiy disregarded
by the officers and I'd, that cruel punishment, such
a. be describes, is "lavsbly need oat
Now az 10 the FRS poDt, Mr.. Hale hnows mat 10
JAY last tie managers discovered that light corporal
pun ishnen's eqoenty eoministe Ied by persons
Lot authorized BY the by.lass-mosty BY s-sist IN:
teachers that Ii managers al thsf nme ols;n4rgoo
assistant teacher for imp oPery Panisaias one o.
the boy al gave notice 10 The officers keI ei ay tha
the By laws this subject must be strictly ooeyed
and that copsio. rsolc tile before the pub icsuon
Of MI HaIes Ariel ., there I'D ceased 70 DO even
Irete1t Tor The use Of bis expression, The uoiqaous
| rod
The other branch OF Mr. Hales position t1is So D
jet, that cruel punishneDts s'e lsvsy NEED out, ne
It np,s 10 sustain by highly dra~n pi,'ufes Of
the uupshmt nj of two boys Who were ou I'd 20 have
with them string and piece OF sole leather, Which
"stpesred have been fitted TO toe door lock so a.
&" 10 prevent the shutting Of the door" and OF tHo
Other boys who were found gully OF an s'emp' 10
"gei away =,
Now it L admitted tha; ttese do not appear BY NJ.
Hales statement 10 have been very heiDous ofsnsee
Ia ole case be gives the idea OF 40 mlschevous tte
fellows play pg hsrmlessiy win string and zee @:
heather and in tn other OF two boys wno tired o.