Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-16
The state Reform schOOI-Return of Re-
tnrrned Luxenile warrant.

The State Reform SchOol-Aeln VI "
formed Juvenile Vagrant.
Some Of our readers may probably remember
that in our police report, sometime IN last April
we noticed the conviction OF SIX boy vagrants III
the police court. They were sent to the otate
Reform School in Fairfield County, under the
direction of John a Foot, Esq, of this city,
and one of the State Commissioners. Ihe boys
we're racped. urofane, and altogether bad. We
never saw harder looking band of juvenile yag-
abonds in our life Mr.. Foot addressed them
in the court, telling them the nature OF the
school to which they were going, what they
must do when they got there, DC, DC. s.One OF
the Young vagrants sareasticsly asked II ne
could have his I" whiskey regular" there, and
another wanted to know if the State furnlsned
GOOD tobacco" none of your cheap stutt' but
GOOD tobacker'-for the young vagrants. ms
morning, the boy who was SO sOllcltous about
{" the weed" called on US in company with MI
Foot. He has been in the Reform School less
than seven months. He was dressed comforta-
blv and neatly, and instead of wearing the bra
vado air that characterised him in the Police
Cont. he is as modest and likely appearing a
lad as one could wish to see. He received the
following certificate on leaving the institution
This is to certify that Joseph Williams has
been honorably discharged from the Ohio State
Reform Farm having entitled him to such under
the rules thereof, to wit continuance OF iour
months in good behavior, and three consecutive
months in the class of Honor; and the under
stoned believing said Williams to be thoroughly
reformed, does hereby recommend him to the
kindness and employment of the humane.
In witness whereof have hereunto
signed my hand and seal this lst day
{ l. 3 of November, a. D. 1883.
CHAs REEMELIN,
Acting Commissioner O. K ).
Joseph reports that four of his comrades are
getting along well, and will probably graduate
with honors ere long. One OF them made MS
escape from the school few weeks since, and
was arrested in this city and sent back. he is
a remarkably tough customer, but his ultimate
reformation is by no means despaired OF. Jo-
seph, the reformed vagrant, speaks IN high terms
ofthe manner in which the school Is conducted
and is very glad he went there. :,
The school numbers some forty pupils.
The farm consists of ], ,l70 acres of good land on
the Hooking Hills. The buildings are com
Portable, and there will soon be accommodation
for two hundred boys The boys study ana
work attentively, and competent persons IN
struet them in both departments. In case boy
who 81 graduates" is unable to tnd work, he Is
permitted to return to the school, and there re-
main until he can find employment 1t IS un-
questionably an excellent instltutlon'-DealeT
Master Williams called at the Leader Office to
thank the proprietors for the copy sent to the
Cleveland boys in the Reform School, and we
are right glad to have the opportunity to en-
dorse what our neighbOr says of his improved
appearance and conduct. Joseph has returned
to his mother in Canton, and hopes to obtain
place to work in tie foundries or machine shops
of that town. That he may get good home
and trade, we sincerely hope. He is now II
the right track for useful manhood, and idlenes'
and vi cious associates can alone switch him OH
The training of the Reform School has beer
worth more than fortune to the inteiligen
lad.
The Reform System combines study, labo
and recreation. Seven hours day are devoted
to work, three to study, and the remaining tint
to meals, recreations, &c. The work is NJ
boys pIay, but as yet is'digging cellars, build
ing, gardening, and farm labors generally. Ih'
bovs are not over worked, but are kept busy
and are made to feel that everything is for tn
benefit of the household, themselves included
The government is family and parental stric
but in kindness. No locks or high walls eontine
the bows to the Farm. Being well cared for II
all respects, they soon become attached to thei
benefactors and associates, and ST eadily improve
in habits of industry, study, andamOral dePOrt
ment The better they behave, the more conf
dence is placed in them, and the good and tn
deserving are allowed many liberties pleasing t
bows, such as driving the farm teams, gong o.
errands to neighbors, &C., &c.
Up to this time the Reform School Famil
have mad but limited accommodations, bein
confined to single building. Two more tanil
buildings have recently been completed, and tn
fourth has Just been commenced. Two are
bewn logs. two of brick, and two of stont
They are named after the rivers Hooking, Scid
to, Cuyahoga and Muskingum. a large brc
building for the geoeral purposes of the Inst
tuition, containing fine Hall and School Toom'
being finished, and other improvements necessa
~ for the convenience and comfort of the Broth
ers and their households are iu progress
The principal edi6ce bears the. name OF tn
State founding the noble charity-oHIO.
Thirteen boys have been sent to the ReiOrr
School Farm from Cleveland. Two were sen
by their parents, seven by Courts, and four wer
transferred from the Penitentiary. The report
from them are encouraging; and little inciden
of boy sent there by his widowed mother
the last hope of reforming her incorrigible sol
shows how the affections brighten as SIN an
vice are removed from the young heart sai
he, with a moistened eye, to recent VISITOR
ssDo please see my mother, and tell her
wish she would send me her dsguerreotyPe'
The boys wish has been gratifed.
The good fruits of the Reform School an
Farm are felt in our midst Since the ieadln
spirits among juvenile offenders have bee
placed in the School, petty thefts, burgarles et'
bv warrant lads have much diminished. Sue
is the report of the Police Judge, and the Pc
lice records bear like testimony.
The State Reform School Farm is yet an e1
pertinent, but it can hardly fail to prove SUE
cessful one under the sagaciOus, prudent, an
attentive personal supervision of Messrs. REES
, ELM, Foor, and LADD, the excellent and sci
, sacrificing Board of Commissioners.
For the Leader.
Not too Fast.
Il. I,r