Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-13
uIGDauBu VIII not De rtisIIl2asE7s5 :. =
xvvENILE REFORM.

1t is an old saying that the morality of
boys is very imperfect; and their notions of
honor often extremely mistaken and absurd.
Falling under incorrect influences while at the
age of doubt and fiuctuation, they are almost
certain to become the subjects of public care.
1t has long been the serious study of phian-
thropy, to discover the best method by which
youth once fallen may he restored and saved.
There are few questions worthy to excite
deeper and more profound concern. Of the
innumerable associations whose anniversaries
are, the present week, made the occasion of
pompous celebration; there is certainly none
which promises more immediate and salutary
results than that of the managers of schools of
refuge and reform
AT the session on Wednesday, while the
merits OF the family and the congregated sys-
tens of schools were the subject of interesting
discussion, Rev. B. X. Pierce, of the Girls In
dustrial School at Lancaster, presented valu
able paper in defence of the former. Mr.. Ber-
nard OF Boston made complimentary allusion
to the Lancaster school, comparing its happy
homes to the "Rauhe Haus" at Hamburg-the
model institution of the world-a house among
flowers, into which all Germany poured its
lost youth for redemption. Charles ReemeIin
of Cincinnati gave an interesting account of the
Ohio State School, with which he was con-
nected. The charity, the discipline, and the
instruction, are so dispensed as to blot out the
effects of early vice and prepare its inmates
for the life of virtuous emulation and honor
they are expected to lead hereafter
1--WE expect" he said, ITO have 24O boys
and the farm needs all that number. We have
no bars-no locks on the doors. The worst
boy ever in the Ohio Penitentiary, we trusted
with the team to go to the village after he had
been six weeks with us, and he is Cadet now.
On, yes; they do sometimes run away, and we
after them-especially if they have been
brought there by police officer; for, gener-
ally, police officers are bad men, and police
officers are bad men, and they put all sorts of
nonsense into their heads, and tell them great
deal about running away. When boy is
committed to.us, generally go after him my
self, and very seldom one runs away who
comes there under our own escort Out of
200 that we had under our control, some IA
ran away but they all came back"
The school is divided into families. There
are tables of honor and dishonor There are
rewards for work, study, manners, and cleanli-
ness. The inducements which are held out
for good conduct are those which human ma
ture, never wholly deprayed, cannot long resist
The last hour of the day is given to moral
training, and it is the object to teach one the
habit of reviewing the day during that hour,
and before retiring TO enter in his diary its his
tory. This diary each takes with him on leay-
ing. When boy has been through all the
grades, we give him predatory certificate"
If he chooses to stay he can. We may get
him home if we can; if not he goes to shift
for himself We escort him about mile on his
way, shake hands all round, and say Good
Bye, telling him if be ever, while young or
when old, gets into trouble, or can't make a
living, to come back to his home, and we will
welcome him.