The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-11-01

Stopping, she blushed, and he looked flushed
Perhaps twas tho burden they carried;
When they passed on, their burdens were one,
And at Christmas they were married.
Correspondence ofthe Cincinnati Commercial.
State Reform School ct Lancaster.
EVANSVILLE. October 13, 1860.
EDS. ,CoM.--Tne Ohio Reform School is
situated about five miles from Lancaster,
in position appropriate both from its
isolation as well as its commanding beau.
ty. The road leading there is romantical.
ly winding through chestnut and pine
groves, up and down steep grades, or ra.
ther where there should be grading. In
one place, we saw beautiful basin, form.
ed by the surrounding hill sides, which
was followed as gracefully and evenly by
Natures hand as could have been done by
art. But the particular beauty 10 the pic.
ture, was the autumnal lining of many
tinted shrubs and bushes closely packed
in with thousands of blue and purple
flowers.
The entire grounds attached to the Re.
form School, cover over eleven hundred
acres, noble endowm snt, and ample for
experiment.
There are now 130 inmates, ranging al
ages from 10 90. Some may even be
younger than l have stated None now
are received older than l6 years of age.
The Institution is under the charge of
GEORGE E. HOWE. acting commission ner,
and most admirable officer.
There are three principal buildings and
others in the course of erection. On the
main building is cupola, from which is a
magnifcen! view Of thirty miles.
There are shoe and tailor shops estab-
lished. and commendable interest is tax.
ell in the carpenter trads.
About six weeks ago happy feature
was introduced among the exercises, the
practice Of drilling the boys in military
tactics. The older ones are formed into
a regular soldier company, and 90 through
a good drill with the order and rapidly
Of old veterans. Mr.. Howe afforded his
visitors the pleasure of seeing them p,.
rade, abd all were lavish in their praises
The boys gave us, moreover. three hear.
ty cheers. We all remarked what cheer
ftl and happy counsenances they possess.
ed. They evidently like their home-for
home it is. in every sense.
| The institution is yet in its infancy, Mr.
Howe having been connected with il aboul
two years. l should think him admirably
fitted for the position he occupies. He i,
capable of winning as well as command
ing respect. | was told that cheapne,s
was especially looked to at first, in pur.
chasing stock and materials Tor the farm
but now more true economical ideas ale
acted upon, aud everything is improving
in quality.
Agood idea of the general aim and man
agemont of the Reform School, may be
gathered from the following extracts from
the last Annual R1port:
Il "Two public meetings are
held weekly, when all meet together in ont
room for an interchange Of thought ant
cling The boys often take a part in thu
conversation and discussions thus render
ing the meetings more profitable and in
teresting than they otherwise would be-
d The project of Temperance has been fully
discussed by the boys. About four-fifthl
of them have signed the pledge, affirmin!
that they will never again use tobacco o
Intoxicating drinks. Most Of them usec
tobacco before entering the Institution, ant
some of them knew what it was to 60
drunk. There is also, a weekly meetin,
for prayer. which is attended by only sucl
as wish to be present. The boys tax
much interest in these meetings, and W
trust they have been the means by whic
many have been enabled to see their dut
to themselves and to God. One family o
toys hold short prayer meeting esc
evening, just before retiring, Icing con
, Quoted entirely by themselves, each on
bearing his part. We feel that the ground
work Of our Success lies in the cultivation
of the principles Of religious truth. in learn
ing to love and serve God. Many of thes
: never had, before entering the Institution
any Of the advantages of a christian edu
cation, and it oftens not a little. difflcul
to get the eyes of their souls open to N
great purposes and end of lite. Our Sab
bath School and moral views occupy th
forenoon of each Sabbath, the regula
! Chapel exercises being in the afternoon
The religious services in the evening al
conducted by the officers of the InsIi''
, tion. .r
= MANY Of these lads never had any OF
portuni.ics before Tor Obtaining leatnIn.
: they have been Pershing for lack
:. :. knowledge, and seize upon this, their fir
: privilege Of drinking at the fountain, vii
: !, zeal that indicates true thrst. A Ii
: :, erary society las been we'll SUSTAINED, b
!, them,. and most Of the boys are very fol
: OF reading.
. "Our Library is quite small as ye:.-
u The books having been gathered from d
ferent sources--msnv having been don
j. tions--are not as well selected as we mig
j. wish. When good library Of we'll selec
10 ed books can be furnished, we shall @
j. pect degree of improvement that we ca
not now possibly obtain. A reading roo