, 1860-12-03

Thanksgiving at the Reforrn-SchooJ.
Alter completing hearty feast, giren by
friend and parishiouer, was invited to ioin
him in buggy ride 10 the Reform School, at
Gle verville
We found the boys just seated around ta-
b!es which had been spread In large room,
recently completed for schol room. The
sight WAS a strangely Interesting one,-that
OF nearly two hundred boys, every one born
Under m unhappy star, and most of them
showing some physiognomicA mark of lbs
sad destiny in his face, seated about thin, lonc
tables, and gazing with watering mouths 1t
the array Of staring turkeys legs, which stood
above tue sides Of 'ugc pans, and piles Of bis
crtf. like fixed bayonets above the bastions Of
afort.
Inc provisions, both in variety and amount.
were amazing. Sixteen turkeys, serenty.tiye
pounds Of roast-beef, bushels Of potatoes
mashed, and huge pans of turnlp, chopped
cabbage, and other vegetables went like
the morning dew before the hungry bows,
These were followed by enormous iron pans
& OF oread, which vas sliced and given to the
boys, who washed 1t down with coffee, Of which
over three barrels were prepared and CON-
sumcd. Each boy received subsequently, q
quarter Of pie and an apple, Volunteered
my services In tile dissection Of turkeys, in
emulation OF my friend, who was engaged In
Similar Labor On rounds Of beef Fowl after
1oW!, and roast after roast were taken to pieces,
while persplrins waiters stood ready to seize
inc last Slice or bone, to stop the mouth Of
some hungry boy. Mr. Perkins, the Supetiu-
tendent, who had made 4 generous allowance.
ior small army, began to feel anxious about
Us supply, when the boys cried quits.
Even thu stomach Of u boy cannot bear unlim-
tied stretching, though 1t is Thanksgiving.
At the close Of tho dinner the boys were
ordered into ranks by companies. fourteen of
which were ranged about tile room In different
positions. On our expressing some doubt
relative to the vocal abilities Of these little
gournonds, Sir. Perkins led them in song after
merry, winding up with ''three times three
nnd tiger" The order, tie quiet, the disci-
pine, and above all, The gastronomic ability
displayed, were remarkable
A visit to the Reform School of Chicago
would well repay any person who should make
Il. IN the different grades, the only bond is a
BOY promise. and the only punishment, the
refusal to conhdc in boys honor. The boys
rloe at six a. H., air and arrange their hahn
mockS, attends prayer, aud cat breakfast. prior
to entering their school. After two hours Of
stuly they repair to their workshops, where
they learn to make shoes, clothing, and stock
nss. Specimens Of very co1n1nenlable ap-
0"S"A nss II tatCu ol tncst
branches, aud one boy offered line and admf-
rably made cloth cap, with vizor, strap, lining,
NC, complete, as specimen of his haudivorE
Two more hours Of study closed the day,
The superintendent, Mt. Perkins, has an
almost magnetic control over these strange
bnys, and by bis finger Or his cye, in tic
slightest movement can control them. His
closing address, aiter the Thanksgiving dinner,
was a most effective speech, appealing to the
incest scnsibilitics Of these boys, and the re-
sponse was earnest and seemingly heartfelt,
The singing sarpasses anything Of the iuye-
nile order have ever heard or dreamed Of.
VIII not friends Of youth interest them
selves In this School, and cheer tue Superin-
tendent in his ardu0us labors? E-A.