Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-16

| t0lu lalSenOOdS, and that more Sucn cases OF
bad treatment might be found by further in
vestigation. The attempt Of the boy Nourse
to break out of the lodges is spoken of not as
well known fact but as "alleged," and the
offences of boys under punishment are touch
| ed on as lightly as possible. And so, on the
unsupported testimony Of six criminal lads
| without examining the assistant superlntend
| ent or the officers in charge of the correctional
| department, without taking tue testimony OF
any good boys and, above all, without giving
any chance of explanation or defence to the
trustees,-the committee publicly proclaim
these trustees and this superintendent as the
| proper successors of the Duke OF Ava, and as
the present representatives of the holy lnqul-
sition Is this fair? Would such trial and
such verdict be allowed in any court
The general principles Of discipline adopted
by the government Of the Reform School are
well known. They are clearly laid down by
| Mr. Lyman, the founder of the school, and
have been faithfully carried out, as has ap'
peared from the annual reports OF the superln-
tendent and trustees. The restraining, heal
ing, and invigorating power of mental and
moral instruction, useful employment, and
kindness, are mainly depended ON for retorma-
ton. Nor the refractory, deprivation OF PRIV
leges, low diet, and confinement, are rcsorted
to. The confinement in isolated cells, and on
bread and water diet, is the common mode
| of nunishment in similar institutions. The
bylaws of the House OF Refuge at Randalrs
| Island New York, prescribe the following
punishments list, Privation OF play and eX
ercise; 3D. Sent supperless TO bed; sd, Bread
and water for meals 4th, Solitary confine-
| mont in cells The same is true substantial
ly of all the reformatores for juvenile criml-
nals-with two or three exceptions--in this
| country AT the school at Mettray in France,
| which is regarded as the model reformatorv on
the family system. the same mode of discipline
is pursued
The class of hardened, turbulent boys
boys whose crimes and character rendered
them fit subjects for the state prison rather
than the reform school-have been embolden-
ed by the crippled condition in which the insti-
tuition was left the fire and more, perhaps,
by the fact that the singular action OF the
courts actually gives bonus to crimes COM
mitted by an inmate of the school. The boy
Credan, who attempted the life of an officer,
and them in revenge for correction, fired the
buildings, was sentenced to three years i'm
prisonhent, which was shorter term than he
had to serve at Westboro'.
The evil of the short alternative sentence"
of these boys, always a strong temptation to
acts OF characterization, was now especially de.
yeloped 1t undoubtedly had an influence to
keep those BOYS who we're put into the cells
from yielding to the authority of the superin-
tendent, Their reasoning was, if we hold out
long enough we shall be 'remanded," and
then in three or six months be at liberty. The
place of confinement, whether school or prison,
| is a matter of indifference to them BOYS who
are cornmitte1 to the correctional department
are distinctly informed that their continuance
in confinement will depend on their own con.
duct and their promises of future good beha-
vior.
The superintendent, the trustees, and the
| friends Of the boys, are in the constant habit
| of visiting them III the cells, and of talking
| with them, and freely receiving and consider.
ing all petitions or complaints. The testimo
ny of disinterested witness, the Rev. j. "
Hines, is SO much to the point, that it needs
no apology to here introduce a short extract
from his letter to Mir. Starr. After giving an
account OF three visits to Nourse, when in the
cells, during which he labored faithfully, but
in vain, with him, he says ut was at the
close of this interview that you stood near me,
and heard my last appeal. And L bear you
witness, that you addressed him with all the
kindness OF father, and expressed, at the
same time, your regrets that he did not take
my advice. In each of my interviews he had
the promise held out to him that, on confess
sion, and promise OF amendment of life, he
would be released"
The officers of this department, in accord
ance with their prescribed duty which they
faithfully discharge, bring the regular meals to
the boys under discipline they also visit them
twice day, take them to the large open yard,
and there give them recess OF about an hour
in the morning and OF half an hour in the at
ternoon. Their food is always good and
wholesome, and abundant, except in cases of
discipline, for short periods, and tor aggrava-
ted offences
Before the fire. which took place a year ago,
there was a regular correctional department,
which consisted of a number of large brick
cells, built like those Of the modern prisons,
and provided with every convenience To
show how little this department was resorted
to, it NAV be stated that on an average only
three boys, out of sir hundred were confined in
it. After more than two-thirds OF the building
had been DESTROYED, the officers and bows were
for great while put to much discomfort
There were no sufficient places for sleeping,
cooking, or eating, and it was very hard TO
provide enough clothing for the inmates.
Above all, there was no place in which TO con
fine disorderly boys and the discipline of the
schooi suffered in consequence. On the Both
of September, and again in the first part of
November, the trustees presented to a com
mittee of the Legislature two plans for rebuild
| ing, in both of which the classical and family
system was to be introduced. and correctional
| department provided for.
Meanwhile it was found absolutely neces
sary to put up some temporary, strong lodges ::
| accordingly, five of these were built. of plank.
| in a dry basement, part of which was already
used for a laundry and family kitchen. and
for workshops. This was the only pace that
could be found which combined safety and iso.
lation These lodges were kent entirely clean