The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-11-21

pared to partake of its enjoyments and
| even to hope for its rewards. In the
meantime, the restraint imposed merely
interdicts fellowship with the vicious,
which could not fail to be disastrous,
and substitutes a fellowship of a bene-
hctal character. 1timposes restraint,
Tor restraint is necessary, no less for the
| good of the subject than for the securi-
tY of society. 1t has for its
object and promises to realize In its re-
suits, the employment of the idle; the
instruction OF the ignorant; the refor-
nation of the tlepraved; the relief of the
wretched; a general diffusion of good
morals; the enlargement of. virt1ous
society; and the universal protection
| OF property and Eife." Let it be under
stood that no mark of infamy is set upon
boy or girl by their sojourn in
ton IS that they come out of 1t entitled
to the confidence of the community.
The 1mputation of crime is not a neCes-
sary passport to admission, and where
crime has been committed the fact that
the admission is granted, shows that
1t Is thought that the boy or girl has
erred, more through lack of proper
guardianship than through wilful de-
pravity, and that it is believed that If
adequate care is exercised n refOrmR-
tion can be effected.
It would be impossible here to
specify fully the manner in
which these institutions usually are
conducted. Suffice it to say that rigid,
though not harsh, discipline is main
tanned. Confinement within the walls
is always required. In case of offences,
punishment of proper character is
administered. Where an inmate is in
corr1gible, he must be turned over to
the proper authorities. Boys are taught
useful trades, and girls are instructed
In sewing aud the duties of the house
hold. Much time is spent in tho work
OF education. As II general rule no
youth is discharged until able to read
and write. And while sectarian in
huences arc excluded, special attention
is paid to morals and religion. Sabbath
schools and prayer meetings and preach-
ing are maintained. The immediate
government is committed to superin-
tendent who has under him a matron
for the girls departments, and corps
OF competent instructors for the school
and the workshops. The whole insti-
o luton Is controlled by a board of man
ayers, who are elected by the SUBJ
scrlbers or appointed by the State.
10 these managers is given the
power to bind ont the inmates to
proper persons, as soon as it is consid-
ered to be wise aud safe thus to indent
them. This isan important feature of
the plan. Where it is not possible or
proper to permit the inmates To be re-
turned to their friends, by this means
the managers can provide a suitable
homo for them until they are of age,
without burdenfng the institution un-
necessarily with their presence. There
seems never to be any difficulty in
finding good places for them. The de-
mand is often greater than the supply.
The usefulness of Houses of Refuge
is established beyond n reasonable
doubt. The nero statement of the de-
sign of them and of the way in which
they undertake to accomplish 1t ought
TO be suthctent to convince any person
of their value. But in addition to this
lsIactory character. De Witt Clinton
expressed the opinion, in one of his
messages to the Legislature of New
York, that the House of Refuge was
the best institution OF the kind
that has ever been devised by
the wit or established by the benefi-
cence of man. An eminent iurist said
that 1t Is the most ef1cacious remedy as
yet devised for the disorders which it
IS intended to meet. The Grand jury,
In a full presentment of the subject to
the Chief Justice of the State of Penn-
sylvania, say that "Few charities, as
the Grand Inquest believe, have higher
claims on the public; and few perhaps
VIII be more permanently useful than
the House of Refugee" The following
statistics teach lesson of the clearest
import. Of5,6l1 boys and girls received
into the New York House of Refuge
previous to January LIST, 1853, it is be-
lieved that three E0urthS have been
saved from ruin, and reformed. The
proper authorities of the House.at Phil
adelphia say that the same proportion.
holds good of the 8, 800 inmates received
there up to the same date. One of the
best of these Is located just below Alle-
gleny City, Pa. 1t is intened for the
Western Judicial District of Pennsyl-
vania. In their last report they pre-
sent the following interesting fnforma-
Number OF boys committed to the In
stitution since its estnblsllment t..,....1O6T
REMAINING In the House Dec. 9th, 1885,. 100
Number who have left to be accounted for s98
Rejected as unsuitable subjects ....,.,..,,. b5
iD,lscharged by order of ofConrt.................
sent 10 city Farm. e2
81
Died IN the Institution n,.................... p m
DlschaIgeu ON parole to parents and
nuS3"......s
Oscharged on parole 10 learn trades,
not oLlndentured,
4InTcllotige1 OF
AhueHLuEeuI ................
nm hoo