The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-12
DAILY PRESS.
MD.
Saturday Morning, January l2, 1867.
The State Reform school.
PORTLAND.

The worst use you can put man 10 Is TO
"hans him." So said, years ago. ono Of tba
most eloquent of English writers, and tho ro-
mark certainly embodies sound economical
as well as humanitarian principle. There il
no waste so cruel, so pitiful as the waste Of
noble human capabilities in those who, crowd
ed down to the bottom of society, caught in
the heavy undertow of our seething, rapid
| civilization, become through crime SO much
the enemies Of society that il is compelled in
seli-deience to visit on them the punishment
due to Its own wide spread corruption. What
are called the dangerous classes are in fact
mainly the neglected and uncared-for classes,
and the crimes with which they ALRIGHT soci-
ETY. are the direct consequence of its own GRIM
inal selfshness in allowing their capabilities
SO 10 run to waste.
whatever then, in our institutions tends d.
reetly or indirectly to lessen this wasteful
perversion of the powers of humanity is of in
caiculable importance not only to the cause of
enlightened christianity but of sound political
economy. Conspicuous among such benefi-
cent institutions in our midst must be reckon
ed the State Reform School, by means OF which
numberess unfortunate boys, the waits and
strays of society, are annually rescued from
the depraving influences that surround their
ignorance and friendlessness and fit them for
life OF crime, and placed under such whole
some restraints and judicious instruction as
will turn into safe and useful channels their
restless activities, and transform into the props
and pillars Of society beings who would other
wise have been its pest. The value of such
an institution as this to the State and to the
country is something which cannot be estimat-
ed. We are gratified to observe the manner
in which our present Executive, in his inau-
gural address to the Legislature, refers to the
School. His remarks upon this subject are
eminently judicious, and afford by no means
the least among the many evidences that pa
per exhibits of an enlarged and enlightened
craftsmanship. .tf
We have been led into this train of Thought
by the very pleasant manner in which the
whole subject has lately been presented to us.
A few days since we accepted an invitation to
attend the annual New Years festival given
to the boys by their friends in this city. A
party numbering some seventy-five Or hun
dred ladies and gentlemen, among whom were
many OF our most prominent and esteemed cit
izens, arrived at the School about seven o'clock.
The boys were assembled in the Chapel. They
looked animated, happy and interested, and
the most perfect decorum was exhibited by
them throughout. After few introductory
remarks by Mr.. Holyoke, the Superintendent
of their Sunday School, all the boys Joined in
singing Christmas hymn. 1t was pleasant
and touching thing to hear those youthful
voices rising sweet and clear in the heavenly
strain,
''Glory in the Highest; Gioryl
Feace on earth; good will to men,
More especially SO when we consider how
slight but for this institution would have been
the opportunity Of most of them of learning
aug Of that pure gospel of peace, of feeling
even, such of its blessed reflex influences as
surround and protect more fortunate bows. A
prayer, brief, appropriate and earnest, was
then offered by Rev. DR.. Pendleton, after
which the statistics of tie yearly Sabbath
School report were read by the Superintendent
of the institution, Mr.. Barows. The whole
number of pupils during the year just ended
is 267. OF these 105 have left the school and
have died, leaving the present number 1eO
The report of studies and perfect lessons shows
degree of application and interest above the
average, and the record in relation to de-
pertinent is equally fayorable After the
reading of the report, &C., brief addresses
were maze to the boys by Rev. DR.. Stockbridge,
Rev. Messrs. Gage and Wetherbee and others
of this city, and by Captain Dutton Of Steam
ship Hibernian, and there was pleasant mu-
sic. Then the formal gathering resolved IT
self into a social assembly, and the guests
were invited to make themselves acquainted
with the various features OF the institution.
Everywhere were apparent the most perfect Or
derand neatness,as well as entire harmony and
good feeling. The general appearance of the
boys is encouraging. Among them may be
found few bright intellects which hold out
for their possessors promise of shining fu-
ture, but in the main they exhibit the ordi-
ucSTtS VI ucAtdl anu DOully dCLlVICy, Win
a far less marked developement of evil pro-
pensities than might be expected, and they
evidently afford the material out of which
under their present wholesome influences may
be made good and useful citizens. The Su-
perintendent is plainly making great efforts to
do for the School all that is possible to man
well fitted for his position and earnest in the
discharge of his duties, ana he is well second
ed in his efforts by his admirable wife, and by
an efficient corps of assistants The health of
the institution is excellent. At present there
is not single case of illness.
Alter witnessing the pleasant spectacle of
the boys in the enjoyment of their
New Years feast, and after partaking
of a very handsome collation. prepared for
them by the ladies of the school, the company
left much grauied by their reception and en-
tertainment, and more than ever convinced of
the excellence and Importance of the institu-
tion to the entire community, both in the
present and in the coming future