The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-05

Its Establishment aud Suceess-The school.
ships Massachusetts and Geo. Nj. Bnrnard-
A Visit 10 the Former-The Bows On Ro.rd-
s'.-Jsa~ dv~--- =.

Philanthropy In Massachusetts mas o'0o"e -
ence oased ppon certain fixed pru...
nature and reguIs's "a NV laws axact and certain in
"tH ..ions These principles and laws 1t has
IN the sefimposed duty of her statesmen to ascer
tain and apply in the regulation of the charitable in
teress of their Commonwealth While the larger port
OF their community engaged In the practical susl-
OF life surrounded by scenes OF happjless and
prosperity, knowing no want themselves and
hardly able to realize Others blessed with the
possession Of happy homes, undisturbed by vulgar
ignorance disgusting vice, there are fortunately
for its general welfare those who, devoting their
lives to the improvement OF their fellow
men, have discovered those principles upon
which 1t is based and the methods OF action by
which 1t may be developed and made useful. They
have discovered the great truth that whereas
heretofore very considerable portion Of every com
munity has been allowed to remain undeveloped to
run to waste and to grow up and live rather an OBJ
srruction to its progress and burden upon its re-
sources than an efficient aid in its general advance
ment; therefore some meansAwere necessary to be
devised to make each do his share in the great work
OF life by developing the moral and mental powers
with which each each man has been endowed
1t Is this material which Massachusetts designed
TO develop and shape when in her munifcence,
by the action Of intelligent legislators The nautical
branch of her State Reform School was established
TO seize hold Of the energies and capacities which
are implanted in the minds of youth and direct
them at the earliest stage OF their development to-
wards virtuous and useful life is the great aim of
Its establishment was first prominently referred
to in the year 1859, when a large part of the
by fire from the Intentional act OF of its inmates.
In conveying this nteiligence to the Leglsla-
September Of that wear SAID, ut seems To- me-
that is clearly mpolitic for the Commonwealth to
re-estabish the school upon Its present system" He
then assured the rulers in council that 1.-THE present
time afforded favorable opportunity for the cOnsi-
Iteration Of the subject Of nautical schools" Argu-
ing eOquently and cOnclusively he held that in the
great national interest OF commerce, in which their
State held an honorable position, no greater evils
| were experienced than those which arose from the
scarcity of American seamen; and that its seaman
SHIP in cOntradisnctiOn from other national vOca
TONS failed to maintain its reputation and its capa
city: and lamenting the Existence of schools to
educate seamen, he asked, ''Wi 1t not be wise for
the Legislature TO consider the expectancy Of making
some provision of tins character for the surplus
energy and intellect of its misdreced youth who are
now led TO criminal courses ending with the life OF
immediate action the part Of the Legislature, and
Messrs. b. G. Clark, William T. Davis and Charles W.
Upham were appointed commissioners to purchase
and equip ship for the nautical branch of the
state Reform School. In December, 1853. they
Sa e s Seo e s 0n
She combined all the qualities essential to the pur
pose for which she was 10 be fitted, being r0Omy
sound and cheap AT once she put in readiness
for the noble purpose intended, agreeably to plans
prepared by the Commissioners On the 9TH Of June,
1860, the Massachusetts, no longer the Rockall, was
dedicated IN Boston harbor with appropriate ceremO-
MES. Immediately the first installnent of fifty boys
from the Reform School at WestbOrough was made
and since then has been filed by regular commit
mens as rapidly as the best interests of the institution
have allowed. The boys were ut once subjected to the
operation OF rules and regulations especially pre.
pared for them and with tastes and fancies to which
the idea of sailors life would be naturally agree
able they fell at once without sllkng or opposition
into the work marked out for them
The trial was "a success. Year after year the trus
NJ Tho fhn
intellectual life breathed into the material sent them
making its career higher than that OF ignorance and
living man Is above the dead body in the
grave. In the year 1896 they found that
Of such an unquestionabie character ana that their
accommodations were becoming limited in the good
ship Art Union, Of seven hundred tons, for the same
object, and, after thorough repairing she named
ment was shown by the fact that their boys NUN.
bered 259, hundred more than the full complement
OF tine term on board ship was increased until they
believed each inmate fitted to do better in the
In June Of 4s66 the Massachusetts was by order of
the Governor and Council stationed ut New Bedford
while the George N. Barnard renamed in Boston
harbOr. One object for making this change was the
opportunity for shipping the boys whaling voy-
ages, these being much longer than usual merchant
cruises and much more beneficial to the boys who
were Kept under restraint anu preserved from their
former temptations until they reached an advanced
age In this respect the experiment met with great
success.
| Such Is the general outline OF the inception and
progress OF the Nautical Reformatory School Of
Massachusetts,.
a visit to the ship Massachusetts, in the grand old
harbor, with its genial boundaries Of lovely land
scape VIII convince any sceptic that the school has
proved more than its generous founders dared hope
At present there are on board 1876 boys OF an aver
contentment home feeling displayed which is
greatly encouraging. The boys are divided into two
| on alternate days. they are taught the COM
mon branches Of English education, with
ana and their ''S advancement in the majority
Of cases is remarkable: The watch not in
school are on deck, learning all that appertains to
the navigation OF the ship. At first the practice Of
rowing, handling and distinguishing the different
sheets halyards braces, downhauls, clew lines &C,
| and all other elementary duties on shipboard are
taught them before they pass to the more intricate
details of a sailors life. Then mendIng sails
pairing rigging, sending down and sending up spars
making and taking in sail, reeing, weighing anchor,
&c, become portion Of their studies The school
ventilated ana wen lighted, and contains desks for
seventy five boys. Every where there are CON-
with library of thousand volumes and
an organ for the boys to practise IN music. The ship
has power to he admirably adapted to the purpose
or the institution Is fast and easily handled and pos
sesses every desirable quality.
ON sunday morning and evening services are held
IN the schOOlroon. and with sabbath school insruc-
ton. nv teachers representing every religious de-
nomination of New Bedford, great good is accom-
pished Mr.. Henry ]. Wood, "A Friend, II the pres
ent superintendent
During the summer months the Massachusetts an
nualy makes several trips to the prominent ports in
the STATE, giving the boys chance Of looking upon
strange places and opportunity Of sailing the ship.
which ~ such times they attend to wholly under the
guidance OF proper officers and the few veteran
sailors on board.
The officers OF the Massachusetts are:-
Copfdio--M. l.. Eldfdge
FIRST OHca'-George +. smith.
&cOnd Ofh'pr-William jenkins.
Thtrd DGicer-Waer :. Perry.
tdfpefder-Andrcw Gfier.
I'nOt-Rowllni Gardner.
Resides his position IA Chief Oficcr. Captain Ed
ridge Is teacher OF the ship and also Is Assistant
superintendent OF the Institution. lie IL assisted In
MS duties as teacher by his accomplished daughter,
Miss \. A. Eldridgc. WHO daily lstructs the smaller
BOYS IN the riltimentary branches.
since Tue Nautical school was opened |, 200 boys,
ranging rom twelve To eighteen years Of age, all beng
commitments 10y the courts Of the state have been
instructed. they do not remain until their ma
ory, hut that time which the Board of Trustees