New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-23
1ITENILE CRIMINALS.


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE on RANDALL's ISLAND.
The Commissioners Of Public Charities and
Correction in their report. made the startling
uouncement that there les than $1,000 children u
the City OF NewYork growing up ia ignorance and idle
ness These children, Influenced from their cradles by
tho most terrible surroundings, have alternative but
20 become becgars and thieves almost as soon as they
can run alone Thoueads Of them orphans perhaps
worse for they often the children OF parents who
ignoring the laws Of nature them for the purpose Of
furhering their vicious ends. They live principally
in ncighbor1ood which abouuds IN lodging houses for
sailors the lowest class Of liquor stores dancing and con
cert rooms and various other low places o. amusement
a uelghbOrhOOd swnmiug with brothes whose wrctched
inmates permitted TO faunt their SIN and uery and
ply their hateful trade openly by day ana hRhti where
midnight the quarre fights, and di turbanccs are 80
rest until they are inure1 by habti where hght hIer
night they witness most desperate encounters be
tween drunken men and women kicking, biting and tear
ing one anotheT haT OUT a. hcy ron togclher IN tho
gutter is too often the case using deadly weapons
where the crowd instead Of interfering stop
awful scenes stand by IN brutal enjoyment OF them,
abetng and encouraging the principal actors therein.
And their homes. what they Their fathers often out
OF Work, are unable 10 support their families Their
clothes, thei. bedding. their furniture all 20 tho
pawnshOp father mother and children are often com
PEELED TO sleep on the bare boards budding close To-
gether for warmth In one illbult ilVentiated room.
Amid their misery this neglect OF the deccnccs
OF life, this unblushng enrOnteIy OF reckless wee and
crime, what chance have these poor unhappy httc chill
dren Of becoming decent members OF society. They
sicky from ne want OF proper nourshnen vicious from
example ignorant because they do not care u learn and
feaTfal total Of criminal population. At ten the
boys are Ieves at nfeen the girls are all prostitutes
system Of State TeformatOrles and State apprentice
ships extensive scale IL the only way Of graphing
with this terrible state Of things Such institutions
the House Of Refuge RandalPs Island have done and
doing much but dozen such Institutions might be
established with advantage In the State OF New York
alone On Randals Island tho young criminal has the
opportunity Of acquiring regular habits and learning
useful trade They are subject TO = humane, though
strict discipline and very large per centaRe especially
OF the boys, do undoubtedly become reformed This
accommodate 1000 inmates There at present about
800 boys and $50 girl the register The boys building
the one 10 thus entirely separated from the second
division, in the other compartment. The second division
bad, or whose ohense was great. boy may by
good conduct, however get promoted from the
second division much oder than the first.
Each division Is divided into four grades. Every boy
las behaves well he placed IN the second week and
month after to the fret grade II no continues in SAT
grade OF honor, and wears badge on his breast Every
boy In the first division must remain six months In the
before lie can DO ndeDtured 70 any trade. These
i've DIVISIONS are ander the charge OF twenty
O'Clock the cells all unlocked, every reports
himself TO the oversoer, and then goes 10 tho vatores
to Join in religious eIeresos for half hour at "A
they have breakfast, and az are told on 10 the work
shops where they remain till H. when they again perade
previous 70 gong 10 dinner For dinner they have
a largo plate Of excellent SOUP q small portion Of meat
small OdI OF Dftdl mug OF water AT O'Clock
they return 10 their work When they nave completed
thE allotted task they are allowed to play TN when
they have supper. Az II they 40 to school,
where they remain till O'clock the time gong 10 bed
Each boy has separate CELL which Ia locked and barred
at night The cells are In long Oy well ventilated cor
rdofs, each corridor containing hundred cells The
doors OF the cells all grated In that boys
may have light and air. and also be under the direct
peryon OF the officers who, though very strict, appa
reny know we'll how to temper sricness with Kindness
Before going TO bed, half hour Is again devoted
religious exercises singing hymns reading the Bible DC
dhsS - chapel whore the services are conducted
on sunday the girls having the gallery themselves
There 49, however no Catholic service. This surely Ia
not right. Az the Penitentiary Backwell's Island
they have service once month for the Catholics. or
the 6s2 children committed from the Courts during tho
year 1867, no less than 4lt Irish, and In all prob
ability large proportion Of these Roman Catholics
Institutions OF this character should certainly made
as nnsectarian rs possible.
One OF the most interesting and at the time OF
the most important features OF the Refuge s the work
shop On entering tho shop, the visitor is amused by
nndng lot ~ htic urchlns occupied In making ladies
hOOp-urts 81 tho latest fashionable design; nearly
cIeHgCd in the cIiuOne department. la the same
long about 80 are weaving wire FOR sitting cotton