The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-01-30
LANCASTER, OHIO, JAN. 80, 1868.

Ob'O HIoO1 SSN CNai DSHulIlul anu
instructive pictures from j. c.
Weaver, Esq, Of Lancaster. These
examples of interest and liberality,
followed by our fricnds all over
our great State, would soon cover
our tables, I'll our shelves, and a.
dorm our walls. Each county in
the State could be represented in
this commeudablo enterprise, and
the boys from that county would
thereby be deeply impressed with
the sympathy and care Of friends at
home.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Early in tho summer our new
and beautiful chapel was opened
with appropriate religious services.
The occasion drew together several
ministers oftbc Gospel, and a largo
number Of Interested friends Its
occupation has been the occasion
of a new aud deeper interest in our
Sunday school and chapel service.
The ILLUSTRATIONS of our Chaplain,
Rev. J. Il. Reinmund, have in.
structed and impl essed our boys,
and, We hope, will be advantageous
in their religious culture, and pre-.
paration for the responsibilities OF
life and the awards OF eternity.
A REFORM SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
In this connection the following
is related:
In county Jail, charged with
theft, we recently found a tine-
looking girl not fifteen years OF
age. Three weeks she had already
spent in that narrow and wretch
cd cell. Two hardened and pollut.
cd young men were occupants Of
the same prison one Of them, for
repeated insults, and vile, obscene
language in the hearing of this
helpless and exposed child, had
been locked up in the dungeon,
Why should this girl of such ten;
der age be thus imprisoned for
three long and jreary weeks?
How could she, thus treated, escape
a deeper stain of moral pollution ?
She was an orphan 1t was her
first Imprisonment. From her tenth
year sne was compelled to earn
her living and find home. For
four years she maintained her in.
t.grity; but alas she grew rest.
ivcin her place, fond Of dress and
vile companions, yielded to temp
tation, and was early cnsnared.
Friendless and homeless, despcr
ate and discouraged, she commit
ted crime. Unfortunate girl if
the doors cf q reform school were
opened for her, offering a good
home, and not miserable prison /;
kind, humane treatment instead
of cold neglect safety from the
vile and corrupting influences Of
older and viler convicts, she might
be saved. What she needed was a
home with its genial influences, its
sound, moral discipline, its safety
from temptations, and its strong
incentives to virtuous aud happy
life.
INTERMEDIATE REFoRMAToRY.
The considerations in favor OF
the establishment of an Institution
for tho benefit of youthful crimi'
mails too old 10 DO admitted irto
the Reform Farm School, and de-
serving n more hopeful means Of
reformation than that provided in
our State Prison, are urged with
earnestness and force.
WHAT BECOMES OF OUR DISCHARGED
BoYs2
| Tho State of Ohio is deeply in.
tercsted in this question, and the
Commissioners have anXiousIy in
quircd as far as they could into tho
history and condition Of the nine
hundred and twenty boys discharg.
ed during the past nine years. All
of whom we heard have not sue.
ceeded in the struggle Of lifo, but u
large proportion are doing well.
Recently we visited the Southern
Penitentiary of Indiana, the West,
ern State Prison of Pennsylvania,
and made diligent inquiries if any
of the Ohio Reform School boys
were there We are happy to in
form YOU that we found none. In
our own State Prison we found
three OF our former inmates. Meth.
er of them were in the Institution
but u short time. One escaped,
another, when seventeen years old,
enlisted ; the third was hopelessly
irrcclaimable when he or tered the
Reform School, and was remanded
back to the Penitentiary where he
still remains, a reckless, hardened
God .defying youth, without any
hopo of reformation and q better
liio.
During thewar the Ohio Reform
Farm School made a glorious rec.
ord. Over one hundred of its boys
entered the service of their imper.
lied country. On the dead roll Of
tho Union army are the. honorcd
names of our patriotioyouth, whose
young lifo was early offer cd on the
altar of theic country and their
country's cause,
Others with scars Of honor, and
their more fortunate comrades who
returned from the conflict un
scathed with harm, honorably
discharged, arc' now occupying
positions of usefulness in society
earning an honest living. respec
! ted and honored for their industry
o..n,.,.:oo ,ol ,oo,ol ,uo,th