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

80, 1858. Since that date eight
hundred boys have been received,
Of which number 240 now remain
The boys are classed in families,
and are cared for by officers called
Elder Brothers. Each family con
tains fifty boys, and is under tho
supervision OF. an Elder Brother,
an Assistant Elder Brother, and u
female teacher. L.s
No high fences, walls, bolts or
bars are used TO restrain the boys,
or prevent them from escaping.
By kind treatment and jndicious
management,5at least three .fourths
of tho boys, at all times, can be
trusted TO 60 to any part OF the
farm, or even TO town on business
without supervision, and without
any danger Of their escaping, Il.
PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THE
SCHOOL Is CONDUCTED.
In the school room, in the shop
and on the field, tho boys are taugh,
to be Industrious, and 10 perform
their duties with neatncss and dis
patch. The duty Of selt,instruc.
tion, self. desire TO labor, and self
control, is constantly pressed upon
them, and when manifested it is
always recognized and commend
cd. With many of our boys. the
struggle to overcome tho power oI
evil passions and vicious habits, is
long and severe, but sustained by
sound principles and correct mo
lives, light prevails over darkness
virtue over vice, and they escape
tho grasp of the destroyer.
Surrounded by favorable circum,
stances, under steady restraint
enjoying u wholesome discipline
administered with q firm but loving
power, trusted and commended
they ovei como tho downward pcs
sure, and with the aid of a hanC
Divire, they are led into the ways
of peace and the paths of pleasant
ness. Thus many of our boys art
rescued from tho degrading sorvi
tudc of vile passions and depravet
habits, and arc restored to society
not as gangrened limbs to be Gu
off as incurablc, but as virtuous
honorable and useful men.
1t should be remembered tha
our Institution is radically diffcrchr
from any'previously established re-
tormatories in our country. Ohio il
justly entitled to the distinction o
being the fret State to INTRODUCED
the Family System, instead of thC
House of Refuge or congregate plan
Such being the fact, il is with n,
little State pride that we have seer
the Ohio Reform Farm School pro
nounced the model rcformatory, by
committees from other States, il
their reports to their State author
tiles, and to find that New jersey
and Indiana have adopted our sys
tenn, and the style Of our family
buildings, while Indiana has taker
her Superintendent and Malron
and New Jersey her Assistant Su
perintendcnt. from among our of
ficers. Other States are materiall,
modifying their Houses Of Refuge
and bringing them nearer TO oul
plans and methods Of operation.
Each of our families is u dislinc
household, perfect in itself, yet they
form n complete unit. Many of oui
intelligent visitors are astonishet
as they witness Cur domestic ar
rangements, tho chcerlulncss o
our boys, the amount of work ant
study they perform, the freedom
and privileges which they enjoy
and hence, our system of reforma
tion meets with general approval.
TIE FARM AND ORCHARDS.
The farm has produced the ordi
nary crops, though the season wa
untavorable. During the year W
cleared twonty acres of new lan'
and planted iLin corn. Our orchard
were seeded with clover, with rel
erence to cnriching tho soil an,
bepefting the trees. Our crop 0
peaches was abundant and Of cX
cellent quality, Six hundred bush
els were dried. Owing to our dis
tance from market and the expcns
of transportation, tho proceeds o
sales were much reduced. We sol,
3,425 bushels, and realized $5,79
.O7, and had an abundant suppl,
for homo consumption. For straw
berries sold VIC realized S523.7:
Our vineyards afforded an exec
lent vintage, both in quantity an
quality. The grapes sold amount
ed to S8780l. ..H
SHOPS.
We are deeply interested in th
subject Of introducing mechanics
labor on IL wider scale into Cur In
stitution, and are making progrcs
slowly in that direction. Many c
our inmates have a taste for sue
labor, and.we feel it our duty TO a
ford such boys the opportunity
learning a trade,
: In our tailor, carpenter, she
and blacksmith shops, we emplo
a limited number of boys, wnos
labor in those departments meet
the wants OF the Institution. A
soon as We vacato ono CT our oil
family buildings, We propose I
introduce the manufacture of wi
low ware, and thus afford emplo.
ment to q strong force of boys.
A READING ROOM.
] AT a very moderate expense, OF
:. old chapel can be arranged for