The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-09-02
Miscellaneous.

The Ohio Reform Farm School.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial writes an interesting let
ter from Lancaster TO that paper. de-
seripfive ofthis school, whieh-we re
produce, together with a series of in
structions relative to the requirements
of The managing committee:
This reformatory, established and
sustained by the State, is located on a
farm of 1 ,07O acres of hill land, near
Lancaster, Fairfield county. 1t has
beer. in operation for twelve years,
and eleven hundred wayward, vicious
and criminal boys have enjoyed its
advantages. The present number of in
mates is three hundred and thirty-two.
The institution is conducted on the
,famiIy pIan," and the results, in the
reformation, and the preparation Of
these juvenile delinquents for outside
life; have been eninentIy satisfactory.
"A cluster of plain, substantial fami-
| ly buildings on a beautiful lawn, sur
rounded BY a neat fence, is the cheer
full and pleasant home of these boys.
No ffoWning, massive walls, iron bars
and gloomy cells are to be seen. This
is truly a home and not prison, and
in this fact is to be found the true and
reliable reformatory power Of the in
stitution. The boys, thus furnished
with good aud safe home, are con-
tented, cheerful and happy, and ap-
preciate the opportunity for refOrma-
ton and to obtain an Industrious, in
teIlectual andC religious education.
They labor in shops, on the farm, gar
den, vineyard and orchards one-half
of their time, and go to school the
other.-Elch family, of from forty to
/ forty-fve boys, is in charge of teach
ers, called Elder Brothers. These are
their instructors in the schOOl-roOm,
1-their oVerseers while at work, and
! their constant companiOns.-This over
sight preven IS the boys from running
away, and keeps them under whole
some restraint. Very few escapes
ever occur. ]. asked a large boy
"What prevents you from running
away"
oSir, I am well satisfied with my
home, and 1 have no desire to escape
This youth was sentenced to the
| Ohio Penitentiary for burglary, re
manned with its gloomy walls for two
weeks, until the Governor wisely anC
kindly remanded him to this institu
ton. Last week the Sheriff of R.
county brought two boys, in chains, tC
be admitted. The families were over
crowded, and it seemed impossible
70 receive them. One of them, weep
ing, said: 81 laid three months in jail
lit nearly ki lied me. If 1 am taker
back to the Jail so filthy and uncom
Portable, and to such 5wretched and
wicked company, must die" Thi:
appeal changed the decision, and
I those two squalid, emaciated, and sor
row-stricken boys became members
| Of the Reform Farm School family.
To-day 1 conversed with one o.
them. He was grateful for the privi
Iege Of trying to reform, and Thankful.
/, that he was not, as he said, "rotting
soul and body, in the miserable Jail, ,
from which he was removed to hi;
present home, where he is resolved tC
do right, and show that he will yet bt
a good, Industrious and useful mem
Der of society. Thirty application
| for admission are now waiting fol
ltheir turn. Most of them are boys
held in county jails, and suffering al
the evils of such confinement. Ad
Editional family buildings are greatly
needed. A small expenditure woulC
provide for one hundred boys, saw
them from Inevitable ruin, and re
Ilieve the State from the expenses o
\ Furnishing crime.
Boys may be sentenced to the Schoo
| by any Court of the State. The in
tention of the law is, to give jurisdic