The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-23
HOUSE OF REFUG GE.
Why Children are Sent There-Its Or
eanization and Discipline-Under
Lock and Key-House Of
Correction Needed.

so close to the jaunting-grounds of our citizens,
but few have been curious enough to venture
inside.of its grim stone walls This institution
performs peculiar work in the community,
strikingly supplementary to the other public
structures around il. To the south lies the
Northern Home for Frendless Children, to the
west the Foster Home, and to the north Girard
College. These are all homes for orphanless
children, and aim to provide for destitute little
ones the shelter, comforts and refining culture
that their natural guardians cannot furnish. To
the southeast rise the Norman turrets of the
Eastern Penitentiary, within whose massive
walls are imprisoned hundreds of convicts
under sentence for various crimes. The House
of Refuge has something of the nature of each
of these classes, and is the connecting link be-
tween them. Its purpose is to reform vicious
children by removing them from bad associa-
tions, and although it is truly home, yet bolts
and bars are unpleasantly plentiful.
The inception of this institution was formed
almost fifty years ago by a benevolent Quaker
gentleman of this city, whose long life has been
mainly devoted to unostentatious labors in our
many charitable associations As official visitor
of the old city prisonin 1920, he with surprise
and sorrow that young offenders incarcerated
for childish follies or misdeeds were living con-
stantly with hardened criminals and becoming
contaminated with their vices. He resolved to
effect reformation of this evil and establish o
was necessary for the good of themselves and
the public. After many discouragements, the aid
of the State obtained, and over forty years
ago the House of Refuge was first opened. The
first inmate was admitted on the sth day of De-
cember, 1928. More than eleven thousand young
persons have since enjoyed its advantages. 1t
could not be reasonably expected that all of
them have been reclaimed, but 1t may be safely
asserted, that by judcious and parental training
q majority of them have been restored to So
ciety, prepared to sustain themselves by their
industry, and by their good conduct to enjoy the
respect and esteem of their fellow-citiZens.
The House of Refuge is not a prison, but q
| home; not place of punishment, but school
for disobedient children who are entering on q
downward course, calculated, unless they be
arrested in it, to lead them to ruin. 1t is a
school where their physical, moral and intellec-
tual faculties developed and invigorated, and
| where, by the constant care of their guardians,
| they are elevated not only in their own opinion,
| but in that of their fellow-citizens. Here they
are prepared to act well their part in this life,
| and, above all, are taught to fear God and to
keep His commandments.
In large cities such reformatory schools are in
| dispensable; for the temptations to which the
young are constantly subjected are startling.
Daily exposure upon the streets OF our city, from
morning until night, and frequently until late at
night of our YOUTH whether it be for business
| or pleasure, is one of the most prolific sources
| of juvenile delinquency Here the seeds of
| vice are planted, and yield an abundant harvest
| in the utterance of wicked oaths, the commission
| of petty thefts the exhibition of lewd conduct,
| and the drinking of Intoxicating liquors. Such
are the fruits OF street education, and if the
| wretched scholars are not checked in their
| career we find them developing into daring
| burglars, skilful pickpockets, habitual drunk
ards, public prostitutes-scourges and pests TO
| society. Such as have taken their first lessons
| in such school become pupils for the House of
| Refuge.
The discipline of this reformatory school is
| well planned and conscientiously administered.
| The classification of waking hours makes o
| happy allotment to work, to study, and to play.
| The children are up and dressed by A. NJ, and
afterfamiy prayers spend two hours in the school
| rooms Breakfast of coffee and bread comes at
| ~, and then half hours play is allowed At
| o'clock the inmates go off to their respective
workrooms and do their stated tasks, at which
| we shall see them presently. Dinner at noon
| of meat, soup, and bread, is followed by other
| tasks, and when these are finished the children
| may romp or read as the mood takes them.
until tea time at 81. After their mush and
| molasses they spend two hours in study attend
| family worship, and then are off to bed at s
| o'clock.
The training of thepu is peculiarly adapted
| to fit them for honestly supporting them
| selves after their release. Their education is
necessarily limited to the plain English branches,
| but special pains are taken to form habits of in
dustry. Employments are provided suitable to
their years and capacities; , From seven TO eight
| hours a day spent in the shops in brush
| making boxmaling shoemaking, blacksmithing,
and making furniture for umbrellas. Separate
| shops are provided in the white department for
| boys and for girls, while the same distinction is
| observed in the colered department. This dis
| tnction of four departments is observed
| throughout the House.
The larger portion of these unfortunates have
| been committed at the request of their parents
| or friends. The form of commitment specifies
| that the child is unmanageable (or a vagrant),
and beyond the control of the complainant, and
| that its future welfare requires it to be placed
| under the care and guardianship OF the managers.
Before the child can become an inmate, this COM
| mitment must be considered by the committing
| magistrate, the Court of Common Pleas, and the
| Board of Managers, and be sanctioned by each
| successfully. This formality, so necessary for
| the prevention of abuses having been complied
| WITH the child is examined by the superinten-
| dent and its statements recorded for reference.
| 1t is then placed in class No. 10. Good behavior
| will lead to a promotion each month to higher
class. From No l the promotion is made to
| Class of Honor and from this the same good con-
duct secures release or apprenticeship. The
| theory of the institution is that one years COM
prastice this is often the case.
| The district from which the House is supplied
| is equivalent to the jurisdiction of the Eastern
| Penitentiary, comprising the eastern half OF the
State. TwG-thirds of its inmates, however, were
furnished by this city. Last year the total ex-
equitably appropriated $4,000, and the labor
amounted in cash to $27, All. An annual fund
| of S96 is provided by invested funds TO turnlsn
| rewards to meritorious children. Ihese inmates
| are moi deprived of holiday times; Tor the Fourth
of July, Thanksgiving Day, ana Ohils'lias are
Thss officers of the House have uniformly been
| o;ti1ons of character and influence. John ser
| 0eont was the first Presidents Ihen I0noweu
| SIeYonder Henry ThomGs L. Cope, ihomas
| Earn. and James D. Barclay. MI. palcty was
na da tSe first Secretary, and performed the du-
n1uo M W oA,ce for eigbteen years only resign