The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-23


mitted under sixteen become free at eighteen.
The commitment of offenders as old as sixteen !
renders il very difficult to place them among
the farmers to whom they are principally bound
In corroboration of these statements we pre-
sent extracts from previous reports of the
Managers
First Report -"EXperlence has already salts
fed all those who have been engaged in the
cares of the establishment, of the importance of
commencing the work of reformation and in
struction at an early age"
Second Report.-"It cannot be too often re-
peated, that the younger the children are who
are sent to the House of Refuge, the more likely
will they be TO receive the full advantage of its
discipline. Boys who have approached to man
hood in vicious habits, cannot be expected to
unlean the lessons that have been taught them,
and to substitute new principles III their room"
Third Report.-"In almost every instance
where the system has been permitted to exercise
its influence fairly, it has realized the sangune
expectations of its friends. If at any time, or
on any occasion, disappointment has been felt,
1t has been owing to the absence of q complete
opportunity to bring into exercise the principles
which enter into the constitution of the House
of Refuge. If, for example, the subjects in
tended for reform have been permitted
to run a career so long that habits of vice have
become mature it rarely happens that disci-
pline can reform them. Such are the persons,
who instead of being withdrawn in childhood
from vicious intercourse, are left to indulge in
it until their minds and bodies have attained the
growth and approached the age of manhood,
before they are submitted to n course of instruc-
tion and restraint. For such the task Of reform
is almost hopless."
Fourth Report.-"Each succeeding year con-
firms our conviction of the advantages to be de-
rived from admission to the House of Refuge at
an early age; and shows the difficulty of effect
ing reform among those who are further adj
Vanced. We cannot too often repeat that the
institution is designed for the young. In pro-
portion to the tenderness of years is the hope of
reformation"
Fifth Report.-"The Managers think that
e1,.., e.,
attained an age and growth which forbid the
hope of bringing them benefcialy under the in
tluence of its discipline. They injure the younger
inmates and disturb materially the order of
the establishment"
Twelfth Report. .-"Experience confirms the
opinion heretofore expressed, of the great i'm
portance of having children sent to the institu-
tion before habits of vice are confirmed. At an
early age, evil propensities, by careful training,
may, in most instances, under Divine Provi-
dence be eradicated and virtuous dispositions
implanted and cultivated, and habits of regu-
larity and industry fixed. Bat where there has
been o long continuance of depravity, and the
period during which the discipline of the House
can be eXerted is short, the hope of reformation
is greatly diminished"
those magistrates who are empowered to commit
to the House of Refuge that it is not prison
but a school; that punishment is not named in
our charter, and forms no part of our plan of
reformation. but is an asylum for the wayward
and dsobedient child. Those, therefore, who
have been long in the commission of crime, and
have approached manhood are not suitable sub
jects."
Thirtieth Report.-"In the Acts of Assembly
establishing the Philadelphia House of Refuge;
in the regulations adopted by the Managers
thereof; in the numerous addresses and reports
that have been made in reference to its objects
and conditions in the decisions OF Courts, pre-
sentiments of Grand Juries, and published state
ments of its design and advantages, the leading
| and principal object has been proclaimed to be
restraint from
| associates, and not confinement, an asylum for
| friendless and unfortunate children, and not u
| prison for young cuprits."
| Thirty-fourth Report.-"The Board have re-
! peatedly stated that the House of Refuge is not
| place of punishment, but school for the
erring child, where, under judicious training,
| principles of recttude and habits of industry
may be permanently implanted and he may be
prepared for life of responsibility, usefulness,
and happiness. After he shall have been re-
formed by his residence in the House, it is con-
templated by the Act of incorporation that he
should be placed out as an apprentice to learn
| some useful trade or employment;
and it must have been intended
that the usual term of apprenticeship should be
! allowed the child to enable him to acquire a
proper knowledge of the business by which he is
| to gain his livelihood. Those, therefore, who
| have long been in the commission of crime, or
are approaching manhood, are, in the opinion of
| the board, not suitable subjects. Indeed, as q
| general rule, those over the age of sixteen are
not desirable inmates. Notwithstanding these
| earnest appeals, persons are sometimes sent to
the Refuge who are not proper subjects, and for
| whom this asylum was never intended"
| Thirty-fifth RepOrt.-"As the Refuge is not q
| place of punishment, but manua-labor school,
| in which children are to be educated and pre-
pared for lives of usefulness and responsibility,
| it would seem self-eyident that those who have
| perpetrated high crimes, or are approaching
| manhood, are not suitable subjects for the dis
| cipline of the House. In addition to the evil
| influence they exert over the other inmates,
| they cannot be indentured The Board re-
| spectfully ask the attention Of the Judges to
these considerations ere they send inmates to
| the Refuge"
Thirty-eighth Report While the Board have
| the liveest satisfaction in stating that most OF
| the Judges have cordially co-operated with them,
they regret to say that there are few eXcep-
| tions and that some inmates have been sent
| who were entirely unsutabe-persOns who, if
| they had not reached manhood, had very nearly
attained it, and whose habits, from long career
| of vice. had become fixed For such persons
there was no reasonable hope of reformation.
Forty-irst Report QS69).-"With refer
enee to our present population, we are
| crowded in the school-rooms, in the dining
room, in the yards, and in the dormitories,
where we are obliged to put large number oi
the smaller children two in a bed-a practice
with this class of children that can only be
justified by the necessities of the case. This
crowded condition is a serious interference with
the health, morals, and intellectual improve
ment of the children, and this is more especially
the case during the colder season of the year
when they are more confined within doors
Ophthalmia and skin diseases, when once intro
| puced into an institution, will always eXis
amongst so large number confined within
too limited space"
A House of Correction must be had in this city
and its speedy erection would be vast SAVING
to the community of morals and money.