Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-29
For the J0ufna
ReformatOry Education.

In view Of the long periods and momcntou'
yicssitudes in human history, we find little, Ger
tainly no special occasion for exultation in tho
progress of moral improvement in humanity
whether we use this term in the sense Of man
peculiar nature, or that Of mankind as race o.
beings in the aggregate. 1t is true, portions oil
the race have advanced 10 a very respectable de
gree of civilization but even in the best states
society there is ample room for improvements
| IT this be true of the most favored nations ant
communities, how deplorablc must be the oondi
ton of myriads of our common humanity, wh'
to-day, as in ages past are sitting in the darkness
of heathenish superstition and Ignorance
But though the present aspect Of the woiidi
status appears not rery fattering or hopeful
yet within the last century the discoveries Of sci
ence, the improvements in the arts, and new an,
/ improved measures for the moral reformation o
individuals and communities, give hope Of a bet
ter time coming. Ire increase Of knowledge
should be increase OF power for the moral eeya
ton and regeneration Of society In no period o
history have scientific discoveries and improve
ments in the useful arts made such progress a,
that Of the present century. Interesting as is
this fact to the man Of science artists and utili
tarians, M less is it gratifying to the Christian
philanthropist, that within the same period sys
tented efforts for the moral improvement Of man
kind have been also progressive. New and re-
/ formatory measures have been devised aud sue
cessfully employed, and the knowledge Of THEN
happy results is being disseminated Throughout
the civilized world The friends Of morality ant
social order have been thoroughly impressed Will
the fact that prereHtiOH is even better than air
Of crime that vices yield more readily 10 early
discipline than to tnrdy punishment
The idea is not ae,c, that early initiatory train
ing Is advantageous, in course Of ordinary odu
cation bat where the training or discipline is q
be with special reference to prevention or corroc
ton Of apprehended or actual vicious tendencies
it is evident the earlier the work is commenced
the better.
Modern reiormers have doubtless gained clearer
views than their predecessors of the efficacy OF
early discipline as a reiormatory means 10 thi,
clearer light Of vision We may attribute the ori.
gin of reiormatory schools. We designate those
schools relornatory which are instituted speridllt
for the moral trimming and improvement Of the
pupils-intellectual and physical culture being
incidental and secondary 10 the main purpose oil
developing and confirming the moral faculties
All schools designed for general educational pur.
poses, should educate the morals certainly not
less than the mind and muscle but the reiorina-
tory cultiyates these as subsidiary 10 the great
primary purpose of retaining juvenile delin-
quents before they have ripened into nyetemtc
criminals
Those uniortunates, who either have no homes,
or cnly such As are nurseries Of vice and abodes
Of Ignorance and want, and those who have al
ready commenced a career Of crime Or vice, are
the proper subjects for admission 10 these schools
Of State benevolence. This class Of youth may
be found in every town, but especially in all large
towns and cities. They are numerous. but would
be much more numerous had not thousands of
them been already received into rel1rmatories.
Since the utility of these institutions has been
satisfactorily proved, individual welfare, the well
fare of society and the safety OF the State, i'm
peratiyely demand the extension Of thd,ne omno-
dations or an increase of numbers probably in
every State in the Union. Only an inconsider-
able number--perhaps not 1.-THE Of the proper
subjects Of such schools-haye yet found their
way to these reiornatorics, though it is believed
all, or nearly all, are full
4 summary comprehensive history Of reform
schools, including as they do, almost necessarily
the main features Of industrialand Sunday schools
and giving correctly the present condition of thess
reiormatories, in all countries, more particularly
in our own, would no doubt, find large class Of
readers. Such history is much needed, and may
before long be published a. materials for il will
probably soon he collected The recent rapiI in
ersas@ IS ,icse INSTITUTIONS seems b. call l0r M
earlyposting up Of the results Of the various sys-
tens Of operating these charitable agencies.
From summary accounts published some years
since, il appears that these kindred institutions,
Sunday, Industrial and Reform schools--haye
all originated within the past century, and now
present a beautiful and characteristic feature Of
the moral progress Of the age We can only take
a few notes from those brief statements Of the
rise and progress of these schools 10 date of those
reports According to our author, Industrial
schools had their origin in the Efforts Of a poor
mason of the city Of Rome. Gyonani Borgi
gathered yagrant boys at his house, taught them
~ WIN IiNhllil AlitAF INSTRUCTION no tie
rudiments Of learning This was sJne eighty Of
ninety years ago. Some years later John Pounds
a benevolent shoemaker of Edinburgh, followed
the example of the noble-hearted Roman. In
1871, William Watson, a sheriff Of Aberdeen
shire, Scotland, was 50 successful in this chart-
able work that Aberdeen was nearly cleared of
juvenile criminals aad beggars. Thi. extnordi-
/ n LID e.. h.. III H.
stitutions in many other cities Gustaye Werner
established school at Ruettengen in 1897. which
contained at one time 900 boys. Bat Industrial
schools, reiormatory in their influences, we sup
pose now exist in most if not all civilized eoun-
tries.
About the year 1881, Robert Raikes of Glous-
cester, England, conceived the idea of collecting
the unfortunate and vicious children Of the streets
into Sunday school. This was perhaps the orig
inal Reform School, being such in design, though
formed on plan differing from that of the dis
tinctiye reform schools Of the present day. These
last, as above stated, included both the Sunday
ana Industrial schemes and in some cases other
features found in neither Of their plans.
The Sunday school itself has been materially
modified particularly as generally conducted in
the United States. In the first Sunday school it
was necessary first, to teach the scholars to read.
and the same is the case now in many schools of
Europe Industrial schools are also conducted on
plans differing somewhat, according to the differ
ent views Of managers.
The Death Of Hugh II. Henry.
A notable man in the social, business and po-
liticol life OF Vermont was Hugh H. Henry, who
was found dead from apoplexy at his home at
Chester on Sunday morning. Blunt and out
spoken, good hater and firm friend, a shrewd