Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-12-16
THE GIRLS, REFoRDrAToRT.


LThe following by Clark Waggoner, one
oRthe Trustees Of the Ohio Reform and In
dustrial School for Girls, located in this
county, appears in the Toledo COga1lerefdI
OF which paper Mr- Waggoner is the editor.l
The first year of the Ohio Reform and
industrial School for Girls, located at
White Sulphur Springs, Delaware coun-
ty, closed on the Ist of October. The
annual meeting of the trustees was held
on the 18th of November. The year be-
gan with but six girls in the institution.
with the problem Of success or failure to
be wrought out. The ordeal was a stern
one, involving demands for faith, zeal
and effort in no ordinary degree. In To-,
cation and management it was at best
an experiment; though viewed in the
light of experience elsewhere, the work
was not undertaken without confidence
and hope Of success. While there was
much to encourage, there was also in
the circumstances not a little to invest
the venture with uncertainty asto the i'm
mediate result.
The six original inmates were all near
the maximum of age, being between I I
and 10, and with characters too fixed for
the most hopeful subjects. But such as
they were, the work was commenced.
and soon the circle began to grow, and
as numbers increased the character OF
the corners became better, the new re-
cruits averging less age and being more
susceptible to effort. During the year "A
girls have been received, as follows I:
From Ashland county, 2; Clinton, z !;
Coshocton, 8; Cuyahoga, 3; Delaware,
8; franklin, 4; Geauga, 3; Hamilton, 3 ;
Jackson, /; Knox, L; MusSingum, { /;
Montgomery, 6; Richland, I; Sandusky,
I; Summit, 4; and Wayne, 1. Of these.
one was discharged by order Of the Trus-
tees, and returned to her friends, Dec.
22d, 1869 another died Nov. sd, 1870
leaving the number present A8.
OF the inmates admitted there were Of
American parentage (white) 81 do (col-
oredl s; English, ?; German, 6; Irish, 2;
unknown, a; total, 50. OF the entire
number admitted. 9 had both parents
living; p had fathers only; mothers
only 10 were orphans; and unknown.
Ot these, when admitted, II could read
we'll Io, moderately well; IS. a little
and 7 not at all.
The general health of the girls has
been very good-much better than of
the people in that section. This was
due largely to the healthfulness of the
location, as well as to the careful guar
dianship in diet, habits, etc.
The Matron's quarterly report states
that much labor has been expended by
the girls. and that there is a gradual
tendency to the right. There is less Of
falsehood, more inclination to sustain
the rules and regulations of the institu-
ton, and marked general improves
ment in the demeanor and sentiment of
the inmates. Eleven girls were received
during the last quarter.
There is a special improvement IN
the school, the girls evincing a con-
stantly advancing interest and appreci-
alton Of their privileges, with correspon-
ding decrease in the power of former
bad influences. The studies of the pu-
pills are divided thus Rays arithmetic,
sd part, 20 do I'd part IS; do primary,
Isl advanced geography, 8 !; primary
and spell The following daily routine
IS now observed: