Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-22
HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
a p,en for vicious ChiIdren.

A PieH for vicious ChiIorens
The man who does not love boys and is
not solicitous for their welfare and ad-
vancement, deserves to have none OF his
own or the control and management of
those Of other people But fortunately
for the boys, there are few men capable Of
forgetting that they were once boys them
selves, ard that their juvenile hopes, fears,
and aspirations were IN q great measure
similar to the experiences of the boys of
the present day. The flight of time and
the changes wrought in modes of business,
vays Of life, etc., have not yet and will
not in the early future make great deal
Ct difference in juvenile natures of oocups-
tions as compared with those Of past
wears, The boys and girls Of past genera
tiops were no better and probably not
much worse than those of the present day.
II NAV be said truthfully that the rising
generation Of to-day have advantages and
opportunities with which their parents and
grand parents we're not favored while
passing through the preliminary degrees
Of life. 1t may also be urged that the evil
temptations of the present are more num-
erors and more difficult to resist
than were tee ggudy destinations
of vice in former times. But it may
be reasonably claimed that this difference
in circumstance has made not great deal,
If apy, difference in human nature. 1t re-
mains about the same as ever, and will no
doubt SO continue to the end of the
4'strange, eventful chapter" Proper par
entail restraint, educational facilities, and
snoralizing tendencies are reliable agencies
for making children wiser and better. But
unfortunately for some children and the
communities in which they live, they are
not subject TO such restraint, and do not
care to avail themselves Of the advantages
afforded them by a generous and enlight-
ened public. They, therefore, too fIe-
auently fall into vicious ways and indolert
hsbits. Such children are not moro nu-
rnerous in this than il other cities With no
less population, but still tbs observant
citizen cannot faI TO see thAt the moral
izing influences provided by the city and
ing and reforming vicious children
are either imperfect III their nature
or not sufficient in extent. There is
scarcely any system of compulsory re-
formation tha. is not liable to abuse, and
cannot be made The subject of just crit
cism. If vicious boy or girl violates the
law, anu - sent 4OI pUuASAIuSEl " bHS
jsu or WorkhoUse, il cannot be reasonably
expected that their morals will be i'm
proved by term of such Imprisonment
At either place they must be almost as
matter of course associated with thieves
and other criminals who have grown used
TO wicked ways, and regardless of the
shame and degradation thus brought upon
themselves. Inc punishment OF children,
even for the same crimes, should not be 50
severe as That inflicted upon adults. A
school of refogn or house Of correction
would be fsr Better for the moral training
and reformation Of these vicious children
than the county jail or che city work
house. Cannot Nashville in some way az
ford somo such institution for the punish
ment and education of the unrtstrsined
youngsters wEO are now go frequsntly sent
to serve out terms Of imprisonment IN as
sociation with hardened criminals? For
the cake of these unfortunate children, as
well as for the sake of our common hu.
maaity, let some more decent means be
devised for their education and reform.