The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-02-08
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS


The following is Mrs. w. P. Lynde's
contribution in the report of State Char
tiles and Reforms: Esa
"a visit to the Industrial School for
boys in Waukesha, makes manifest the
good such an institution has done and il
doing for boys, and suggests very power
fully what ought to be done for girls of a
similar class. My own observations,
confirmed by reports from nearly every
one of our Board, show conclusively that
In nearly every small village there are
one or more, and in our large cities
fear they might be counted by fifties, Of
| young girls whose steps have already en-
tered the path whose end is destruction
that might be saved to society and puri
ty If some refuge could be afforded to
shield them from temptation and remove
them from the evil influences by which
they are surrounded. They are to be
found in all poor houses, growing up
under the degrading influence of indolent
and ignorant pauperism in too many of
our jails, houses of correction and police
stations, unfortunate victims of the blind
Justice that is swift to punish, but pow
erless to prevent crime or misdemeanor
A magistrate has now no alternative In
the case ola young girl convicted of a
| petty crime, but to sentence her to some
penal institution, Except in the rare case
/ OF some friend to feminine helplessness
interpreting to pay her fine J from whence
she energies at the expiration of 'her
term in all probability wiser In the
knowledge of evil, and craftier in the
devices to conceal crime, for in none Of
our penal institute ons have we as yet
made provision for the separation of the
more vicious from the younger aud less
hardened
In the case ola young BOY convicted of
petty crime, the State has provided an ex-
cellent, we NIGH say, model Institution,
i where, If deemed best for him, he is re-
tanned until he is 81 years old, in clean
~, healthy, well ordered and comfortable
home. The schools furnish him the adj
! vantages of good rudimentala education,
and trade is taught himgby which he
may gain an honest and reputable living,
land the discipline of the institution has
forced upon him. in place of indolent dis
orderly or vicious habits, those Of regu
| lar, systematic, we'll directed and intelli-
igent industry. In large majority of
INSTANCES the boy whose end would have
been an utter wreck, is restored to him.
self and society, and he leaves the Boys
Industrial School, and is most likely to
prove useful citizen The state does
her duty faithfully, nobly, to these, her
male children of misfortune, and so far
| seems to have performed her utmost to-
ward eeyating the general tone of mas
culine morality and independence. q
young, misguided or unprotected girl,
who is convicted of a similar petty of
fence against law or society, under the
existing condition, is sent to police sta
ton, Jail or prison, from which she
comes out with q stain upon her womsnly
Reputation and society has never yet
| forgiven shade of soil upon a female
name, albeit she absolvesinky blackness
N masculine reputation. Ttlseems g.
strange perversion of justice in our own
Wisconsin to furnish young female unfor-
Inmates, with no guards against corrup-
| ting influences, no aids toward reforma
ton, such as she gives to her boys, and
when they do commit crime consign
them to severer punishment. Is the in
fuence of bad girl less potent for
evil than that of bad boy? Is it less
| important that the future women of Wis
consin should bqreared in purity, amid
healthful elevating influences, taught
useful and domestic arts, and habits of
regular industry formed that will enable
them to become self-supporting if they
need, or render them efficient helpmates
if they will, than the future men LIS it
a wise pnblic economy to endeavor to
cleanse the channel and leave the secret
fountain foul? n..a
In ether states separate industrial
schools have been established, for girls,
and in some, as was originally intended
in this, there are both sexes in the same
institution; but the trustees decided to
receive only boys, fully expecting that
one for the girls would be Immediately
established: bat as yet no provision has
been made for the reformation of female
Juvenile delinquents, and they roam our
streets, infect the social and moral s.tmos
lphere of our towns and cities, poison the
purer air of healthful circles, and go
swiftly to sure and certain destruction.
| Reports and statistics from such institu-
tons in other states tend to prove that
they are equally efficient in the work of
reform that girls are as hopeful sub
jects, and show as large proportion Of
reformed ones under judicious and kindly
influences, and are as much in need OF,
and entitled to the protection of the
as boys. 80
WHEN Is Ny TIME ?-This question was