The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-18
THE HOUSE OF REFUGE DISCLOSURES.
Letters from the People.

We have received o number of communications
relative to our recent statement Of the manner In
which affairs conducted at the House OF Refuge.
We publish few Of them rejecting both sides Of
the question:
FROM ONE VINO KNOWS BY EXPERIENCE.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD;- .
Seeing that you have taken an interest In the un-
fortunate boys of the House Of Refuge can safely
say that those boys in the Tomhs told you the whole
truth, for have eSperisa 1t myself. There is
nothing but cruel treatment from the time you go
there till you go out These boys tell the truth, for
they beat them with clubs or anything they get
hold of. l have seen boys Knocked down like
wss IN noPes see go up eTe
they are OF more Importance than animals. am
surprised at not hearing something nom Judge
Bowling. hope he may look after the interest OF
the boys, for know that they suffer great deal
from these brutes of men. 1t Is time some one did
something for those men boys ! am in hopes
this may prove TO do some good. Yours respect
fully, A. G. +.
PROTESTANT PRosELYTIsM IN ALL THE PUBLIC NsTI-
TUTIoNs
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
You have certainly again placed the community
under the greatest obligations by your indefatga-
bic energy. That weather eye of yours is always
wide open to expose abuses and injustice wherever
they hide their head or faunt their wrong. The
report in to-day's paper of the sectaran tyranny
over 600 Catholic children at the House of Refuge
salcal hypocrisy which is generally thought to be Of
the past but which really prevails to-day in all the
public institutions throughout the land. question
II any other public print than the HERALD would be
found of sufficient courage TO disclose the rotenness
in the management of all or nearly all OF the
charitable and penal institutions of the land. You
have accomplished by your report two excellent
ends-to wit, the evidence, If any was necessary
OF the utter fallacy OF Protestant liberation, and
the secret why graduates from our public institu-
tons return upon the public with hearts full OF
geancc and soured by Injustice, confirmed IN evil
and schooled In every secret vice. / hope there Is
public spirit enough in the Catholic population OF
this city to Immediately take action on the abuse at
the House of Refuge, The unlawful and abusive
pr0seytsm exercised by our school system ana
everywhere throughout public institutions win one
day cause bad blood both to rise and flow If the
wise ones OF the country do not correct the evil in
time. AN AMERICAN CATHOLIC
AN INDIGNANT PROTESTANT ARGUES THE MATTER.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In your issue Of the 18th instant read piece on
the House OF Refuge must say was greatly sur
prsed to read such an article in one OF our leading
and influential journals. You complain that the
Roman Catholic children who arc kept in this in
stituton are compelled to attend Protestant wor-
ship and Protestant religious instruction. You say
that the great majority Of the inmates of this In
stituton are Roman Catholics they should have
the services Of their Church. But you forget, or
wilfly ignore the fact, that these boys were sent
Instead Of being thankful that they are sent here,
and not to the Penitenary, where they would be
surrounded ana nave 10 associate with vicious and
deproved men and women, they complain because
they have not everything their own way Had they
minded their own business, ana had not lied and
stolen or committed some other crime against the
government, they would not have become In
mates of the House Of Refuge. Thew could
then have made confession. to scIIne Romish
priest! and reSfiyed the holy sacrament. But
having brought themselves into trouble, can
they blame, any Tut themselves that they are
punished2 Is there any law on the statute books
forbiddlng Roman Catholic children receiving mass
or attending any services or instruction according
to the canons of their ChurchS Certainly not.
Again, had these children attended the services OF
their Church when they were at liberty they would
because the majority Of the inmates Of the House OF
Refuge are Roman Catholics therefore they should
have mass celebrated every Lords Day. But you
know as well as do there can be but one form OF
worship there. Who Is to decide what that wor-
ship shall beS Certainly not the children, but the
managers. AS well might the convcts ut sing Sing
dictate to the keepers what food they would eat or
what kind Of clothes they would wear. No, If they
don't like prison fare and prison dress let them
keep out Of prison. Just SO with these children.
If they came there of their own accord, and their
parents paid for their board then they might say
what religious services they would have.
Again you say that these boys are crying for the
priest. Now, with very few exceptions, you
know, to use homely expression, "th5 Is all IN my
eye Betty Martini That IL, it is perfect huinbug,
and you knew 1t when you had that piece published
in your paper. Children that commit crime, loaf
around the streets, swear, &C., are not likely to
care two pins whether they hear Protestant minis
terror the mass according 10 the ritual OF the Church
OF Rome. The example ofmen convicted of murder,
receiving what religious services they PREFER not
at all o parallel case. No one would be so inhuman
as to deny them this. Certainly prisoners ap-
pointed to die ought to have the consolation and
advice OF whatever clergyman they may choose.
But with these boys II is quite different They are
sent there for punishment, partly, and partly
to receive moral and religious instruction
and certainly no true minded Roman Catholic need
V1ect " We teachag of any minister Of the Gospel