Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-10-08

| The Petite Roquette is the name given
| to the house of correction for youthful
delinquents under sixteen years of age,
and for lads under age whose parents
have, as a last resource, brought them
before the President of the Tribunal Of
the Seine. This must be necessarily a
difficult and delicate duty, and, as might
be expected, the inquiry is often too
slightly pursued. Worthless parents,
wishing to be relieved of the care of their
offspring, and perhaps about to contract
q second marriage, will falsely accuse
the poor boys. The system here is strict
| ly separate and cellular. This is doubt
less absolutely necessary in the earlier
stages of their treatment; still, ii Is q
I sharp remedy, and it is very painful to
see these young creatures, at the very
age when their spirits are most buoyant,
immersed in solitude, seeing no one but
the officers and chaplains, and left to
work and eat and sleep alone. One fine
lad, whose cell entered with the ward
err, when asked him how he came into
that place, hesitated at first for an an
swer, and then replied, "They said
stole" His countenance rather bclied
his evasive reply and / could not but
doubt whether the facts altogether bore
out his favorable representation of his
case. The youth looked well and as
happy as circumstances would allow.
believe he was near the end of his term.
Six months is, ! was informed, the utmost
limit of their confinement here, with
the exception of some more hopeful
characters, who are detained with
la view to further probation
and ultimate apprenticeship. If
they are not well conducted, and are not
claimed by their parents at the end of
that time, they are removed to juvenile
agricultural colleges, such as Mettray. /
was happy to find some alleviations pro-
yided for the misery of their situation,
as well as means for their Improvement,
in the services and religious instruction
of the chapel, and in the classes for in
struction in the elements Of general
knowledge. Separation here also isstrin-
gently enforced. The chapel is rotunda,
and Is fitted up with rows of boy-like
seats in concentric circles, all converging
around the altar and the priest. There
they sit unseen by each other and all
seen by him. Their relatives, when they
have any, are allowed to visit them, but
the interview must take place on the
wrong side of wire grating. Even in
the hours of recreation they are alone
Each little unfortunate has his own little
yard, in which for one hour daily he may
stretch his limbs under the eye of the
vigilant keeper i observed one, and
only one, grim concession to childish
tastes A slight recognition of the fact,
so truly and well expressed by Keble,
that 1.-THE heart of childhood is all
mirth." is seen in the hoop which hangs
up at the entrance to each yard but the
play must be indeed a slow one. No
sooner has the unhappy urchin got his
hoop into fair motion when il falls
against the walls of the Enclosure and he
has to begin again. This place is also
their lavatory where in all possible
weathers, with the running pipe, soap
and towels, each youngster performs
his toilet. When the water is
frozen in the pipes the soft-hearted
authorities make virtue of necessity
and allow them to wash indoors The
system, although so stern and perhaps
needlessly harsh, appears in many re-
spects most admirable. and vastly supe-
rior to the practice, still to be found In
England, Of csnfining mere children with
veterans whose hair has grown gray in
crime. My last visit was reserved for
that which, on account Of its painful
associations, is in some respects the most
interesting--the prison of the condemned
La Grande Roquette. 1t Is used as the
temporary depot of those under sentence
of penal servitude, as well as for the
confinement of men condemned to
death. There appeared to be nothing
worthy of special notice in its ordinary
arrangements. They pass the day in
common, but sleep separately at night.
Quite apart from the rest are the three
cells for the condemned. They are spa,
cious and airy, and extremely well
secured A warden and soldier, who
are changed every two hours, are in con
slant attendance upon him. He is never
left alone, day or night. The chaplain
also pays him frequent visits All other
visitors Except, when necessary, his lega
adviser) are excluded. As, happily, the
: cells were at the time unoccupied, was
allowed to enter them. The gloom and
! stiffness of the weird place made mt
shudder.-Good Words