St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-01-16

er. were busily preparing Tor the nath,
after them came the boys OF the thru
school. =,
The bathing was gone through with
i'm the most systematic and thorough
manner. The alacIity and perfect mil
itary precision with which this 'wash-
ing M duty was performed. convinced
us beyond possibility of doubt, that II
was no new thing under the sun, but
IN invariable weekly performance. In
this gvmnasium-roOm is Il large SWIM
ming rink. with cemented sides, capa-
BILE of accommodating 6O boys at
time. Around the sides, some two ana
a half feet from the bottom, numerous
lets of warm, soft water are thrown at
will upon each boys head, shoulders,
breast and person. Sealing the walls
of this rink in sing lie file the boys kneel
in il hollow square, bow their heads to
receive the squirting water, and COM
mence such IL scrubbing as must STIR up
the animals if any occupy their heads.
Then the breast and arms are thorough
" washed. Half turning. still on their
knees, the backs are brought under the
stream, and each boy does duty on the.
back fronting him. The process goes
on until the entire boy has been thor
oughly washed and wiped dry. Inc
boys then put on clean shirts, dress
themselves and march to the school
room. where their heads are combed
and their hair arranged.
We examined the boys closely dur
ing and after their ablutiOuS. They
were as clearly, tidy looking Il class as
can be found in any district or union
school They showed no sears or
marks of violent whipping. They
manifested no SlaVish fear OF dread OF
their superintendent or overseer. They
appeared cheerful. tractable and ohe-
dent. They seemed in good health
and were evidently well-ted and cared
for We found only three i'll the hos
pital. out of Il total of 40. and these
three did not seem tn he seriously i'll.
The hospital is all that could he de
sired for the care and comfort of the
sick. We found the dining room invit-
ing and spacious and the tables neatly
and clcanll spread. The bread We
tasted. and should desire none better
for our own eating. The work shop l.
large, nicely arranged, comfortable and
we'll ventilated. The sewing rooms,
laundry. and the kitchen were tidy and
finely adapted t" their several purp"s-
e> The work in these various depart
mcmtS. we learned. WAS performed 10y
the boys. Il single oVrr>ccr directing
their liboI< The Stcam-Works 10y
which the building is heated. and the
gas works 10y which it is lighted. We
found in charge of boys belonging L"
the institution. In the chapel We
again met the school III full numbers.
at thcii evening deVotlOns. these CON
sisted of singing 10y all present. with
piano accompaniment responsive scrip
tire readings; and the repeating of
thc Lords Prayer III concert. Al Il
giS en- signal each of the three divisions
of the pupils formed in single file and
passed To their quarters i'll the large,
comfortable and tidy dnrmit"rl over
one entire wing of the hujldIng. Here
each boy marched to his neat. single
cot. covered with Il white cnuntcrpamr
faced about. and ut Il low whistle from
nNcI>rer lIealcl. knelt To whisper his
evening prayer. Another whistle. and
the boys arise. arrange their beds
which We found to he provided with
clean sheets and plenty of army blank
-diSrobe themselves. and soon.
without noise or confusion OF unnere>s-
AIRY delay. are Suugly in bed. One lit
tie shaver. who would better have
filled Il cradle. we saw in Il dilemma as
To the manner i'll which his bed and
blankets should hc arranged. Instantly
one of the larger boys stepped gcntl!
t" his cot, arranged it, hoisted little
toddlc>" into it. tucked him up us care
tnllN NN.IllI h,I lllftnI hmm
his cheek. and then returned To his own
bed. Two of the officers sleep III the
room with the scholars. y night
Waterman, whose headquarters open
from this dolnit"ry. looks 1" them oc-
c;i>ionally during the night. and cares
ton such as need looking after.
We USED our own eyes and ears and
our other senses us actively lis possible
during the three hours we ''interVicw-
ed the Vermont Reform school. We
found everything. 50 fan as lis internal
arrangement and direction are concern
ed, better aud more satisfactory than
even the favorable reports we have
heard from there since Mr.. Fairbanks
and his cstimable and accomplished
wife took charge of ii. had led liz to
expect.
Now let us refer to this particular
case of the Johnson boy. He is fifteen
years of age. below par i'll mental ca
pacitN. INDECENT and stolid. He was
subject to fits when he came to Water
bury. but under medical and sanitary
care there had so far recovered us to
have had none since last June. His
habits III bed we've such as to neceSsi-
tate his being aroused i'll the Il ght by
the Waterman, to visit the closet open
ing from the dormitory. Old as he
WAS, his mental grade compelled him
to he placed i'll the third. or lowest,
school i'll the institution. and he had
made but slow advancement. No am
bition could he aroused i'll him: the eff
forts of his teachers could only he eX-
pended in doing the best possible I'M
der the circumstances. He was lousy
when he came there lousy afterwards
and, from his own NEGLECT and an I'M
fortunate oversight OF no sight. of the
teacher then having the third school in
charge. lousy. dn,Ihtlc>>. wien he went
to Woodstock. The animals had sew
eral times been cXtcrmilatcd from his
head. but, like other pests, they.
doubtless, returned again bringing THEN
nitS with them. Such things are not
uncommon i'll the best regulated fami-
lies. Many il careful mother who sends
to district school. knows how it is
herself. Originally. the boys at the in
stitution were furnished each with q
fine comb. The combs were manufact-
urcd into rings and bracelets, or lost
without seeing much service. Now the
teachers are furnished with an ample
supply. and each sees in her own de-
paltmcnt. that tie boys heads are
propcily combed and cared for. ANY
pupil can have a fine comb by asking
his teacher. In the third school the