Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-14
The Reform School.

institution careful perusal Of the following
letter from wcl-known and universally re-
spectci clifton Of Waterbury, whose oppor
tunities for Judging Of tha truth or hl-ity Of
the boy Johnsjn's statements, as will he seen
by the letter, arc Of the ycry best
WTEBntnY, January IL, 1874.
MessrS. iai'Ors AS much has been said
recently about this institution. and some things
which seem o. set it in nm unlavorable light.
viii you allow one who has no official connec
ton win o., but who hns been quite familiar
with il ever since the present Superintendent
took Il IN charge, 90 say few words in rcgard
100 ltf 10 has been my privilege TO be admitted
into the building no all times, on any day OF
TIE week, and OF amy hour. ! have been there
alone aud with company from abroad, and have
always been permitted 90 20 into any part OF
the building tlat desired In fact. have been
taken through D. hy some officer, without the
least reserve. have been told repeatedly e.
pring company there at any time that chose.
a- 10 would make no difference 30 them. | have
been often INTO the duing-rOom, the pantry.
The COOK room, tie engine and gas department.
The was ll-room md the gymnasium, where the
bath is located have been into the solitary
room, whore the luctious boys are sometimes
placed Tor meditation. often in the hospital
When SICK h'j were there in the sewing
ROOM The work shop, the school room the
chapel doubt whether there are ony room.
Ia the building % which have not had access
freely, except perhaps, a icw private ones Of
tha family ~ hayc lccn also into the out.
building ul thc insliutiIu, and not O little
over the premises. and ! am prepared Do say.
without reserve, that whatever charges the
institution may 'e open To-, it is not TO un-
cleanliness
Before arrangements were made for bathing
in the building. the boys were marched rcgu-
larly no The summer, once a week, by my dwell
ing, on their way to the river 10 wash 1t was
on Saturday, after the weeks toll, when they
woud show uutdinc,s, IL ever.
Tie boys have frequently called at my house
4 member Of my family has been regularly o.
teacher in the Snhhath-school ever since Mr.
tairhauk took the institution in charge and
has had the boys of her class in close proximity
during Tho hour Of school, aud her unqualified
testimony fully acc0rds with my own in regard
go tho cleanliness Of tie h0ys. have been
minute iu these statements, In order that il
mey appear TINT my opportunities for observa-
tion have not been casual they have been the
10si possible. because they have been afforded
un all dtys ui the week, gud no any hour when
chose b. take them lt has, from the first.
-cemod marvellous 10 me aud To others, that 81
much ncatncss and order could De so uniformly
maintained among So large a number.
The boys DO not al fall readily into
this line % thing-. 10 requires authority and
discipline o. bring them IN. and this is what
they have kindly administered. hence the
marked results whichare seen. Without clean
liuc-s the remarkable health Of the boys could
not De maintained as 10 has been uniformly
thoy could MT be taken out to church as they
usually are ou the Sabbath, and seated a. they
Ir4 To-. d.. D.. 10 n nit 80.
congregation. Tie people would not suffer it.
These statements will go so far as they are
worth 10 rciuic the charges which have come
out in connection with the boy at Woodstock
a word more 10 regard to this boy may not
be out of place The boys Of the institution are
very indignant at his charges and pronounce
them utterly false so far as it relates to them, OF
10 the institution. They say that tie boy boasted
before be left that he would raise breeze, and
chat be would clntriye 20 get short sentence
at Woodstock. and hy that means would soon
get clear from serving q longer term at the
Reform School However deficient he may be
10 intellect, he has thus far, it seems succeeded
quite well n his plan. The boys say if they
get hold OF him they will give him such
scratching that he will not need any Other
mcans f1 cxterm'uate the yermin. Should they
succeed DO laying hands on him. it is doubtful
i he would have any hair left for the lice to
crawl To-. j. C.
The trustees Of The school have published
statement Of tie condition Of tic school, in
which they say
Every boy in the school is obliged to wash
his entire body every Saturday evening. They
are marched in squads around an immense
rink undrcssed and marched in. From a large
pipe extending around the top Of this rink,
there are as many streams Of warm s1tt water
thrown, as there are boys 10 battle They first
wash their heads, necks and ears then their
chests and arms then being faced, each box
vigorously scrubs his leaders, back then their
legs and feet are attended to every change il
made at the command of the officer in charge,
and as all are under his eye, any boy Sinking
his duty is at once detected. The testimony Of
the officers and boys whom We have to-day ex-
amined, establishes the fact that this duty is
never neglected. When they come from the
bath they are wiped dry, and each boy receives
a clean shirt and pairoi stockings The clothes
which are left behind are taken to the laundry.
where they are not only washed, but also
Joilcd. Having been properly ironed they are
sent to the sewing room, where lost buttons
are restored and any needed repairs are made
when they are again ready for use.
We to-day questioned the whole school in
regard TO the treatment they received, inviting
them to make known any injustice done them,
any act OF cruelty practiCed upon them, or any
neglect on the part Of any officer toward them
without receiving in response a single com
plant. Mr.. Slade then selected from among
the boys thirteen of their number, all Of whom
were personally unknown to him, and taking
them TO the Office, away from the presence and
influence OF any officer, questioned them closeL{
as TO the internal workings of the institution
assuring them they need have no fear, as they
would not bc held responsible to any officer lor
any charge they might make against them
Every one testified to the uniform kindness OF
Mr.. aud Mrs. Fairbank, that their clothes
were good and warm, their food sufficient in
quantity and quality, and their beds in every
way comfortable; that they had no lice, and
there was no excuse for having them or for
being filthy, with the facilities they have foI
keeping clean that they were regularly
washed rs before described, and had clean
shirts and stockings every Saturday night.
/ No one o.! them complained OF any unjust pun
| shment Some Of them mentioned having
been punished, but told the circumstances OF
the case and made no claim but what it was
well deserved or that it had been unreason-
able or severe.
Their accoan. of the boy johnson simply
corroblra,cs statements which have heretofore
appeared IN these columns The trustees con
cludo by saying
The records Of the school show that it has
| been in operation nearly eight years, during
which time il has cared for three hundred and
nnety-l0ur boys. Out of this number only
three have died from disease two from fever
and one from cankcr rash. We think these
/ figures conclusiyey show that cleanliness has
| been well attended to. 10 this statement we
have embodied the substance of the testimony
/ taken before us, and have no fear that the most
searching Investigation will disproye any Of the
/ facts herein set forth.
! We most cordially invite the general public
and especially those individuals who think they
have reason to believe the school is not well
managed, or than its inmates are in any way
/ i'll used, to visit the Institution and investigate
for themselves. It's doors are always open foi
visitors and all who may call will be warmly
welcomed, and have every facility granted
them TO examine in detail the daily life and
habits of both officers and boys. We pres,
this invitation as an act Of justice to thost
officers who have been 50 bitterly assailed, feel
ing confident that when its management i,
more fully known and understood, the Vermont
Reform School will be, more than ever before
the pride of the State.
| HARpwICK.- weather since the advent
of January, has seemed, much Of the time
/ like April, 50 warm has 1t been. The snow
has rapidly disappeared TO the extent that the
surface OF the fields is nearly half bnro, anC