Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-09
The state Reform School.

freeman, ana OF this paper, nave Nlsiteu tho
school, and concur in the testimony. that
they found the boys clean, tidy and well
cared for; the school building picture OF
neatness from cellar to garrett the whole
air of the institution wholesome and salts
factory.
We copy below the statement made in
his paper by Mr.. Wheelock of the Free
man. Our brother Wheelock, we may say,
is not much given to taking things for
granted. and is no hand at all at white
washing"
He started for the school, as soon As he
read the proceedings at the Windsor County
Court. rejecting SO severely on tie man
agement of the school. lie gave no notice
that he was coming; and As the SurerIn-
tendent and teacher, had heard bat few
hours previous of the charges brought
against them. there had been no time for
any SPECIAL clearing up or change in the
school from its ordinary condition. He
says:
Reaching the Office of the institutiOn
Mrs. Fairbank, and at once directed to the
gymnasium-roOm where We found Superin
| tendent Fairbank and 0verseer Bass SUI
peryising the usual Saturday evening alb
! lutions of the boys. The second class, or
| school rather, were busily preparing for
/ the bath after them came the boys of the
! third school.
The bathing was gone through with in
the most systematic and thorough manner.
! The alacrity and perfect military precision
with which this washing up duty was
| performed, convinced US beyond possibility
! of doubt. that IL was no new thing under
the sun. bat an inyarab.e weekly perform
once In this gymnasium-r0om Is large
swimming rink. with cemented sides,
capable Of accommodating % boys at
time Around the sides, some two and
| half fee, from the bottom, numerous jets of
warm. soft water are thrown at will upon
each boys head, shoulders, breast and per
son. Sealing the walls of this rink in
| single file the boys kneel in a hollow square,
bow their heads to receive the squirting
water. and commence such a Scrubbing as
must stir up the animals If any occupy
their heads. Then the breast and arms
are thoroughly washed Half turning,
still on their knees, the backs are brought
under the stream, and each boy does duty
]
goes ON until the entire boy has been thor
oughly washed and wiped dry The boys
then put on clean shirts, dress themseye@
and march to the school room, where their
/ heads are combed and their hair arranged.
We examined the boys closely during
and after their additions. They were IS
cleanly, tidy looking class as'can be found
in any district or union school. They
showed no scars or marks of violent whip
ping They manifested no SlayiSh fear or
dread OF their superintendent or Over-eer.
They appeared cheerful, tractable and
Obedient They seemed in good health and
were evidently well-fed and cared for. We
found only three in the hospital, out of
total of l40, and these three did not seem
to be seriously i'll.
The hospital i all that could be desired
for the care and comfort of the sick We
found the dining room inviting and spacious
and the tables neatly and clearly spread.
! The bread we tasted, and should desire none
better for oar own eating. The work shop
is large, nicely arranged, comfortable and
well ventilated. The sewing rooms, laundry,
and the kitchen were tidy and finely adapt
ed to their several purposes. The work IN
7 these various departments, we learned, was
I performed by the boys, a single OVerseer dI-
recUng their lab1r>- The steam-works by
which the building Is heated, and the gas
works hy which II is lighted We found in
charge OF boys belonging 10 tie institution
In the chapel We gain met the school in
foil numbers. at their evening devotiOns.
These consisted Of singing 10y all present,
with pian0 accompaniment ; responsive
scripture readings, and the repeating OF
the Lord p Prayer in concert At given
signal each of the three divisions of thepd-
pills formed in single file and passed to their
quarters in the large, comfortable and tidy
dorTnit0ry over one entire wing of the build
ing. Here each boy marched to his neat,
single cot, covered with 4 white counter
pane. faced about. and At a low whistle
from oyerSeer llealey. knelt to whisper his
evening prayer. Another whistle, and the
hoy~ arise, arrange their beds - which We
found to be prov ided with clean sheets and
plenty Of army blankets - disrohe them
selves. and soon. without noise or contu-
sion or unnecessary delay, are ~nugly III
bed. One little shaver. who would better
have filed cradle. We saw in 4 dilemma
to the manner in which his beds and blank
cts should be arranged. Instantly one Of
the larger boys stepped gently to his cot,
arranged it. hoisted ''little toddle-" into it,
tucked him mp as carefully As would
mother, patted him on his cheek. and then
returned to his own led. Two of the officers
sleep in the room with the scholars. \
night Waterman, whose headq quarters open
from this dormitory looks to them occasion
ally during the night, and cares for such A.
need looking after
We used our own eyes and ears and our
other senses a actively as possible during
the three hours We interviewed" the Yer
mont Reform School. We found every
thing, 50 far as its internal arran cement
anu vi :. IN r. arc Son'eiiiou' petteI an
~ - 'no "a - ~,
~ " 10 "O1iu I'm me- 9iiNe ~
fHI ann anu NJ ~, Vie anu accom- plisi'-
gu we LOOK eharse 'i H. hau leu Us 10
expect
Now let a. refer to this particular ease OF
the johnson boy. lie Is fifteen years of age,
below par IN mental capacity, incident and
Stolld. lie was subject to fits when he came
to Waterbury, but under medical and sani
tary care there had 50 far recovered a. to
have had none since last June. His habits
in BED were such as to necessitate his being
aroused in the night by the Waterman, to
visit the closet opening from the dOrmitOry.
Old as he was, his mental grade compelled
( him to be placed in the third or, lowest
| school in the institution and he had made
but slow Advancement. No ambition could
he aroused in him the efforts of his teach
ers could only be expended in doing the best
possible under the circumstances. He was
lousy when lie came there; lousy alter
wards; and, from his own neglect and an
unfortunate oversight, or no sight, of the
teacher then having the third school in
charge, lousy, doubtless, when he went to
i" oodstock. Inc ANIMALS had several times
1een eA'e l rom ms head, but, like
1IHer pests they, doubtless, returned AGAIN,
bringing their nus win Them; such things
are ho' uncommon IN The pest regulated
!Aiil''ltS' Mally eateiul mother VINO sends
20 70 d uI9tT T Srh3oI, Know now II Is herself
prlgiihliS, t'le DoSS al the institution were
Lulniaheu e fL WIN me COMP. Inc combs
were inaHIia't ulet Lilto rings anu bracelets
81 'oSt Nl'n"ut Stellg niuch wee. now
me 'fa'herS are FURNISHED win an ample
supply anu each sees IN hGr own depart