Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-22
Dedication Of the Maine Industrial School
for Girls.

trial School for Girls at Hallowel was observed
on Wednesday afternoon, Goth, beginning at
| o'clock. A large number Of distinguished gene
tlemen connected with the Executive and Legisla-
tive departments ofthe State were present as were
also many citizens and ladies of Hallowel, Au-
gusta and Gardiner. The interesting dedicatory
exercises consisted of addresses, by sew
eral distinguished gentlemen, and some excellent
singing.hy quartette club consisting of DR.. J. @
\. IIawes and j. 5. Snow of Hallowell, c. IL.
johnson OF Augusta, and w. c. Fuller of Halo
we'll. Among the pieces sung were "Ship OF
State" Almighty One" (chanO and Crock OF
Liberty TIE performance Of the club added
much interest TO the occasion.
Hon. Sidney Perham, President Of the Board
| of Managers of the School, presided.
A prayer was offered by Rev. c. G.. McCully OF
Halowell.
Mr.. Perham, having been earnestly invited to
deliver an Historical Address relating to- the
institution to be dedicated, spoke as follows
Ex-Gov. PERTAINS ADDRESS.
Lodies and GeRHemea:
That prevention Is cheaper and better than cure
has long since passed into proverb. 1t is true
in the moral as well as in all the other departments
Of life 1t is wiser to protect children who are ex-
posed to influences that lead to sin than to allow
them to become hardened in vice, and subject to
no restraint except such as the criminal laws af-
ford. 1t should be the policy of the State to fur
nish its children such educational training as IS
best adapted to make them useful citizens.
These facts were recognized by the state some
years since in the establishment of the Reform
School for boys. But, though the ecessity of Il
similar institution for girls had often been dis
cussed and generally recognized by many of our
best men, no legislative action was attempted un-
til January 1867, when Hon. John l.. Stevens,
then o member of the House of Representatives
introduced resolve providing for the appointment
by the Governor, of Commissioner 'Whose duty
shall be to investigate the principles and opera
tions of industrial schools for girls, and report to
the next legislature on the expediency of estab-
fishing such institution in this State. The re-
solve passed with but little opposition and Hon.
Geo. Barrows of Fryeburg, was appointed Com
missioner. The Commissioner embodied the re-
suits of his investigation IN very excellent report
to the legislature of 1868. The report presents
mass of evidence, showing among other
interesting facts, that in this country and Europe
from sixty seven to eighty per cent. of the chill
dren admitted to this class Of institutions have
been reformed and become respectable and useful
citizens. OF the House Of Refuge in Philade lphla
it is said: I'VE have the gratifying assurance that
more than two-thirds of all the children who have
been entrusted to its care and have fully par
ticipate in its advantages, have become the sub
jects of a thorough and permanent reformation
sonable hope that the influence Of the institution
has not been exerted in vain, but sooner or later
the seed there sown will spring up and produce Its
abundant fruit. As mere eXpedient of economy
it is respectfully suggested that this institution
is entitled to liberal consideration A
part of these children, the vagrant and the
homeless, woald have found a shelter in the
alms-house, but large number must have be-
come inmates OF prisons; in either event burden
some to the community at whose expense they
enOnOrtpd without
probability of reformation.
The report continues ''Why enter families
containing vagrant, vicious and unfortunate chill
dren and remove boys to place OF shelter and
safety while girls left without protection. and
exposed to temptation and danger. . = While we
almost instinctively concede more of natural re-
fnement, gentleness and purity TO women, we are
compelled to admit that no exercise of the imagi-
nation sulpass in conception the reality OF the
depth OF degradation and misery to which she has
descended; and many times the profoundness of
the ruin reached seems to be proportioned TO the
height from which she has fallen And no matter
through what avenue of opportunity or tempta-
tion she may depart from the right way. it almost
inevitably winds into the broad and downward
road which leads to shame and everlasting con-
tempt. 1t may be conceded, that property sui
fers most from the depradatons of boys, and that
they the greater dsturbers of the public peace
but no argument is needed to convince the most
ske pcal that the power to destroy peace and hap
pness, TO blast character and reputation, and TO
poison the foundations of indiV idual and national
life, rests largely with the weaker SEX.
The Commissioner gives his idea of what should
be the leading characteristics of an Industrial
School as follows;
admitting therefore the existence of this seri-
Gus and dangerous evil, and that it has been too
long neglected, we propose the remedy indicated
in the original proposition for inquiry; the Home
and the School. Reformatory institutions, IN this
country and in Europe derive their vitality, as well
as success, from these fundamental ideas that the
idle are to be made Industrious; the vagrant
quieted and restrained; the exposed, protected;
the unfortunate, pitied; the vicious, cured; the
wicked, reformed; and as these evil conditions
spring, largely, if not entirely, from the lack of
homes, or good homes, the first step is to furnish
u good home, shelter and defense, and not
place of punishment, although judicious corrcc'
ton is no more ignored here than in the well or
dered family.
The youthful applicants for admission come
not as criminals, but as those who are exposed to
crime not as the convict does to the md of his
Journey, the place Of reward but to the tcgi"HiHg
of new life, the entrance into a better way.
They come to house Of parental love, real
home; they find 70 longer hearts of stone, but
hearts Of flesh.
The report was accompanied by bill similar to
the law of Massachusetts, to establish Estate In
dustral School for Girls"
Gov Chamberlain in his annual address in 1868 ia
referring TO this subject. said; at is lamentably
true that there is a demand for such school, and
it is happily true also that the protection
or rescue of womanhood from TIE influences Of
evil is work most beneficial to society as well
as becoming to men.
should say without hesitation that the re-cla-
nation OF guardianship of girls from wrong ways
is of more importance than that of boys. The
reason for this will be apparent to every observant
and rejecting mind"
The report of the Commissioner was referred to
the appropriate committee and was finally dis
posed of by reference to the next legislature.
The action of the legislature of 1869 was similar
to that of the year previous.
In his address to the legislature of 1870, Gov.
Chamberlain said 81 trust we shall not lose
sight of the proposition cordially received two
years ago, to establish an industrial school for
girls Such an institution would do much good
aud save from vast evils. The subject can but
command the sympathy of every humane and
consderate man."
The legislature, however, adhered to the policy
of its predecessors.
In the Governor address to the legislature of
1871, he said "The idea of an industrial school
for girls should not be abandoned. All the argu-
mcnts in favor Of reformatory institutions for
boys apply with equal and in some respects
greater force to the establishment of similar in
stitutions for girls. | earnestly hope the fnan-
ciers of the State, the munifcence Of
persons of means who desire to aid such