The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-02-01
JACKSON COUNTY INFIRMARY


To the Directors OF the County lnhrmary OF
jackson county, OHIO;
In preparing this report Of the inmates
admitted to this Institution for the two
years under my charge, l find the num-
Der consists largely Of children under the
age of sixteen; children that are brought
in from the streets and byways, and gen.
orally from the bottom Of society, whose
mutual and moral loss has cost so enor-
mously Children go from stage to stage
until they become part of our govern
ment, where their early training develops
itself according to the rudiments Of edu-
cation. Childhood is flexible and easily
yields to the influence and habits Of IN
dustrial pursuits, and is almost imper-
ceptibly drawn into self-respect and self
reliance; and to accomplish this is to
keep the mind fully employed; for idle
ness is the devils work shop Ifthe seed
of self respect and ambition is sown in
their hearts, the results we have almost
daily before us, that it counteracts that
cringing and begging for charity which
crushes the spirit of enterprise, and fos-
ters idleness, the legitimate and prolific
parent of crime, with its attendant costs
and misery. Should we neglect the work
of sowing the seed of morality and indus
try, we shall soon have living plague,
breeding quick contagion throughout our
country, charged with moral poison, rem
dering life and property secure.
1t is said all men are equal; yet all
children have not equal opportunity for
education and moral instruction; some
are orphans, others worse than orphans;
and if half the money spent in prosecut-
ing crime were used in caring for helpless
children, by proper education, it would
lessen taxes, and improve society, and
our children and our neighbor's children
would be benefited by it, and the next
generation would find that prevention
costs less than cure.
None but those initiated by actual ex-
perience have more than slight con-
ception Of the labor attendant upon those
children that are brought here, and
placed in the cure of the vicious and
erring guided by their precept. In order
to form a correct estimate Of the teach
ings of those parties that fill this and
similar institutions, it would be necessa-
ry to note the condition as well as ante
cedents brought to the Institution. Neg
lecting this. however, any judgment
formed in the premises would be entitled
to little consideration; therefore the
close observer will readily see for the
benefit and proper education Of the neg
lccted, destitute and homeless children
of our county and vicinity, they should
be provided with house under the care
of proper teachers that would lead them
in the light of true and noble lives, and
remove them from the vicious habits so
incident in Infrmaries
Thankful to Almighty God for the
mercies and blessings in the past, and to
you, gentlemen, for the fostering care,
and many tokens of sympathy. conf
dence and forbearance, hopeful for the
future, while trusting in divine favor
and protection, We close the record of
the past, and enter on the untried duties
of the future. Respectfully submitted,
john HMDENBRAND,
Superintendent.
Whole number Of inmates admitted, to
Nov. 5, 1876, 29l.
Males over the age of l6, 81; females,
70; total adults, l36.
Males under the age Of l6, "A; females,
81; total; l55.
Died during the years, Is; discharg-
ed, 1877; remaining Nov. 5, 1876, Sc; to-
tai, admitted, 29l.
Died-males over age of l6, 7; females,
3; total, 10.
Died-males under age of i6, 5 fe-
males, 81 total, s.
Discharged-males over age of l6, 80;
females 54; total. 81.
Males under the age of l6 indentured,
l, females, l (; total 2.
Males under the age of l6 taken by
families, o; females, IA total, %.
Taken out by parents--pales under
the age of 10, 80; females. 80; total, rs.
Whole number discharged and died,
2O5.
Remaining Nov 5, ls76-males over
the age of l6, IT; females, %; males un-
der the age of l6, 20; females, 27; total
rapooipipg 70 tbia data. 26