The New York herald., 1879-09-29


none. little extra food. consisting of delicaces,
given at that time would restore them to health
and build them up again in physical strength. As\it
is there many boys who, perhaps, their lives
to the kindness of their teachers sending them
delicacies Teachers frequently did this to the boys
belonging to their classes and who in the hos
pita There is another class of boys who frequently
20 hungry because they cannot eat from the dirty
cups and other service of the dining room table.
everything is so dirty and offensive around it,
1t this alone that repels tor boys with repul-
sve sores will be sent down to get their meals by
the side OF others.
NEaLEcT OF THE SICK INMATES
''Stck boys pas from the dining room, where they
have been examined for the hospital by the Assis-
tant superintendent distance of over hundred
and fifty yards. through snow rain and sleet the
stairs. where they are received by female nurse.
who. on her own Judgment of the urgency of the
case, may have them sent back through the same
incemen weather to await the arrival of the doctor.
AS am speaking of the hospital l may say that
ut the House of Refuge shows that the manage
ment have failed to provide proper medical
attendance for the sick. have frequently been
obliged to send for DIR. Howard, who is tho
medical superintendent at the other end of the
island, and in no way connected with the House OF
Refuge in cases or accident and whore prompt med
ical advice aud assistance have the vital
Importance. question whether the managers
aware of the invaluable services rendered by DIR.
Howard. have been taken to task by Mr.. Jones tor
doing this, he complaining very much at my sending
officer. who resides at Harlem it would have taken
at least an hour, even IL he had been at home, for
him to have responded to that call. have known
mismanag ement Of this kind
LACK OF CLASSIFICATION.
"ls there any evidence or u reformation among the
boys generallyY
The general tendency of the SYSTEM or the lack of
system s to make the boys worse. / have known
many green country boys. owing to wrong classified
ton and in consequence Of the evil associations to
which they were exposed. grow gradually worse
day by day. have reported many such cases to Mr..
Jones and he has admitted the truth of my report,
but he did nothing to correct the matter or to re-
move the boy from his surroundings Boys have
WOrkmen,
have learned to steal from the contractors. These
boys have found people on the island who were ready
accessories who would receive their stolen goods.
ana who would give them money and tobacco in
exchange. This has been going on for years Ny
observation proves the truth OF what has been al
ready published. Several witnesses testified that
they had learned to become more expert criminals.
had learned more tricks in stealing picking locks
and in the concealment of stolen goods during their
confinement in the New York House of Refuge than
they had ever been able to learn outside. Cassifca
tion is the basis Of all reformatory work. There
not only officers of the House OF Refuge who get
drinking places with them. The drunkenness of
the officers is within the knowledge of the Superin
tendent.
ovKRwoRKING THE BOYS
"The boys are driven from daylight until bedtime.
from the of one set of employees the manage
ment OF another class, who each in turn push them
to the utmost of their endurance. with view
to producing results that will accrue to the benefit
OF their employer.
''The time table for this season of the year is:-
$3.50 O'Clock A. Nj. leave cells and go to washroom;
GA. NJ. go to school and study until A. NJ. when
NJ. dinner; p. NJ. go to their work; 4 80 p. NJ.
stop work and go to supper; 5soP. NJ. school, where
they remain until AS, when they go to bed
''These rules. as well those of discipline, apply
to all children alike in the second division. young
and Old great and small without regard to health Of
mind or body. The young child seven years Of age.
who has committed crime is subjected to the
same treatment and usage as the criminal offender
nineteen years old Side by side they live their lives
at the Refuge. resulting by association in positive in
jury to the and possible benefit to the other.
except be to keep him for the time from preying
on society. An examination of the foregoing table
will show that the grown children receive no food
between half-past four O'clock when they have
supper. until seven O'Clock the next morning, when
they have breakfast, an interval OF fourteen and
breakfast and two hours and three-q uarters after
supper, this following eight working hours in the
shops, which in itself is exhausting to vitality and
energy the best and longest hours of each working
day being devoted to the purpose Of making money
for the contractor and institution and in doing work
much OF which can be of to the boys in after
life The children out of their cells fourteen
hours and half and during that time there Is about
ter time there but thirty minutes theresbouts.
have seen little boys at night in the school rooms
fast asleep. thcrou hly exhausted from their days
labor and Mt the close OF the school session carried
to bed IN the arms of some larger boy.
| These children should have been at school
during the day and at night sent to bed.
instead OF into the close vtated atmosphere of the
school room Ihave known boys that never sent
to school, but kept at work until bedtime and
after then turned out for work before the other
boys in the morning. Boys have often been sent to
hospital by me because they were sick from expo
sure and hard work at the House of Refuge 1t no
uncommon thing to hear the Superintendent speak
in tones of satisfaction and pride of tho large
derived from the earnings of the children. and the
fact that the number of inmates has decreased
Mr.. Jones told me that the revenue from labor had
increased under his administration, and his own
salary had been added proportionately, the
apparent object being to make all the money pos
a large and increasing number Of inmates present.
manager once told me that the Indenturing Com
mttee were discharging too many boys. and that he
would have to speak to OF that committee, men,
tioning him by name, and tell him that If he
tinued to discharge such numbers the House would
not have sufficient boys to carry on the contracts
The superintendent told me that OF the mana
gers was very unhappy because for two weeks in the
children committed to the House of Refuge.
and on another occasion he told
that q certain manager would be pleased
because the Indenturing Committee had discharged
30 few children that day. 1t Is a comparatively
easy matter for a troublesome boy to get his dis
he has only to be tough'-while . better and well
disposed boy will be held until sometimes he and
The reverse of this rule should mark the length of
time child remains at any reformatory institution,
provided he or she Is AN eligible subject under the
law for admission when committed"
AN Ex-oFFIcIAL DECLARES THAT ONLY THE
MINOR IRREGULARITIES OF rHE INSTITUTION
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED by CAPTAIN CLAY.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALp,-
few years ago was employed In the House of
Refuge on Randalis Island and during my stay
there wss an eye witness to many of the abuses
them carried ON In tho name of reform, and it has
given great pleasure to learn. through the coli
umns of the HERALD. that Captain Clay has sue
cesded in what myself attempted-bringing sho
public attention to some rotten places in the man
sgement Of the above named institution.
After resigning my position and rcceiv-
ing from tho President of tho Board
OF Managers and from the principal of tho
school the highest praises for my q
teacher and disciplinarian, entered most solemn
aud emphatic protest against many practices then
carried at the island under tho eye and sanction
of the Superintendent Israel @. Jones. My protest
treated lightly. and when requested Of the
President An interview with tho full Board Of Man.
sgement my request was politely refused with
tain nervous vigor too common among managers
who themselves well managed. Feeling that
had done what conscienca dem anded me at the