The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-04-10
DIR. CONFER'S LETTER.
Reformatory Institution for Women
and Girls

Reformatory Institution for Women
and Girls
This institution Is situated in the
eastern suburbs OF Indianapolis, and
is one Of the grandest among the
charities of which Indiana can boast.
1t is not ciassed among, or as one OF
the benevolent institutions OF the
State, yet in its operation. 10 its dis
cipline, and its effects il is as much SO
as the Blind or Insane Asylums. II
is termed reformatory, and in one
sense it is; but no: i'm that harsh and
repulsive definition given in the gen.
eral acceptation OF that word Those
consigned to its care and manage
ment are placed there for some
crime. but they are not received in
chains, or incarcerated in dungeons.
until the term OF sentence has expir-
ed. They are received as members
OK a family, kind OF benevolent
sisterhood, where the fallen ones find
sympathy and christian consolation.
The system OF reformation praciiced
there, is unlike anything ia operation
in the United States; it is under the
control or women, whose manage
ment OF the forty eight female con-
victs is not only surprising but in
comparably effective, Bread and
water and moral swasiop, exercised
by female power, have accomplished
better results than all the punish
ment-scientific and otherwise-that
have been practiced in ages past.
Under this discipline and treatment
OF female criminals by female officials,
the records show that eighty-two per
cent. go away with disciplined minds.
and habits OF industry and thrift, to
fill useful and honorable posi- ions in
society. The superintendent Is an
English lady. Mrs. Sarah J. Smith.
She is living wonder: she has many
singular traits OF charactar peculiar
to herself, mono of which conceal her
feminine nature. She Is not a mas
culine woman (nor an ogress as many
uniformed people presumed. she Is
not a vain, fanatical, egotistic or
whimsical woman. but amiable, gen.
tie, sociable aud benevolent; the pure
milk OF human Kindness cannot be
richer in any other human female
form. She is firm, decided, ingenious
and systematic. and possesses the
rare faculty Of penetrating the folIies
and foibles OF her sex with remarka-
BILE accute ness and rapidity. With a
kind and social department. she at
tracts every one toward her and
charms them into voluntary submis-
sion to her will. The business she il
now master OF has been a life long
study. the results OF which are being
developed by reclaiming the fallen
AID debased creatures OF her sex
from crime and ruin. and restoring
them to positions OF usefulness in
society.
or the forty-hve 'coavicts in the
house, six were in for life Zone Of
these having. with her husband, COM
miited murder), others were there
for various crimes OF minor charac-
ter, for terms ranging from twenty
years down to one They occupy a
separate part OF the building from the
girls. and to all appearances might be
mistaken by the visitor for large
family: they carry on all the affairs
OF we'll regulated household, being
constantly employed in cooking,
baking. washing. ironing, sewing and
knitting. they make most OF the mat
tresses. comforts, quilts, bed spreads,
stockings AID other garments for the
Reformaiory for Boys. OF which /
will speak in the future). Washing
is received from the citizens, and
large quantities OF oyeralls made for
the stores. by which means their time
is constantly employed. Each women
has her own bed room in which she
may st and sew or knit, or il she
prefers she can occupy place in the
large work room, where most of them
prefer TO be. One OF the most des-
perate and ungovernable cases Mrs.
Smith informed u.s.. was woman
from one OF our adjoining counties.
She was cent there for two years for
arson. The officers who brought her,
reported her to be most desperate
woman. She had a knife concealed
on her person with which she Kept
her masculine guards in constant
terror. She was placed 10 room by
herself, and informed that as soon as
she was willing to comply with the
rules Of the house. she would be
treated kindly. to which gentle ap-
peal she replied in abusive and OBJ
scene language, threatening Mrs.
Smith and her attendants with in