New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-28

JryENLE pAuPERs I'D DEFENDERS.


OF NE EXPEmMENTs-FINDiNG HOMES FOR
ronR CHILDRgN-CusT or THE SCHOOLS.
IRON Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TBIBUSEl
BOsrON Dec. 26. FMS Common wealth has
three schools institutions in which 1t re-
strains and maintains the poor and wayward chill
drcn for whom 10 has been compelled to make pro
vision These are the Primary School for depend
ent boys and girls at Monson. the Reform School
for boys at West borough and the Industrial sShOo
for girls at Lancaster. The children at M0nson are
mostly OF the pauper neglected class of all ages
from infancy up to sixteen years, the average
age Of the whole number there at any time
beng about nine years. These children admit
ted on the order Of the Stale Board Of Health and
Charity, and Theoretically, remain at the mstitu-
ton only until suitable homes can be found for
them IN families the law not permitting the reten-
ton # any after they sixteen years old, except
III very rare cases by special order of the State
Board The inmates Of Westborough and Lancas-
ter average not far from fifteen years Of age when
received; all have been gully of some offence
against the laws, and are held on sentence and
commitment by the courts for tAe period of minor
Ity they do not 60 ont until II believed or hoped
they have undergone such a change that they viii
make the community no further trouble.
Since the first Of July last these three institutions
have been under the direct charge OF a single
women. This local Board appoints the Supernten-
dent and physician Of each institution, and fixes
their compensation within the limits of the egisa-
tive appropriation, ard is required TO approve the
appointment OF AL subordinates by the supernten-
dents. The State Board alone has authority
70 discharge formally the children at Monson,
the business of finding homes for them
being in the hands Of OF its agents,
who acts in concert with the superintendent
and local board of trustees. These trustees alone
have authority TO grant either temporary or
nnal discharge from the schools at Lancaster and
Westborourh. Rules and regulations for each Of
the Institutions made by the trustees, but do
not 20 INTO effect until approved by the Governor
and Council. There are about so girls at Lam
easter. about 22J boys at Wesiborough, 800 boys
and I4O girls at Monson. and these are substan-
italy the average numbers for the past year.
The institution at Monsoon is on the congregate
plan-the whole body Of children, with all the Off
GERS AID attendants living in one great building.
though the hospital. workshop and play-rooms are
In separate structures. The institution at West
borough combines both the family and the congre-
gate pans-about $50 boys being in the main build
ing under the immediate charge Of the superinten-
dent and his deputy, while the remaining 10
are domiccd IN three trust houses, each of
which is in charge OF and his
wife who carry 10 on somewhat they wonld an
ordinary farmhouse. The school ut Lancaster Is
on the family plan-tAe superintendent and his
family occupying house by themselves In the
centre OF the grounds, while four houses are pro-
vdcd for the girls and the officers in immediate
charge. the superintendent and farmer being the
only mea regularly about the place. Al MOnsOn
the superintendent aud his wife get 80 100 and sup
port per year. AZ West borough they paid 81, 0OO
and at Lancaster they receive $3.50.
The question Of labor in connection with the chill
dren in these three schools is that has not yet
been solved 10 the eutre satisfaction of people who
are interested in their welfare. limited number
OF critics unable TO anything but the yearly
cost OF the institutions and anxious to
have the children put at occupations that
will bring considerable sum of money
into the Treasury but the larger and more liberal
view Of the matter Is to look upon work only one
OF the agencies to be employed in getting them TO
become honest and seli-supporting members OF the
community, and this is substantially the view of
the trustees VINO have the subject 10 charge and
with whom rests the decision as to what shall be
done or attempted.
At Lancaster for the last three four years about
one-third Of the girls have been required to work
out Of doors few hours each day. when the weather
permitted. and some Of them have become proficient
in the care of the garden and the cultivation Of
fruits and small vegetables The farmer credits the
clcls with 500 hours of labor IN his de-
partInent during the past year. Under the
direction and oversight Of the housekeeper
the domestic work of each house or family
is done by the girls thereto belonging. and an effort
is made to get them to assist in doing the gene
raj homework of families of the middling class.
About year ago knitting machines were intro
dueed and now third of the inmates are making
socks and stockings. this being the most
tive work ever done there. The sewing Of all kinds
for the establishment is of course done by the girls
and occasionally the superintendent gets little job
OF this sort from outside though the distance Of the
school from Boston tells against such undertake
ing, even If the girls competent to sew
clothing for the regular city trade.
At Westborough the seating of cane -bottomed
chairs has long been the principal branch of indoor
industry and for some years the prices paid for this
work were such that 1t brought in handsome sum
of money annually. But though more than $4,000
chairs were seated there daring the past year. the
business is now 10 enormously overdOne throughout
ALI this section OF country that the school
authorities are gradually working the boys
into something else. Many of them can
hardly be trusted 10 labor in the fields
except at an unwarrantabie expense for Overseers.
though IN the busy seasons Of teamwork cOnsid-
cradle number tn1s employed. 81 Ugh making
h branch OF business established a couple of years
ago with such degree Of success that us extension
is every way probable. Boys enough are employed
in a sewing room 10 make aud keep IN repair ali the
clothing required by the inmates, and now and
then the school manufactures q lot of clothing
for some other institution within the State. Speak
ing in n general way the average employment of
225 boys during the year Is about as follows: 65
IN chair-seatng. 90 the farm and 10 the garden.
25 IN the sleigh and blacksmith shops 20 IN the
laundry and Kitchen, Is In the sewIng-ruom Is IN
the halls and dning-room, and the remaining % at
miscellaneous work.
AT Monsoon something was done NJ chair-seating
for several years but this branch Of labor has now
| been wholly given mp. A few Of the larger boys
are employed in spooling silk this il the only or
Ranized industry now maintained there. The feel-
failed