The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-09
HfRRY NrCHoLvs LESSON
what he Acquired while In Compulsory Attend.
nnce In "a Reform school.

WEST MERTDEN Conn, Juno T. Harry
Nichols. q good-looking. woll-built young fell
low. WIS several years ago sent to the State Re-
form School in this place. He behaved himself
and was liked by the officers Of the institution.
lie was invested with considerable authority in
the wash ROOM whore the washing was mainly
done by the boys in the institution. and in tho
matter Of authority over them he ranked second
to Mary Green, the lnundrcss She was n
robust. pleasant faced spinster about IS years
Of age. Nichols Is still under 90. One day. nc
cording to young Nicholss story. while they
were in tho wash room with the boys Miss
Green said in joking way. standing M beside
him. We'd mako nico couple wouldn't we.
lIarry2 We ought to get married." Nichols
laughed. and said that they certainly had rs
much right TO got married as any couple and
added that he was willing.
A few months after Nicholss continued good
behavior resulted in his discharge He had
forgotten his brief talk on matrimonial sub
jocts with Miss Green; but It nppcnrs that sho
had not for when he came to bid her good-hy
she reminded him Of what had passed.
md asked him whether he did not in
tend to keep his promise. lie declared that
he had been only Joking in what he said to her
and that he supposed that she WINS that she was
old enough To hchis mothrr;nnd that ne hhi no
money. ana WIS not sure TINT hc could get work
when on NJ the school. She told him that shc
was in solemn earnest in the whole matter and
! thar. SO TAR ~ money WIS concerned. she had
suvrd enough To stnrt them In housekeeping
ANA my their expenses till he secured work. In
/ conclusion. she threatened that II he az not
| keen his promise and marry her. she would in
vok" the aid Of the law. and the result would he
4" would again be- sent TO- the Reform School.
/ This frightened the youth, and he gave re-
/ lurt..t consent. He says that she secured tho
hiaTrace license and took him To Walngford,
/ whore the marriage ceremony was performed
a Mullpn.
After ne marriage Nichols refused to live
! mony was performed. The alleged marriage
| took place In February lnst n hols obtained
a place as coachman for w. W. Lyman man;
| uioriurer in Meriden. and no won the good
| opinion Of his employer.
| In the mean time the late lnundress Of tho
| Reform School had abandoned her position
| there. without mentioning the marriage Tn any
| one. and was waiting for Nicsols to come and
| claim her ns his wife. After waiting MS long as
whore he was employed She continued to i'm
perfume him III. ANNOYED by her frequent calls.
adding that he could stand IL no longer, and was
| going away. Mr.. Lyman was so much interest
| ed In tho young man that he inquired into the
| case. and becoming satisfied that Nichols had
been cOerced into the marriage. and that In
| other respects his story was true. he secured
the services OF n lawyer for the young man. and
| suit for divorce was begun In the New Haven
! County superior Court. When the writ was
served on the woman claiming to be Mrs. Nichols
she made no remark. andthe lawyer thinks that
| when the case comes TO court the respondent
| Will not appear
OF the 2i1 so-cnlled boys In the Connecticut
! state Reform School. perhaps two score are
| iulI-grown men. tall and stalwart. When boys
are sentenced TO the institution, they are sup
| posed to remain there during minority. unless
| by good behavior they commend themselves 10
| tho trustees rs deserving OF an earlier dis
! charge. Whom the present superintendent OF
the school. Mr.. Howe, secured tho position hn-
! caus" he came from Ohio recommended by H.
| II. Hayes and John sherman. ono Of the ilrsi
! changes he recommended was that when boy
| attained a certain age he should not he sent 10
| the school but to prison; for il was found that
some of the larger boys were fully rs difficult 10
| manage as iull-grOwn men, while NOR" than
| once In the past there have been insinuations
| ahoat that certnin of the older and more in
! teresting 81 the lads found more favor in
| the eyes Of tho young aud pretty female AS
| sisinuts at tho school than WIS conducive "a
| good discipline. one youth. successful
| worker OF conf lence gnmee. we'll known ar
| Nobhv Buck - Wells. not satisfied with his
| conuuests inside OF tho institution. oven went
| outside To- break hearts. He WIS - good tenor
| singer. and at the monthly concerts given by
! the boys and 90 which the people OF Meriden
! were always invited. his fine sing nc WIS notice
| able. and II became the rule for the factory girls
10 boz present and hirt with this inierestinG
| young man. He managed II so well that hC
! corresponded with some Of the girls and after
| his release he showed many tender cpistlrs that
| lac had received while in the school. Only tho
! promptest action prevented his elopement with
/ IA niece Of nm . Mnyor Of Meridian.