Daily globe., 1880-08-12
THE BOYS IN THE COUNTRY.
A Visit to the Reform School Camp at
Lake JOsephine-A Well Behaved and
Orderly Collection of Youths.

A Visit to the Reform School Camp at
Lake Jose phine-A Well Behaved and
Orderly Collection of Youths.
Nine years ago, Rev. Mr.. Riheldaffer, super
intendent of the State Reform school, conceiv-
ed the idea of giving the inmates of that insti-
tuition an annual holiday in the way of q few
days encampment on the shores of one of the
many beautiful lakes in the vicinity of St.
Paul. Lake Josephine, situated nine miles
from the city, was the spot selected Tor the en-
oampment, and Messrs. Ingersoll, Riheldaffer
and Bigelow purchased a tract of eighty acres
of land along the south and west shore of this
lovely lake. Here they each erected summer
cottages and have since spent the summer
months there When the idea of giving the boys
alholidsy there was moOted many were doubtful
of the result of the experiment. 1t certainly
is risky undertaking to open the doors of
the institution and allow hundred boys of all
ages, some of them nearly arrived at the sge of
manhood, who had been sentenced to confne-
ment for various degrees of crime, to be turn
ed loose in a comparatively uninhabited Sec
tion where there was every facility for escape
if they saw fit to do so. Mr.. Riheldaffer deter
mined to make the experiment, and the result
has proved that he understood the nature of
the average boy better than his advisers. He laid
upon their honor not to attempt an escape, and
during the nine years but one boy has
violated his word and that was one
who had been in the institution only
two weeks. The boys look forward
to the time of their annual encampment as the
great event of the year, and as an evidence of
the interest they feel in it, they begin to gather
angle worms for fish bait as soon as the frost is
out of the ground in the spring. This week
| was selected for the grand holiday picnic this
year and on Tu, sday last the State Reform
school was removed to the banks of Lake Jose
phine, where it will remain until to- morrow
| (Friday) afternoon. Believing that the pub
lie will be interested in knowing how the boys
behave themselves when given their liberty,
| the GLOBE accepted an invitation from D.. W..
| Iugersoll, Esq. president of the board of trus-
tees, and yesterday paid visit to the encamp-
ment. The visiting party was composed of
Mr. Ingersoll, Hon. Geo. l.. Otis, Finley Nc
Cormick, secretary of the board, and represen-
tatives of the daily papers of
the city. When the party arrived at the lake,
they were welcomed by Mr.. Riheidaffer,
the gaze was we'll worth the journey out and
back. The camp, which consists of six tents,
| l2x14 feet in size. pitched is Immediately upon
| the south shore of the lake in close proximity
| to the summer cottage fMr. Rheldaffer. The
| boys. to the number of 10l, were scattered
around the shores or sailing or rowing upon the
| lake. They were having glorious time in
wading in the water or fishing. The combined
! feet of boats belonging to Messrs. Riheldaffer
and Ingersoll are sufficient in number to hold
all the boys at one time if they so desired.
| From early morn until night the lake is cover
ed with these boats. The lake abounds with
pickerel, bass and other fish aud it is glorious
| fun for these youngsters to pull them In.
| While the party was there l2-year-old came in
| from fishing expedition and came proudly up
| the steps from the landing with q
| FIVE pound pickrel in either hand. Should that
| boy live to be President of the United States,
| land he msy) he will never experience proud.
er moment than when shown those two fish as
| the trophy of his skill. During the two hours
the visitors remained not harsh, vulgar or
profane word was heard, nor was there any
quarreling or wrangling among them They
| were all bent on having good time and it is
doubtful if there could be hundred of the
best boys in any city of the State collected to-
gether who would behave better or even as well
| as did these waits of society under the guard
| ianship of the State. At 6 o'clock when their
| supper was ready the roll was called and every
| boy was on hand. In fact their annual encamp-
| ments are as much, if not more benefit to re-
| form and influence the character of these boys
| than any other one means used to that
| end. They see and feel that they
ares trusted and would scorn to
| violate the trust imposed upon them! There
| is no guard placed over them either day OF
night. They are at perfect liberty to 60 any
where over the lake and the grounds, either
singly or together, without let or hindrance.
| 1t is impossible to look into the bright, happy
faces of those 101 boys without feeling oi
thankfulness that the State has established
such an institution for their care and instruc
tion. and that the management of the sam,
has fallen into such able, jealous and consci
entious hands as those of Messrs. Ingersoll
Riheldaffer and their associates. The GLoBl
might continue this article and describe th,
beautiful scenery about the lake, the pic
turesque views from the cottages around it
banks, etc., but as the only object was to show
how the boys were enjoying themselves, th'
description will be deferred to some othe
| time.