The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-05-21

~st es'~ 1910" 'he ietti ii'iI tnt
Vincennes Sun. Prof Charlton has
lately taken charge Of the Reform School
lat Plainfeld:
PLAiNrIrLD, IND, April IS. 1880.
EDITOR SuN:-As am too busy to
write much to my individual friends, |
have thought that Your readers would
enjoy reading letter descriptive Of my
life here.
] entered upon my duties April 1st. |
found some 1926 boys here Differed bv
some eighteen gentlemen and about half
that number of ladies. The institution
is beautifully situated fourteen miles
west OF indianapolis. on bluff over
looking the town. The farm consists Of
225 acres. well watered by numerous
springs. There are several large and
well constructed buildings: one main
building. seven family buildings, hos
pital, workshops. bakery, barn. green
house, chapel, etc The grounds and
gardens are beautiful. and are much visit
ed almost daily by parties of ladies' aud
gentlemen who may chance 10 be in the
neighborhood.
The BOYS are not all sent here for their
levil practices. Nearly one-half were
sent here TO give them good home. The
usual process OF committing a boy To-
This institution, is for parent or any
other rilizen TO make complaint before
a Judge Of court. whcreupon he orders
The papers TO be made out aud the boy
10 be brought here by The Sheriff. Every
boy is committed until he j. 'twenty-one
years Of aye or reformed" When 10Y
enters here all parental control ceases.
He can be bound out till he, is twenty
one years Of age If the authorities deem
il 10 be for his good Nineteen out Of
every twenty Of the boys come from the
cities. In fact, there are none from the
country. This should impress US with
the solemn truth that " hen BOYS are not
kept AT work they acquire evil habits.
There Is much truth IN the old adage !:
An idle brain is the Devils workshop
Keep the boys al work and off the streets,
and they will become good men. But
the trouble j. that there is large num-
Der Of parents who are totally unfit to
rear children. Ii these boys had had
good homes they would never have been
sent here. But to give your readers a
glimpse Of the life boy leads here,
will give the daily programme He rises
before six. makes his bed, washes aud
goes TO breakfast. After breakfast the
boys are all drawn Up in line and the
details for the forenoon are made. Some
20 10 school and others TO work on The
farm or in the shops. This is reversed
in the afternoon. and the boys who work
ia the forenoon attend school in the after.
noon This gives each boy nearly five
hours Of school each day From half
past eleven "a one o'clock and from hall
past five 10 dark there j. no work done.
aud The boys spend these intervals on the
playground. The evenings are spent IN
the family sitting-rooms. where the boys
are taught Tie next Sabbath-school les
son. When this is learned The time i
usually spent in reading good books till
half past seven. when all retire 10 rest.
On Saturday afternoon the boys do not
work or attend school. but each one
bathes. gets his haircut, III needed blacks
his shoes, and then spends the rest OF
the day ia playing baseball, football or
other games. never saw boys play
with 50 much zcst as they do here. Cur
Sunday services are very interesting.
The Sabbath-school, which IL in charge
lof the Superintendent, Is OF especial in
Itercst, As the boys here know their Sab
bath school lessons better than the pu-
lpi.s Of other Sunday schools do. These
lexcrcises usually attract large crowd
OF visitors. On Yesterday there were
more visitors in the chapel than ever be-
fore. Among these were Dr. a. j.
Thomas and wife. DR.. Rogers and lady,
all Of the Insane Hospital. They drove
out in buggies. and spent the day. The
doctor il still the embodiment Of manly
Qualities. and Mrs. Thomas Is still the
same sweet and accomplished lady We
laIl admired in Nincennes. The snbordi.
nate officers are either House Fathers OF
their assistants. called elder brothers
We allget the common title Of "Brothers.
Just why this Is thus, no one seems e
know, except that 1t Is Worldwide
custom in reform schools.
n am much pleased with my work here
IIt suits me ana l enjoy II. There Is .
noble work done here, and day after day
bows are discharged to take their places
sas respectable members OF society. AL
the BOYS arc good here, for they have nt
opportunity to be otherwise. But wher
allowed 10 return 10 their old haunts the,
frequently relapse into their old habit
las was the case with some Of the kno,
county boys. My policy will be TO allow
mo boy to leave here until am sure ~
will do his part well in life. think tina
shall be able 70 do much good here
But must close. More anon.
n II. j. CHARLTON.
|
) "Brothcr," said the i.an Of Eastminste