National Republican., 1880-01-01
THE DISTRICT REFORII ScHoon.
Tho Place Where Bad Little Boys are
TnmrhI To bn Uanful Citizens.

Passengers from the Capital on thccars the Balu.
more Ohio railroad, after passing the huge bronze
and nearing Badonsburg, sec to the right of them,
up on the hillside two large brick buildings, with
q waving American flag I'm 'front.' of size and look
that give them the appearance OF National or
municipal institutions. These buildings make up
what Is known as the Reform School of the Dis
trct OF Columbia, situated on the site of old Fort
Lincoln, one of the highest points in the District,
commanding view of the Potomac aud Eastern
Branch and the hills Of Arlington and CocOclin,
distant from the city four miles on the Bladensburg
road. Perhaps no institution of similar Importance
Is so little known among our citizens as this one.
and It was this fact ms well rs desire TO see how
the waits Of the city the poor JocS who are always
| told ito move on" Artu Dodgers and Bill
swipses that had been gathered together there by
! the philanthropy of tho law, were enjoying the
I festival season, that induced reporter Of THE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN to spend a portion of last
| Christmos day ut this institution. Here, for
! Christmas dinner, were gathered some 24O boys
| playing havoc with iOrty-nine turkeys and two
barrels OF candies, besides other viands Of
! Perhaps nowhere within the District Of
ours was the science olgastronomy illustrated more
profoundly than 0X t1g HTThnS OF the Reiorm
! have always had an abiding inth IN the ability of
The small boy In this limo. but never before saw Is
capacity for turkey and Pic more successfully dem
| onstmted. For upwards of un hour there was
| smiling and eating, and eating and smiling with
! lcre,and there some happy litlle fellow perform;
| laughing at one and the same time, After the
| banquet was over" and the boys had rested from
/
room, where music and singing made up the eXer-
| cises of the evening. Here an error of musical
science was illustrated by the boys singing just as
| well, ifnot better, on full stomach as on an
empty one, q feat some of our operatc singers con-
| fess their Inability to perform. The strains of tho
Christmas carols rang ont glad and clear, while the
! scmtiments Of 4" Hold the Fort" never sounded
sweeter perhaps because they came from several
hundred cundy.lined throats There was certainly
| no place within our city where the spirit Of
charity and good will Of the Christmas season
was better illustrated than by the situation of
those several hundred boys taken from the
alleys and slums of the neither side of life,
and turned from their courses ON the broad av-
onue Of crime, the wards Of the law, yet only feel
ing its power by good cheer, eomlortaDle home,
schooling and u trade education. Whilst the
Christian anniversary they were celebrating Is as
old as orr ccnturies--at least those that our al.
mamacs glvc any account oi-yet that spirit of the
law that distinguishes between tho youthful
offender and the hardened criminal is Of very re-
criminal Jurisprudence that thinks II more import
ant and cheaper for the community to reform the
boys and make useful citizens OF them than to
relegate them to the punishments and society of
old offenders. That this policy has been Il success
has been already demonstrated by the records OF
this school. quite II number of the boys at their
own request have been transferred TO the training
ships otthc United States Navy many apprentced
to good trades employed IN the stores OF the city
and found homes with different people, all reflect
ing credit upon themselves and the aims and man.
agement Of tho institution Several also have upon
se6ool, S and one Of tiesc through successive
advancement reached position Of trust and in
fuence
fore our courts under the age Of sixteen years and
convicted of misdemCauOrs are sent to the Reform
school Instead of to the Jail or Albany peniten-
tiary The sentence usually commits them until
they attain the age of twcnty.onc unless sooner
discharged for good conduct. Nagrant boys and
ncorrlgbe boys arc also sent there. Besides the
president of the board Of trustees is also empow-
cred to commit boys under certain circumstances.
No boy over the age Of sixteen can become an in
mate of the institution. Here they are taught the
elementary branches Of the English language, four
hours per day being devoted to schooling and In
struction aud six hours at work. which consists OF
making the shoes and clothing used at the school
and in Gaming chairs This occupation, perhaps
the poorest paid OF any Of the trade occupations,
nets tho school about el0D per month With sufi.
cient workshops and preparation the boys could
easily increase this revenue TO Sl0 0yD per month by
such labors as bNskc-nakIng, chair'mGl;ing and
such other trades as are more remunerative Dur
ing the year there has been but one death, and in
the ten years of the schools cXistence-durng
which time G2O boys have been received as in.
, mates--but five have died an Ierage mortality of
one.half per Cent.a fact that speaks highly for the
organization and management. AS soon as Il be-
came known last week that there was small pox
at the District jail the president of the board OF
trustees, Mr.. A. j. Falls took measures TO prevent
tho court from making any commitments OF boys
The boys were in attendance at the unveiing Of
the Thomas statue aud also visitors at the Fair
and on both occasions behaved 10 Il degree that
ranks them in thoir conduct with the pupils Of any
Of our large educational insttut
On Sunday morning and afternoon religious
services are held the inmates furnishing tho music
and singing, but depending on the ministers OF tho
various religious denominations In the city for the
sermons. The Rev. Mr., Markham and Rev. Nj
| Kramer have both been above the average in thi,
, good work, beiug frequent visitors aud leaders IN
the religious exercises BESIDES tho periodical
& annual pllgimage OF the Congressional Committee
on Appropriations the institution is as II rul6 lef
, TO itself although any Of our philonthropists o
: chRritably.dlsp5sod citizens interested in the man
nBemcn, and progress OF the institution are alwUy
. welcome visitors.