The Republican journal., 1881-03-24
The Girls Industrial School at Hallowell.

MIR. EDITOR Judging from my own recent want
of information in regard to the workings of the
Girls Industrial School, it occurs to me that the
intelligent readers of the Journal would be inter
ested IN gaining some idea of what the school is
doing to mitigate the evil of vice and vagrancv
among the lowest strata OF our population and in
order to do this briefly, can do no better than
give the result of my impressions, as gather
ed during a recent visit at the school The build
ing is substantial brick structure. three stories
N height, situated on an eminence overlooking the
beautiful city of Haowell and is arranged to
accommodate some thirty pupils though at this
time, thirty s'x are cared for by the kind hearted
ladies' who have charge of the institution
Agreeable to an appointment between friend
and myself, arrived at the Home during and
Just before the close of the afternoon session We
were received by the assistant matron. in com
Portable parlor, and promptly escorted to the school
room, which is pleasantly situated on the same
floor and in of the parlor There for the fist
time in my life, | looked into tie faces OF more
than thirty young girls who at some time or place.
had been guilty of some form of vice, Or been
found in circumstances of manifest danger Of fall
ing into habits of vice and immortality" Yet they
were as civil and in mos respects as well behaved
as children OF better birth. The principal differ
ence seemed to lie In the stolid, expressionless
faces No more marked perhaps, than one sees IN
certain localities IN any large town or city. And
this, have no doubt is greatly modified by time
and training. The school room is finished in chest
nut with patent desks, not unlike our II Ugh school
room. The windows have inside shutters, in hard
wood, and altogether, an air OF comfort pervades
the whole house The general housework as also
the sewing and knitting for the family. are done
by the pupils. The sewing room is on the first
hoor, opposite the parlor; pleasant, sunny room
furnished with a sewing machine and large work
table with commodious drawers. for the Use of the
girls. who assemble in this room at o'clock in the
morning, and sew, baste OF knit, until noon, all
under the wise supervision of Miss Eaton, the as
slsant matron. The object is to teach each girl
to cut and make her own clothing, which Is usual
ly accomplished at twelve wears of age The older
ones are required to spend portion of the morn
ing in the kitchen and laundry, where they are
taught bread making, washing and ironing and
the details of general housekeeping
AS we were guests Of the school, an opportunity
was thus offered to observe their methods in de
tail all of which seemed planned with view to
inculcating habits of neatness punctuality and
obedience Instruction in reading writing geogra
ply and arithmetic, is given by the matron in the
afternoon, from to o'clock. Many are able to
write fairly legiblo hand and some read with in
teligence and expression. But the matron was
undoubtedly correct in saying "they do not pro
gress as rapidly in the school room as in other de
partments statement that ali believers in the
laws of hereditary would not be disposed to ques
ton
One noticeable feature OF the home is the appre
citation which the inmates themselves seem to
manifest for its benefits One little girl was seen
to shed tears when Questioned in regard TO how
she had passed the winter because, as she said
she was afraid the little ones left at home had
not been so reU cared for as herself
The Industrial school is not a house Of correc
ton, but refuge for girls who are in danger of
becoming outcasts in society. And persons inter
ested in sending girls to the school, should notify
the treasurer, Mr.. Eliphalot Rowell of Hallowell
the matron, Miss G. NJ Brown. and the parties
will be served in turn, though as matter of simple
justice preference is given to those towns not
represented in the school And here wish to
state that Belfast has been represented there
although our taxpayers equally with the others
throughout the state, are helping to support the
Institution.
Since its organization in 1872 one hundred and
thirteen girls have been committed to the school;
80 Of that number were of American parentage,
English. Irish, French Canadian > New Bruins
wick and Mulatto. OF that number 50 have been
placed in homes, where number nave been adopt
ed, and SO placed in a way to become useful mem
bers of society A VISITOR.
Belfast, March, 1881