The examiner., 1882-03-11
Women as Managers of Prisons and
 Reformatory Institutions.

It has been we'll said that the dlHerence between men and women, in dealing with the vicious and criminal, is that women reform and men a0et'aSSh. This quail ln women makes them specially fitted to be placed in charge of our prisons-even the largest and most important And this IS not an untried experiment so far as pr1s- ons for women are concerned, nor entirely so with regard to mems prisons.
 Dr. Edward Jarvis, of Boston, in paper read before the Social Science Asso- citation few years ago, on reformatory institutions, stated that he knew of jailer's daughter who, in her fathers absence, used to receive the prisoners, lock them up, and attend to their wants and that she had more control over the inmates of the jail than any one else, for no convict would on any account, do anything to distress her. He added, that if society was to accom- plish the great work of retaining the fallen, it must enlist it's wisest and gentlest teachers in the work, and tbat until then little could be done in permanently reform ing criminals.
 At Indianapolis is woman's prison for the State of Indiana, that is managed in every department by women. All accounts agree that it is one of the most admirably conducted institutions in the country. Gov. Williams, in his message to the legis- lature of that State, said of it, that it's man. agers had "trained the inmates of the in- stitution to habits of industry, praeticed rigid economy in every department, and kept their expenditures within the appro- priat1on.' 7
 A correspondent of St. Louis paper spoke some time ago, of the same institu- tion of follows:
 cit is in charge of the noble-hearted Quakeress, Sarah Smith, who is, in gener- ous devotion and tireless, kindly effort, a veritable mother to the unfortunates in her charge. And the results are of the most cheering character, for eighty-two per cent. of the criminals, it is estimated, are permanently reformed. Men skepti- cally laughed when it was first proposed to officer this institution with women, as it was believed they would be quite unable to maintain order and discipline. Some of the most desperate criminals were brought there in letters, but Mrs. Smith promptly ordered them of, and by pure strength of moral force her sway is more complete than ever prevailed under the ruder system of masculine authority. Every effort is made to foster that self, respect in the prisoners which is essential to virtuous womanhood. That personal cleanliness and neatness of garb, which k next to godliness, is inculcated and de. manded. There is worn no prison uniform, with it's constant reminder of criminal deg radiation and all are kept industrously at work"
 The courage of woman has been well tested and found not wanting in great emergencies in prisons, as well as in other circumstances of peril. The case of Mrs. Colley, of Beloit, Wis, whose husband is iailer, was reported some time since. In an insurrection of the prisoners, he was overpowered, when she seized pistol, and taking position in the doorway, she held the whole crowd at bay until the alarm could be given, and help from outside be obtained, not 8 single prisoner finally escaping. But of course where woman is placed at the head of prison, she should have all necessary male subordi- mates who could supply mere brute force where required, as doubtless it seldom would be.
 We believe every police station should Ro in of who could in kindly way attend to the needs of the persons arrested, so many of whom are more wretched than vicious, and who are often arrested and detained for the night on mere suspicion, while many are deprAved women, or young girls just be- ginning life of depravity. who should never be left in the power of men, them. selves too often depraved. It is not long since college professor, of the highest character, who had fallen in a fit in the street of one of our cities, late in the even. ing, was picked up by the police, who did not recognize him, and taken to the sta- tion, under the basty conclusion that he was intoxicated, where he died in the course of the night. How much would have been done for his relief, resulting per. haps in saving his life, had an experienced and kindly matron been in charge of the station.
 It is very interesting fact to notice in connection with this subject that the .faaose. cS0t management of prisons by women has been much better than that of men. In 1873 the State of Massachusetts made g large appropriation for building a State prison for men at Concord, and a smaller one for women's prison at Sherborn, the latter being placed wholly under the con. trol of board of women, who were tc follow their own judgment in the erection of the prison. In 1877, when both prisons were in the course of construction. the Springfield Republican said of the men't prison twill it be credited that the com missioners, architects, experts, and civi engineers, have already drawn from the State treasury for their own salaries anG