Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-01-03
THE REFORmATORY HOME.
Proposing to Make IL State Insti-
sdtion and Aided by the Common
wealth.

| Nuhhon 1hu fhluGu inc common
wealth.
The real and personal property left b,
the late John Ferris, deceased, amounted
to about $250,000, nearly $4,000 o
which sum was beYuesthtd to ditferen
indiYiduais and public institutions
The residue OF the property the will
directs the executor, DR.. Caleb Harlan
to apply. to public benevolenoes, sug
gesting that a part be devoted, If the
executor approves, toward establishing q
house of correction.
DR.. Harlan, in conversation with q
| GAZETTE representative Thursday even.
| ng,stated that he did not wish to take the
| inltlatory steps in the matter, but as soon
as persons were appointed by the proper
authorities to take the scheme In hand,
he was ready to transfer real estate
valued at 100000 to them to go toward
establishing the institution. With
reference to further contributing to the
matter he said that he would be governed
by circumstances.
The executor states that he has con.
versed with number of prominent bust
ness men upon the subject, who are OF
the opinion that the house of correction
should be made State institution, char.
tered, aided and under the care OF the
State, while children from any OF the
counties could be admitted. The general
feeling of those who have spoken on the
subject is that considerable private con-
tributions could be raised to support the
home.
DR.. Harlan does not favor erecting large
and expensive buildings, but prefers the
methods adopted in establishing SINH.
lar institution at Lansing, Michigan. At
that place the work Of reformation was
began in a small cottage and additional
accommodations provided in the way of
more cottagas as the exigencies
demanded. The houses were not sur
rounded by high walls, but the home
made 30 attractive aud interesting that
the waits preferred to remain rather than
run away.
A report of the Lansing house of
correction shows the most gratifying
results in the work of reforming the
youth. The children are admitted
between the ages of 8 and IL years, and
not when under sentence for crime or
on q suspension of sentence, the necessary
qualification for admission to the inBtitu-
tion being their dependence upon the pub
lio for support. II ia stated that the work
of the institution has greatly lessened
the amount Of crime in the community
and improved the general condition of
the olasses that 1t was intended to benefit.
IT is, however, thought best to make
the proposed institution here accessible
to children guilty OF slight infraotions OF
the law, neglected by their parents, and
others whose surrounding influences are
not of good kind. The home can be
made, In measure, self supporting as is
the case in Philadelphis, where all the
inmates are taught to do some kind of
work. The girls in the shelter of the
home make the clothing for the men, are
taught housework, and instructed in the
primary elements of an education. The
boys are also kept busy, and taught in
the schools.
The institution proposed will be tenn
porsry shelter for the children coming
under its care, ,and good homes will be pro-
yided for them, where they may acquire
training which will fit them to make
their own living when from under the
care of the home, the trustees of which
will fill the offices of guardian for the
child until 1t reaches man or woman
hood.
AS the feeling favors making the pro-
posed home a State institution, 1t ia
probable that the matter will be brought
before the next legislature and an appro.
priation toward its establishment and
maintenance asked for.