Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-20

NOVEL METHOD OF TEACHING YOUTH

out near JdchsOn, ana the Onlcef
placed the letter in his pocket and
resumed his work of destroying accum-
ulated correspondence.
"Who is Riggs Well, he's an odd
sort of a genius ia put it. Never
heard of him myself until about two
months ago. For several months
among other bays reported missing
was little fellow named Albert Young
whose mother now lives in Muskegon
About six or eight weeks ago | met
him on Michigan avenue, and before
sending him to his. home, asked him
about his wanderings, and thus acci-
IDENTIFY heard of the Wales Riggs farm.
Young told me that other Detroit boys
were at the farm. and as | thought
some OF the youngsters might be the
very one ! was looking after, went
out to see what was known as the
Boys" farm school,"
How long has the school been in
existencel"
'Well, as near as | could learn
since the spring OF 80; but up TO the
time | saw Young, never he ard of it..
The farm is located about three miles
from Francisco, on the Michigan Cen
tral railroad, and comprises 800 acres
At that station hired a rig and went
out 70 the place From what could
learn from those acquainted with
Riggs, | think he is considered a mild
sort Of u crank, and his neighbors be
lieve that his idea of carrying on a
farm school will prove. Improbable; ;
still he doesn't think so.
What is his plan OF securing pu-
pils?"
soon after coming into possession Of
the farm, he advertised for boy. lie
received a score or more of1ettcrs from
boys who wanted hokIes, and he at
once determined to take care of all th.
applicants. \ school room was made
cut Of one Of the buildings OH the
place and the upper story Of the
structure was Gtjed up for dornit-
ory la a short time % Loys were at
tending school whose ages ranged
from If to II years.
"Runaways. undoubtedly
40, some OF them were, brt The
majority were homeless. When call
ed | found the farm-a fine looking
one with good buildings, excepting
the house, which had di!apidated
looI-I saw boy pairing potatoes
near the house, and had just opened
= conversation with linn. when ad,
opened the door, and in very polite
manner, told me that Mr. Riggs, her
husband, would answer any question /
might wish to ask. found him in
the school house lie is fine looking
man about 30 years of age. and very
gentlemanly in his bearing. Ills let
ters and conversation betray more
than ordinary education"
II learned from hiHi, that, at the
time of my visit, the school sessions
had been temporarily abandoned. lie
was then busy arranging "A programme
of studies. He told me that each boy
was taught two hours per day in the
school,
what is the character of the boysl''
THE most of them are harmless.
| | found that several Detroit boys were
there, and that some had gone away a
short time previous To my visit
Among those o. the house were De-
laney, and OIeary. The latter after
wards left the farm. and went TO Bay
City, and was sent TO Lansing. There :
one trouble that Riggs has with the
boys, that's keeping them there. The
number of boys lluctuates some of them
only stay u few days, Others few
months, so that few of them stay with
him after their services are of any
value to the farm"
What do they work att
AT all kinds oe farm work. Riggs
pays considerable attention to the
culture Of vegetables and small seeds.
His idea is 10 make.practical and sci
entiiic farmers of the Youngsters.
When they are cultivating vegetables
the ir studies run in the direction OF a
/ thorough understanding Of the nature
OF the plant. | saw four boys haul.
ing out compost from the yard. and
was told that the boys instruction al
the time was on the relative merits OF
the fertilizers
AR they Uniformed"
"The only distinguishing mark. i.
a gold band ABOUT their caps. on
which are the words. Wales Rig,
Farm The boys were sent to market
with many of the products Of the farm
This is part of their school work"
You say the neighbors look on hin
as sort of a mild crankl"
"Yes, they ridicuIe the idea that n,
is trying to carry out. | believe h,
sincerely wishes to 90 the boy, good
i know when / was coming back from
tbe farm, several Of Riggs neighbor
came out and spoke to me for the pur
] 4 fe 4