The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-03

mark system. A man comes 10 see that to
rise In the life OF the reformatory brings
more privileges. better clothes, better food,
and many other good things. Just as up
right conduct aud industry In the world
outside are pretty sure TO be rewarded.
The idea Is to make it plain to the inmate
that only through good conduct can ne ex-
pcct 10 better his condition In lie. The
mark system rs not followed without any
deviation. IL often happens that man
who has, by misconduct, fallen In the scale
Is freely forgiven and replaced in the grade
whence he fell. And IL is here to be noted
that men forgiven In this way frequently
begin 10 try In real earnestto become again
worthy OF the confidence OF the supcrin-
tendent. Thus
THE ELEMENT OF FORGIVENESS,
the most powerful force In the scheme OF
Christianity, becomes In prison discipline
an efiectual AID to reformation.
The mark system employed here y SIM
| ply an expansion OF the school.mark sys-
TEN, applied not only to study but 10 de-
pertinent and labor. IL is record OF pc
havior In school-room. shop, aud cell. ut
- not" says Superintendent Brockway.
"appiied as an iron rule, but fleXibly ana
| TO meet individual peculiarities ana needs"
| II Is the endeavor OF the administration to
apply The system impartially, to advance
the deserving, and to put back the unwor-
| thy. pretty much rs is tho rule IN the
world outside prison waits. As l have
| before said, the system Is extremely minute
and comprehensive. 1t notes the man
carefulness or slOyenlness in the use OF
tools, his order and ncatness. or his disof-
der and carclcssncss i'm his sleeping room,
his treatment of his school-books. his obe-
dience 10 the regulations OF the reiorina-
tory. and his conduct in every waking
hour. II is a sort of overseeing proVl-
dence. In monthly "court," rs II Is
well called. the superintendent hears COM
plaints and listens TO inmates who wish 10
protest against any fancicd or real unfair
ness in the marking system.
The school system merits some atten-
ton. The classes are carefu v graded, the
lower ones dealing with the very ill!terate
among the newcomers, who frequently
have to begin with the A b C's. In the
middle classes are studied arithmetic-ele-
mentary and adyanced-geOcraphy, and
compositions in the upper classes, the
higher arithmetic, political economy, n.y.
CINE, bookkeeping. and moral philosophy;
and there are also lectures given by compe-
tent specialists on heat, light, steam, cleo
trictv, and the mechanical powers. A re-
cent course OF lectures on casuiStry has
been greatly enjoyed by the more advanced
student-prisoners. They are remarkably
keen in the analysis OF knotty moral
problems, and the lecturer said that his
class was one OF the most interesting and
wide-awake he had ever had to deal with.
Here is specimen Of the examination
paper on ethics:
81. Show a case where mans property
can he taken away by the State rightfully.
80. Give two reasons for observing the
law OF reputation.
"3. Define lie and give an example.
a. State the proper treatment OF The In
sane. as regards truth.
-. In what sense ought promise to be
interpreted and performed!
&c. In what cases are promises not bind
ing?
~. What is an oath of testimony?
"8. Name the two dyis 'ons OF duty to
the family"
The examination papers in geography,
element, Of political economy, psychology.
physics, ami elements of physiology anfl
health, are we'll arranged to bring out the
real knowledge of the student and to probe
its depths. Last year
A SUMNER SCHOOL
was held. when lectures on business law
were delivered before the advanced classes.
and on general history to the intermediate
classes, while to the lower classes was
given oral instruction in business transac-
tons and forms. In all the classes. where
the students are sufficiently advanced,
notes are taken rs in college classes. Great
attention is paid TO giving each inmate
good. legible handwriting, and it is said
that very few fail to acquire a fair style of
penmanShip.
The release of an inmate before the eX-
pration OF his full term is decided by the
Board OF Managers, the mans standing be-
ing determined by the mark-bOOks. The
man, on being released, is sent to place
OF employment previously secured, having
been provided with good oJtfit. Until
absolute release is granted the man is on
parole, and is under supervision. He may.
il he goes wrong, be returned to the in
stitution. Not infrequently the paroled
man. being seized with illness or
other mist .rtunc, comes back volun-
tari)v to the reformatOry TO stay
awhile. One great defect in the
Elmira system, but which it is beyond the
power OF the Board of Managers to REM
edy, is the lack OF sufficiently varied en-
plOyments inside the walls. The limited
raage OF amployments under the contract
system does not permit of men being
trained according to their individual apti-
tudes. and they must, periorce, be sent ont
into the outside world fitted for but a few
cmplOyments. As Superintendent Brock
way pertinently says, "No reformatoTy
system is complete that does not train each
subject for
A SPECIFIC INDUSTRY
for which he has natural adaptation" Rut
a. long rs the theory is held that prisons
and all public institutions must, as far as
practicable, be made to "pay," no special
attention can be given to training men to
fill those positions in the world Tor which
they are best fitted. | cannot help think
Ing that il is the poorest soft OF economy
for society to insist on paying" prisons.
1t would be better to make it easier for
the outgoing convict to find at once congo
NAL and remuneratiyc work which shall
remove him from temptation TO continued
crlminality.
1t is asserted by the managers OF the
Elmra reformatory that their institution
does reform men, and that it does fulfil
the purpose for which it was founded-the
protection OF society from repetition of
criminal conduct by the young felon." 1t
is said. and the statistics are given as proof,
that, OF the men sent out on parole, over
so per cent. become law-abiding and in
dustrious citizens. The workings OF
the reformatory are open to the
inspection OF every one interested.
Nothing is hidden or concealed.
1t Is an institution creditable to
the people OF the great State OF New
XorI- xvho h,ve q natural rridp ond ;pto