Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-06
MAINE NOTES AT HARTFORD.
Trip of the Governor and Council to Con-
neeticut and New Jersey

Hon. w. w. Bolster of Auburn, with an
other member of the Governors Council,
returned Friday. from an extended visit in
New jersey, having parted company with
Gov. Robe and the remainder of the Coun-
Gil at Hartford. Connecticut, where they visited
the wards of the State of Maine, in the
American school for the education and in
struction of the deaf and dumb, passing
from there to New Jersey, where they visited
the New Jersey Reform School Mr.. Bolster
has made particular study of reform schools
in this and other States, and his visit WAS
productive to him OF many new ideas Maine
has % wards in the Hartford Asylam for the
Deaf and Dumb. Mr.. Bolster says they were
the happiest boys and girls apparently that he
ever saw The grounds of the asylum are ele
ganty ordered, the buildings are finely APP
pointed, fronting upon a broad lawn with
avenues, shade trees and fountains For the
interest of the visitors they were introduced
into the class room where the pupils were
busy at recitation. In the sign alphabet the
teacher told a story at the same time inter
pretating it to the visitors. Then the boys
and girls went to the blackboard and wrote.
In every case they wrote out the story.
Some in the exact language, others in Ian
gnage closely approximating that told by the
! teacher. 1t seemed wonderful 1t was a
recitation in pantomime but the ewes were
bright and the pupils countenances were ull
of earnestness In the school articulation
and lip reading are taught as special
branches to all who afford hope OF sue
cess in this way. The system of the
school, however, is the method of manual
instruction. The following is the list OF
pupils from Maine who attend the school
Isaac A. Brown, Rockland; Pelham
Dreamer. South Waldoboro; John F. Flynn
Bangor; Louis Hansen, Camden; George b.
| Halves, Embden; Thomas F. Henderson
! Littleton; Ernest Mcintyre. Warren; Mile
A. Mooers, Milo Edmund Page, Burlington
Charles A Riggs, North Leeds; Charles F.
Spear, Belfast; Warren Ssnborn. East Jack.
son: Dana B TAYLOR, Wells; Fannie A.
Butterteld, Waterville. II v. Cottle, West
Athens; Emma r Emery, Medford Center
Clara o. NJ. Gray, Hodgdon; Anna Hop.
klns, Augusta; Geneve Nadeau. Houlton
Oriana +. Piper. Thomaston; Kate Z. Rus.
sell, Lowell Center; Carrie Smart, St. AL.
bans; Abbe ID. Upton, Bethel; Daisy White.
house. Liberty;
The governor and council were highly
! pleased with all or the wards of the State II
was pronounced by them a wonderful exhibi.
ton. Messrs Bolster and Cornish who visited
the New jersey Reform school are of the opin-
ion that the school surpasses the Maine insti
buttons in many ways. The system they
! found to be radically different as they ex
pected. In New Jersey is the family system.
Boys are not sentenced t. the reform school
at first as by the latter State, but are tempo
rarily committed. They may be taken back
to the court and sentenced for incorrigibility
The school in New Jersey has over
300 boys. The farm is one of 500
acres. 1t is divided into six families
or communities, each presided over
by man and wife. There is no restraint
upon the boys to keep them from running
awav except the fear of being caught after
they leave the farm. The environs are as
free as on fathers farm. Councillor Bolster
saw many points OF advantage of the New
Jersey constitution over our own in this
State. Some recommendation and possibly
| changes will ontgrow from the visit to the
New jersey institution.