The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-14
The Indiana House of Refuge.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
Two days spent in this institution, carefully
observing the methods of educating and training
four hundred and seven juvenile deinquents,
offered satisfactory evidence Of the importance
and efficiency of the system of management in
its principles and application. The boys go to
school half the day and work the other. Their
home life is as normal as possible They are
under firm humane and wholesome discipline
Obedience, respect for law and authority are
cardinal principles In their control but arbitrary
power and cruelty are never allowed to Cypress
OF illtreat an inmate. When necessary punish
ments are inflicted. The rod is used with dis
cretion and only when moral suasion utterly
fails. These wards of the State are pro
vlded with safe, good home, and
not gloomy prison; the head the
hand and the heart, with proper and necessary
adjustments receive careful direction and cul.
ture. The one idea peryading the management
OF the institution is to give each bow good men
tai, industrial and religious outfit fer the battle
of life. They are we'll instructed in all their re-
ations to God, to the commonwealth and to
themselves; in truthfulness, honesty, industry,
hdehty and patriotism Good habits, sound
morals and decorum are nculcated in their fam
lies. the school-room and the chapel. Yet after
all the faithful efforts to reform and educate
such is the incorrigibilty, indifference and per
Verslty or some or the boys that very little
real progress is made in their rescue from an evil
life aud the doom of criminal From the 2 900
honorably discharged inmates, the reliable re-
ports from 900 of them are indicative that they
have turned out well-producers, and not CON
sumerS IN society, respectable and useful citi-
zens. The great cause of failure in most cases
is found to be the want of good home-an op-
portunlty and encouragement to earn
an honest living. The discharged bow
greatly needs, and we'll deserves, Sympathy
and help to help himself Give him these and
few failures will occur. To complete the work
of the State in connection with its Reformatory
Institution, and to secure the highest interests
OF its wards the authoritative guardianship
should be continued until their majority To
accomplish this, an agency should be created to
find homes and employment and to exercise a
faithful oversight until each ward is located in q
home that fits him, and for which he is fitted
In Massachusetts such an agency has been en-
ployed for many years and its workings have
been eminently successful Very few of the
discharged inmates have good safe home into
which they welcomed, and where they will |
find employment, proper restraints and encour- |
agements. large proportion have no homes; |
they are utterly friendless and homeless ard |
exposed to manifold temptations The interests, |
the duty, and humanity of the State combine to |
demand this labor of love to locate each ward in |
home where the good work of preparing him |
for the duties of life, and the awards |
of eternity shall be completed. The trustees of !
the ''Childrens Home" private charity in Gin |
cinnati, employ experienced, competent and |
faithful visitor, who knows the children and has |
an extensive acquaintance all oyer Ohio and In |
diana Through his abors last year ia child |
rem were located in Christian homes He also |
visits these children at their homes and the |
trustees are in correspondence with their foster |
parents. If, for any cause a change of place is |
necessary, the visitor at once examines the com |
plants. If the troubles cannot be satisfactorily
settled, another home is found. This prevents |
the boy or girl from running away Such a
visitor, appointed toithis important service would
al he nh
thropic labors of the State to save its wayward,
vicious and criminal youth.
B. w. CHIpLAw.
PLAINFIELD. Ind, July Is