Wichita eagle., 1886-08-20
ghe aainta aiu Eagle grdau goruius anonst 20 1856
BOYS REFORM SCHOOL.
4 DESCRIPTION OF THE AGRIcUL-
TURAL COLONY OF METTRAY.

Children, Foundlings and Young Wan
derers in the Streets-strics Discipline
Occupations Taught.
Mettray, which was the great good work
begun by De Metz, and carried on By the
two friends De Metz and De Courteilles,
was opened to children in 1S41 But seven
months before, in July, 1889, school was
opened there Of the utmost Importance,
namely, for the education of the house
fathers 1t was the purpose Of De Metz,
and has always been one Of the funda-
mental principles at Mettray, to divide the
young persons committed to it into groups
Or families The 500 children are distributed
in twenty families, of about each, living
each in separate house and ruled by a
house father. Now, De Metz understood
that the success or failure Of his great ex-
pertinent must depend mainly on the house
fathers Accordingly, his first step was to
open school thoroughly to train suitable
persons for this responsible work before a
single child was received at the colony.
The house-fathers are the governors of the
special families confided to them, but they
have under them assistants, and some Of the
boys themselves are trusted with authority
according to their good behavior, under
the title OF Freres aines, that is, elder broth
ars; and this principle of making the colo
nists govern themselves, as far as may be,
runs in many ways through the establish
ment Military orders prevails. The boys
rise, dress, kneel for prayer, fold their ham
mocks, march silently to breakfast and to
work, and SO again at evening stretch their
hammocks, fold their clothes neatly and lie
down to sleep, all by bugle call
STRICTNESS OF THE DISCIPLINE
The discipline is severe. In tnis remark
able colony am not describing piece of
tender sentimentalism, but an enlightened
treatment for moral disorder. The very
least infraction of the rules Is punished De
Metz understood the humane view Of Bee
caria, that not severity, but certainty, Of
punishment is what is necessary. The PEN
aties at Mettray are reprimands, public and
private, but always given after an interval,
that both the boys and the house-fatber
or director may have had time to reflect
and grow calm loss Of rank, as for ex-
ample, reduction from the position OF elder
brother in family; loss of recreations and
other privileges, and, finally, confinement
in cell But the boy punished to this ex-
treme degree is not left alone, but continu-
ally visited by the director or by the house
father, and earnestly talked with and ad
vised in the paternal, patient way which
gives the colony its name-La Societe Pater-
nelle-which is its formal, legal designation.
Far more than in penalties trust is put in
rewards, of which there are many, and
some of them ingenious. One of the high
est is the roll of honor on which the colo
nist's name is inscribed after three months
of excellent conduct, in which he has re-
ceived not single punishment Once on
this roll, says NJ. Blanchard, the present di-
rector, the boy is saved, for almost never is
a name. once inscribed, erased, and, if erased,
it is by vote of his fellow members of the roll.
After four successive cnrollments-that is, of
course, after year Of absolutely exemplary
badge or order is given to be
worn as a sign of distinction and confidence.
Various privileges go with the position on
the roll OF honor for example, from this the
elder brothers of the family are chosen, and
finally the liberty Of tho colonist For no
boy is sent to Mettray on time sentence,
but to be cured, and there he stays under
moral treatment until healed in his soul.
The occupations at Mettray are both
mental and manual The common branches
of education are taught Also music, and
proficiency made in this art, and with great
subsequent usefulness to those who enter the
army, because they are often received into
the military bands, but also that it is a
great healing power, and that sometimes
%e<o icf
a coed direction will date from his music
lessons. Agriculture is the main pursuit,
and one of the chief reliances of N. De Metz
for moral effect, so that the place is called
the Agricultural Colony of Mettray. But
many, very many, manual trades are also
taught and special provision is made for
boys who come from seaport towns and
have a taste for maritime life. They are
instructed in sailors duties, and practiced
in the evolutions by means of a model Of a
three masted ship, which is rugged in the
colony.
Mettray may be said to stand securely on
three points of support-first, the separation
into families with Householder and all
the moral influences going Herewith; sec
ondly, thorough instruction and occupation,
chiefly in agriculture The third | have
now to speak of, namely, what the authori-
ties call patronage; that is to say, their per-
etual care of their liberated colonsts to
tie end Of life. De Metz declared that
Mettray was paternal society, veritabiy
paternal and that therefore its colonists
should be followed with a fathers care per-
Accordingly, patrons are carefully sought
10 LOOK after the colonistS sent out into free
life, and to surround them with constant
and guardianship.
In another way tie truly perpetual char
acter of the institution is maintained. The
colonists may always return to it at any time
If life, as to fathers house always open to
them. Ii they are out of work they have
refuge there until they can find employment
again: if in trouble, there is kind welcome
advice and love always awaiting them, ii
sick, the doors of the infruary are always
open to them. There are touching stories
If anxiety to reach Mettray again in sick
ness and death Wha: Z contrast to the ef-
'ect of the ordinary barbarous prison. Cor.
chicago Herald.
Monkeys Dislike of Flesh Foad.
Before the Dietetic Reform club has 4 right
to solicit our signatures to their total-ab-
stinance pledge they have to discover d
specimen OF our frugiYorous kinSmen-
and ienu-s -evincing the slightest
aversion to milk, eggs, or honey. / have
owned pet monkeys OF nearly al the arie-