New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-11
RECLAIMING EX-CONVICTS.
WAYS TO GET THEM BACK TO HONEST WORK.
THE PLAN OF THE BIBLE AND FRUIT MISSION
OTHER HFI PFUL CHARITIES.

OTHER HEI PFUL CHARITIES
From First ave. to the East River in Twenty-sixth-
st. IS only one block, but that short stretch of land
can show more human misery than any equal space
in the city. First the Bellevue Hospital looms up al
the northeastern Intersection of the avenue and the
street and with lis various buildings fronts all the
way down the the river ending IN the Morgue
the rivers bank Opposite the hosptai are TWO
undertalcrs' establishments, while third Is JUST tar
enough down the street the same sldc 10 lhIo"
coquctting eyed glanccs at IN" Morgue Beiweeh
the second and third of these cheerful reminders OF
the uncertainty of life is medical school, and below
this Institution Is the Bible and Fruit Mission Pow
erty sickness and death at another all the
way along and It seems only natural that the street
should end In Prisoners Dock, the pier Of the COM
mssioncrs Of Charities and Correction. Here vans
from the city prisons unload their manaccd charges
for the Island and here returned prisoners first land
after their release on the pier officers of the
law detectives charity workers and officials OF pract
cal charity institutions ready to discharge their various
duties whenever gangs of outcass come there fol-
trans portation or dlsembark on their return.
one may. perhaps, find on the pier officials OF INC
Prison Association the Bible and Fruit MISSION ana
Of the Home Of Industry and Refuge for Discharged
Conylcis But II these institutions are not represent
cd II IS because their officials have already visited the
Island and investigated the cases of criminals VINO
have shown desire TO behave Themselves. In TACT,
these institutions. which are most prominently ldeh'l-
fed here With the work Of retaining eXconvictS arc
as a rule kept constantly informed by officials OF
prisons all over the state as 70 the prisoners VINO
come from this city, and II there + any hope Of re-
claiming an cx convict who falls Into their hands
these practical charities do their lest.
PUTTING TIE RELEASED PRISONERS TO WORK
Tho leading idea Is to get men employment. The
Bible and Fruit Mission and the Home OF Industry
both first teach their charges the trade OF broom
making I'm thor broom factories The Prison Associa-
MIA for
other TWO charities I'm the end Some Of the missions
60 operate I'm this work 10 a certain extent all having
for their fundamental principle the necessity Of setting
their charges to work Each Institution has ooard
Of managers including some well known philanthro-
plsts who are on tho lookout for places OF employment
for discharged prisoners who give hopo OF mendhg
their ways. OF course cases are often abandoned a.
hopeless and some imposions successfully prac-
tiscd. but there doubt that good deal OF prac-
good IS accomplished by these institutions.
The Bible and Fruit Mission and the Home Of In
dnstrv have an advantage in their work In that they
Keep their charges I'm their establishments chere their
work can be seen AMI counted. The Bible and Fruit
Mission has its broom factory in Fast Twcnty-sixth-
St. behind rs other buildings The mission has three
buildings OF brick with some attempt at artistic archi-
lecture Tho largest structure IS the coffee house.
which will scat 800 and which serves daily abon 4oo
meals. Superintendent George H. Dcvlne, who has
charge Of the MISSIONS practical work. says that he
can generally reach mon through bowl OF soup The
coffee houses scale prices IS adjusted as to reach
all grades 81 unforiunatcs who come there. ntte
chapel stands below the coffee house. in tho upper
part Of which IS a dormitory. Here are accommodar
tlons for l52 who sleep in neat little beds ar
ranged In tiers. Fifteen cents IS tho price Of nights
lodging Tho discharged prisoners take their beds
there or in the factory Itself
The factory a brick building about two stories and
half high Tho upper part IS dormitory, the lower
floor being given up to the work Of making brooms
Last week there about twenty discharged prison
ers with the mission. Half OF that number
wers at work when reporter called, while the rest
wero probably on the street peddlng their brooms.
About ninety dozen brooms turned ont In the
course OF week They are sold chiefly TO ,t's and
railroads. Tho mon az first receive their board ana
a small salary. As they improve In workmanship
their wages raised, and some Of the inmates oil
this place have deposited IN banks small sums Oh
money that they have saved. Tic Bible and fruit
M,.ion', broom factory has boon IN existence not
cutie three years and In that time It has cmploycd
according TO rs latest report 100 men at the machines
md on an average Of three pcdlers day The lowest
wages paid at present there IL - week, Including
board and lodging.
u.Rr BRooV-NAErVG ~ HOrSrON-sr.
The Home OF Industry, at 40. 30 Fast Houston 81 :,
IA a largo dwelling house. and keeps from forty to
rrv mcn II Is stocked with broom materials and
broouis of all Kinds. Back u the house In Nttlo
Courtyard Is a small CORFU gated hon structure whoo
A second forco Of men IS employed The cN-conVic''
who come here are Iut to work making hroom'' I'M
loss they already have trade aud can obtain positions
| through the assistance Of the Homes officials lhs
Homo was established in l-70 through the c1ors OF
an * convict who IS now managing similar in-ttu-
/ uon IN Chicago; Il WAS not incorporated, however,
until l4-2 According % tho Homes last report, IS
sued I'm l--7, zoos men have teen received as III.
mates. qnp o' whom have obtained cmploymrht
| through fs iuHucur". Tor l-"671 the proht nom
/ good, manufactured was :22Vi ~. -,
All grade of criminals arc received az 'h'se prr'
cal ch1rlfalle Institutions, from the man who has
nale bfs only mlstalcr 10 the worst character ont
I'm prisons At both institutions there are daily RS
ll,1us services for u IS intended 10 Keep inc nm
uud,r religious Influences much as poSslIle II -
| n sfrilIr- sight to Cat herring or cNconNi'l'
holding no. llrous services. and II f. certainly mover 10
Loar a discharged prisoner address the meeting tel
is :" >rrricu-..~ and lead the meeting IN prayer.
| Tho first thing that an eN CONVEX learns IN tno
/ SORT out line broom stufrs. He next learns 10 sew,
then 10 ceon and finally to wind. ~ the MISSION we
erale ~ WAGES runs -. 81 -, s5 -, $40 SD INC
last rates brlur paid To outside man. an instructor
| A man who behaves himself aud attends sttctN 10
In.iu.4s ought to learn to mako brouWS IN coupe
~ ,yccls Every inmate Of these institutions has 10
20 ON trol long time before the officers Of IN" Home
| or ,he Mission Will get him a position In huSlhc,S
Every act Is ScrutlnIcd, and II Is only wheh us
81 arr~d convict has given pretty gool cNlurh'r 81
80 i,,cnttnu 10 do better that he gets cmpoNm cn
outside The superintendent have, a. bass To %orh
ON TIE fact that their mon have cNp'rl"h.'d prl-uu
| no and do not want any moro on IT, mW "thcr
occupants OF the Home and Mission n Is SAID haVe
t, ,c.tnr,d IN fll right, of citizenship through tho