The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-04
MANAGED ON A FAMILY PLAN
The Lads at the Reform School Brought
Under Light but Effective Discipline.
Everything ola Healthfuland Harmless Char.
acter Allowed for Amusement-Worka and
Sndy Made to Serve Very Well Together.

forming the quintesse nee of the infant dew
iltry, and, to great extent, the juvenile
deprayity of the State. Every one is there
for some ofiense more or less serious. be-
gotten in the spirit of mischief, or of nance,
on the spur of the moment. in the sudden
heat of temper or after long and careful
planning in cold malignant hate Elderly
gentlemen who in their youth plundered
peach trees and melon patches, swung cats
with knotted tails over clothes-lines, or
even burned sheds and unoccuped shanties
60 see a run made by the fire department..
might look upon the crimes of many OF
these youngsters as exceedingly venial.
Not so the law; and it is well that the APP
pointed rules TO regulate the conduct of in
dividuals in q community for the conserva-
ton of the general veal provides for
nipping these offenders in the bud
In this institution nearly every crime In
the penal code has its representatives. the
entire gamut of wickedness being run from
petit larceny to murder. The greater num-
Der are sent as ''incorrigibles," this term
being made to cover great variety OF Of
lenses. The larger boys, nearly two hun
bred of them. are criminals who would be
in the penitentiary were 1t not for the hr-
mainly of the Commonwealth, which pro-
vided and maintains this reform school.
Here hundreds of boys are reclaimed and
become usefulmem of society, though
many resume their criminal associations
after leaving the school, and become ha-
bitual law-breakers. chronic felons,
passing. the. greater portion. of their
so Des IN too ads die a apon tSs Saiows
But the good work done by the
school is shown by the fact that 2.400 boys
have been discharged from that institution
- e. III g.. nod
with the great number. have become
criminals. How much greater the number
of criminals might have been without the
school is Lett to the imagination:
The grounds about the institution are
beautifully kept, in park, orchard and gar
den. There Is work. study and play for the
boys. and the most systematic discipline,
firm but kindly. There are ten families;
tn at is groups of forty or fifty boys housed
together under an officer called house
father, and each family has its baseball
ground. bats and balls being furnished by
the institution. On Saturday afternoons,
clubs from the corntry round fire,
quently play against the Reform School
boys, and the latter are nearly always VIC
torious. Many boys get a cheerful home
life they have never known. They get
food, clothes and instruction, and are
taught to work: There are ninety colored
boy in the institution, and in no way are
they separated from their white associates
The entertainments given by the youngsters
arc something wonderful. Combinations
of minstrels are got together that wonld
shame the Accomplishment of any negro
Ministries on the road. The new boys COM
ing into the school add continually to the
fund of talent. and there is nothing new in
singing or dancing that the outside world
can get which the boys of the school do not
early see.
There is o gymnasium under the large
dining hall and others under four of the
family buildings. Fifteen boys are formed
into martial band that meets the approx
al of their fellows, and no warmer COM
mendation need be given. The boys go to
school half the day and work the other
half. When they come in at noon from
work they assemble on the grounds. di-
vided into families, and march to dinner to
the music of the band. At supper the
came thing is gone through. At the Sun
day morning inspection there are $50 boys
in line, ia their Sunday clothes, shoes
blackened, and looking as neat and sol
dlerly as crack regiment OF regulars;
they march to chapel There IS graceful sa
drill. peculiar to the school. Remove"
Every boys hand goes to the visor of his
cap; Gaps" and Oft they come. "Replacew
"Salute-2-3-4. Line, about face" Foot
ball is played but base ball is given the
preference. John G. Blake, now superin-
tendent of the Home for Predetermined
Children, made his way into the affections
of the boys the first time they saw him. by
kicking the ball higher and further than
had ever been known in the annals of the
institution, and so he was chosen chaplain.
In winter the usual house games are played
-dominoes, checkers, everything but cards.
Each boy is allowed, to great ex-
tent, To select his own kind of
enjoyment. There is library
at the school, and many of the boys have q
relish for books. Persons over the State
occasionally contribute suitable literature
to the library, but not near so much as is
needed and could be effectively used.
There are thirty-six brick buildings. of
which more than half have been erected
during the time Mr.. Charlton has been su-
perntendent. The rick-laying was done
by the boys. and the superintendent says he
will have sixty good brlck-layers this
year. As so cents will fit man for this
outside of the workers head and hands. it
viii be seen that here are sixty boys
who are qualified to earn their liv-
Ing In n good trade. The boys
coo bricks this year which will be used in
the large tunnels. seven feet high by five
wide. rum ing to- the various buildings
about the grounds. Pipes will be laid in
of the boys ,who, mold brick make 4: 900,
others 5000 day, but are never allowed to
do so more than one day in the week.
There Is some inducement to labor and ex-
eellence, as each year more than $1,000 is
paid out 70 boys as awards for extra work.
Some of the boys are skillful makers of
illuminating gas, others are bakers, paint
ers, plumbers. carpenters, shoe
makers, tailors, washers, ironers. etc.
The conservatory is in charge of a practical
florist and half dozen boys are under his
direction in caring for the lawns. Above
all, the boys learn politeness and business
ways. They rise at A. NJ; breakfast at
$50 and go to work at Z. There is an inter-
mission from IL A. NJ. to 1:30 p, NJ. and from
3 TO s:l5 is supper aud outdoor recreation.
From 7:15 to amusements. singing. ETC., in
the families are IN order. and at the boys
retire The larger boys permitted to
stay up until T. VI. On Saturday night
all the boys are allowed to stay up later.
and sleep until later hour on Sunday
morning.
There is fish pond at Ethe institution
hlled With carp. For a long time the boys
were not allowed to fish III IL, so the pro-
Life carpwere undisturbed and have multi
pied until there are untold thousands,
many of them being very large. 1t is no
inches long. When fishing was prohibited
the youngsters tried in every way to get at
the tish, and poles lines and hooks were
found secreted in all sorts of unlikely
places. Some time ago permission was
given to every one to fish whenever not en-
ployed at work OF other duties. For a few
days the pond was lined with anglers and
carp were caught by the hundred. This
was too tame and spiritess sport for the
lads, and they took no futher interest.
Once In a while n small boy. usually n new
conner, may be seen vexing the pool, but he
too. soon gives up the sport. There
are only six boys in the
institution who cannot read and write