The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-01-10

home FOR the aged and innrm poor or both
sexes, without distinction as to creed, sex,
color or nationality. Inmates must be Of
good moral character. The institution is
maintained by voluntary contributions. The
next place in order was the Home of Indus
try and refuge for discharged prisoners.
Matchmaking brooms, etc. The Home is
mainly supported by the fruits of their la
Dor, and is presided over by Thomas Dugus
and his estimable wife.
From the Home of Industry the next
place we visited was the Detroit House of
Correction, where we were met by the
superintendent, Capt Jos. Nicholson, and
were shown all through the prison. The
cell blocks, hospitals, bedding, etc., are
kept In most admirable condition as to
cleanliness, and the ventilation is good. In
these respects this prison is most excellent
one. The prison is city work house, a
county Jail, and the only prison for women
i'm the State. Prisoners received during the
year, 2,2s4, of which AIS were females. OF
thNSC ~,~Oft L, LII WCiC iSNCiNOu i0i thV NOV
time. balance have been recommitted from
one to sixty times-39 recommitted 10 times,
"a recommitted 20 times. This terminated
our ride for Tuesday.
'Chldren of the State Public School are
like the same number of children in any
school," said Prof. G. +. Newkirk, of the
State Public School, before the county
agents at Philharmonic hall. ''Whatever
may have been their previous condition,
they are received as raw material, out of
which good citizens are to be made. They
are not to be dealt with as criminals. l
make this emphatic because much of our
mail is addressed to the Reform School at
COldwater. In the absence of home we
seek to supply it. Physically the inmates
are carefully guarded. There are nine
cottages containing twenty-five children
each, over which matrOn presides. The
institution is situated where good, pure air
circulates. The inmates have good, whole
some diet; the play grounds are ample.
Their work consists In waiting on table,
washing dishes, sweeping and mendng.
The school is conducted by principal and
six teachers. No better kindergarten exists
in the State. Closely allied with and in
separable from the subject of fitting chill
dren for and finding them homes, is that of
fitting them to homes"
Rev. DR.. c. r. Henderson then spoke OH
rational recreation as preventative of
poverty and crime. 1.-The insane, the GRIM
inals and the paupers are bound together
said the speaker. while discussing themes
of crime we should discuss the means of
prevention. Some of the causes of crime
are the saloon, nefarious literature and lot
teries. think rational recreation would
be a preventative of crime. Many crime
conditions lie in the exhaustion of the hui
man frame Some reform has already been
brought about. Hours Of labor have been
decreased. Overwork is still, however, one
of the evils of the age and increases the
criminal, the pauper and the insane stock.
1t is not alone to the interest of the employees
that the hours of labor should be decreased,
it is also to the interest of the employers
The gymnasium is an agent of morality
If there were schools to recreate the body it
would, think, lessen some of these evils
| have great confidence in the power of
music to bring about social reform. How
can we have music for the multitude, such
as the people have on the Continent? Why
not have music in the parks in the after
moons and evenings? A large number of
the inmates of the asylums are farmers
wives who have lost their reason on account
of the monotonous life of the country.
Something should be done to brighten the
lives of these tOilers." Dr. Henderson said
he hoped the time would soon come when
the city would have many oriental coffee
houses. 1--WE have 400 Saloons" said he,
1--WE ought to have 100 coffee houses"
DETROIT, Dec. IL. Patrick Blake of the
local committee, announced that today at
9:2O the Michigan Central would run a
special train to Wayne county asylum.
We arrived at Wayne at 1890. We were
met by superintendent of the poor j. f.
Martin, and James Gillespie, keeper of the
county house. This building is placed on a
lovely piece of ground descending each way
giving perfect drainage. The insane at
present number $50. The asylum was
built i'm 1879, and with its improvements
has cost $16G, 400. There is at this writing
400 paupers, who are maintained by the
county. After we had been all through the
building, we were invited to the chapel,
where in waiting was grand dinner. At
2:3O we all with one accord said: ''bring us
to the Wayne county poor house if ever"
We boarded the train for Dearborn, where
we visited st. Joseph's Retreat, an asylum
for the insane, under charge of the Sisters
of Charities. Rates, $500 per week and
upwards, according to accommodation. In
ebriates are also treated.
We arrived in Detroit at $50 p. m. feel
ing tina. we never would forget what we
had seen and heard on that day.
j. +. MABIN.