The Portland daily press., 1890-01-04
MAINE's BAD GIRLS.
The HaIIoweII School Reforms Many;
Only a Few are IrreciaImable.

HALLowELL, January 3-The report Of
the officers of the Maine Industrial School
for Girls has been completed
Superintendent Major E. Rowell, In his re-
port, refers specially to the troubles which
occurred in the school last summer and fall,
and which occasioned so much comment at
the time. He says that three hundred girls
have been committed to the school since II
was first opened January 20, 1875. COnsld-
eriDg the antecedents OF these girls, with
hereditary tendencies to overcome, 1t would
not reasonably be expected that all would be
carried Trough the term Of their commit
ment without experiencing many relapSes
from the standard of morality and purity 81
desirable to be obtained aud maintained.
The utmost care and vigilance cannot, In an
Institution where bolts and bars are not re-
sorted to, prevent occasional escapes, or de-
ter viciously inclined girls from acts Of In
discretion or positive criminality when
combination Of circumstances in the way OF
temptation may assail them. During the
history OF the school many cases OF persis-
tent deception and criminal conduct have
occurred to sadden the hearts of the officers
and friends of the school, So long as there
is no institution in the state where positively
vicious and criminal classes Of sirls can be
sent, 1t cannot reasonably be expected that
the officers of the school can at once and full
ly control those who have become hardened
in crime and sin before commitment to the
school.
We find in the whole number of girls COM
mitted thus far to the school, but 20 whose
records have been persistently and perhaps
permanently bad after their discharge.
Some who gave the officers great trouble, af-
forwards gave unmistakable evidence Of re-
liability, and continue to maintain fair
record.
Several cases as above indicated have oc-
CURED the past year and furnished occasion
for exaggerated publicity and unjust criti-
cisms, which have been borne In silence. 1t
is not the purpose of those having charge OF
the school to publish to the world the faults,
failures or even indiscretions and sins OF
these dependent waits thrown upon the
charity and placed under the guardianship
Of this institution; but rather to shield them
from offensive comment and encourage that
confidence and self respect without which
moral advancement becomes impracticable.
Neither do we care publicly to record cases
where justice has been meted cut to vile
creatures who would make victims of the
unwary and lead them astray.
Each years experience confirms the state
ment that fully so per cent. of the girls CON-
mitted to the school were rescued from vice
and immortality and grew up to be respecta-
bic women and il would seem as though this
was worthy of consideration, even from
those having but little faith in reformatory
institutions.
The girls now in the school are from the
following places: Portland, 10; Augusta, s (;
Rockland, g; Bath. 4 :. Lewiston, 8; Gardl-
ner, 2; Auburn, 2; Calais, 2; Cherryfeld, 2;
Norway, Benton, Liberty. Bangor, Hancock.
Jefferson, Hallowell Pennington, Win
throp, Waterford, Etna, WaterviIle, Vinal-
haven, each.