Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-14
rAe nuaNHAN lNp0srRlAL fARM.
Some of the Good Work That 1t Is Doing
for WaxMnrd City RnYs.

Some of the Good Work That 1t Is Doing
for Maynard city Boys.
Those who have read of the Eauhe Haus
at Horn, near Hamburg, Germany, that
remarkable and unique institution of I'M
manuel Wichern, viii recognize in it the
prototype of that little industrial commu-
nifty which more than two years ago was
established in Columbia county, N. Y, UNI
der the name, the Burnham Industrial
farm. The two are alike in purpose, in
spirit and in the methods Of training en-
ployed. Wichern's experiment is, bow
ever, widely known, and its success has
been demonstrated in its benefcent results,
while Burnnam farm is yet in its infancy,
unknown even to many of the good people
of our own state.
The Durham Industrial farm was or
gani2ed to save boys who are tending to-
ward the criminal classes. The lack of
proper classification or facilities therefor
in the reformatory institutions of the state,
forcing the boys committed who have not
yet become depraved or incorrigible into
the companionship of those in whom Grim
inal habits are fully developed, was the
condition which was strongest in urging
the establishment of home like this, far
removed from the city, on large farm in
healthful surroundings, where these truant
or vagrant boys not yet incorrigible might
be sent, might live under good influences,
and have opportunity for the training of
hand and mind.
The farm, formerly an old Shaker settle
ment, comprises $50 acres of land, under a
fairly good state of cultivation, in ''re-
gion of pure air and lovely fields and for
ests." Lake Queechy bounds it on one
side and the mountains look down upon it.
The farm is organized on the family
plan. The cottages left by the Shakers
have become the home each of group of
boys. The system of awards and punish
ments is that of Mettray. There is de-
partment of manual training for the boys,
where those showing special aPtness are
taught full trades and Others prepared to
enter trades as advanced apprentices Some
will be taught farming, some gardening,
and all that labor is ennobling. The discl-
pline is firm, yet kind, and each boy has
some one who is interested in him individ-
ually There are no walls about the farm;
everything is free and open. Yet the boys
who go there wicked, vulgar, petty thieves,
perhaps liars, swearers, truants, stay there,
lead clean lives, and learn to be honest,
pure and upright
Though established less than three years
ago there are already good results to be
seen. Tifty-two boys have been at the
farm, and of these more than twenty have,
after training Of year or more, been
sent back to their parents or to places
found for them, cured of bad tendencies, to
lead upright and honest lives. Indeed, its
capacity for good seems limited only by its
means. Boys are pressing to the gates
who cannot be admitted. We have spoken
of the efficacy of preventive philanthropy.
Is there better opportunity to employ it
than here, to diminish the number of the
criminal classes, to save boys who have no
hand powerful enough, no heart strong
enough to help them2 And from another
standpoint, is there a more profitable in
vestment for society? The yearly average
expense from one criminal would furnish
sufficient funds to rescue and train many
boys,-New York State Charities Record