Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-06
THE BuRNHAx INDUSTRIAL FARM.
A Mos, Useful Institution,

A Most Useful Institution.
Those who have read Of the Rauhe
Hans at Horn, neal Hamburg, Ger
many, that remarkable and unique in
s~titution of Emmanuel Wichern, will
recognize in it the prototype of that lit
tie industrial community which more
than two years ago was established in
Columbia County, New York, under
the name: The Burnham Industrial
Farm. The two are alike in purpose,
IN spirit, and in the methods Of train
ing employed. Wichern's experiment
is, however, widely known. and its sue
cess has been demonstrated in its benif-
icent results, while Burnham Farm is
yet in its infancy, unknown even to
many of the good people of our own
State.
The Burnham Industrial Farm was
organized to save boys who are tend
ing toward 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 criminal habits are fully
developed, was the condition which was
strongest in urging the establishment
of a home like this, far removed from
the city, on a large farm in healthful
surroundings where these truant or va
grant boys not yet incorrigible might
be sent, might live under good infu-
ences, and have opportunity for the
training Of hand and mind.
The farm, formerly an old Shaker
settlement, comprises $50 acres of land,
under a fairly good state of cultivation,
in a region OF pure air al dlovely fields
and forests" Lake Queechy bounds it
on one side and the mountains look
down upon it.
The farm is organized IN the family
plan. The cottages left by the Shakers
have become the home of each of q
group of boys. The system of awards
and punishmsnts is that of Mettray.
There is a department Of manual train
ing 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 enrolling. The disci-
pline is firm, yet kind, and each boy
has some one who is interested in him
individually. There are no walls about
the farm; everything is free and p
Yet the boys who go there wicked, vul-
gar, petty thieves perhaps, liars, swear
ers, t%ruants, 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 those more than
twenty have 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 a better oppor-
tunity to employ it than here, to dimin-
ish the number of the criminal classes,
to saw boys who have no hand power
full enough, no heart strong enough to
help them? And from another stand
point, is there q more profitable invest
ment for society? The yearly average
expense from one criminal would fur
nish sufficient funds to rescue and train
many boys.
A feature of the institution which in
vites special notice is the Brotherhood
Of Institutional Workers now in process
of organization. It is intended that the
Burnham Farm in America, as the
Rauhe Haus in Germany, shall become
a traininAtschool for those who wish to
enter upon institutional work in its diff
ferent phases. Applicants who seem
fitted for the work and who are willing
to endure the sacrifice and hardships
which the work demands and imposes,
are admitted on a probation of six
months after which they enter into full
fellowship for a term of three years,
taking upon themselves a sacred pledge
of obedience, simplicity of life, and to
make Christian work in the line of in
stitutional service the aim of their lives"
At the end Of this term of years, if quail
flied, they will be sent out to institu-
tions calling for them as trained at
tendants, institutional managers, book
keepers, carpenters, clerks, gardeners,
&c.
The Brotherhood is nobly planned.
There is 40 asceticism, but a true HUI
manitarian, a Christian spirit. Those
acquainted with the need not only for
trained but kind, patient, willing, trust
worthy attendants in charitable and cor
rectionable institutions, will wish that
it may be successfully established and
carried OIL, ard that the principle I'M
derlying itmay have a wider observance.
State Charities Record.