The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-26
REAL REFORM
Excellent Work Of the State
School at Jamesburg
II MAKES FlRsT-RATE CITIZENS.
At Least EightY-iive Per Cent. Turn
Cut EeIl---Ihe Pupils at
Work and Play.
IiF MAKES FlRsT-RATE CITIZENS.
80 . tAe So lsoE..lra &c.

Ani%S d1tgS AAUlA the J2me2DufG STATION
through comparatively level country,
across which the wind howled and tore
ike fury, brought me TO the state Re-
form School. Although the place looked
as though It might be beautiful IN the
summer time when the trees are il full
leaf, and the lawn dotted with brilliantly
hued flowers. it certainly had meian-
choly air about it in It's dull winter dress.
There IS nothing about the school TO
suggest that it is a correctional institu-
ton. In fact, il would puzzle one unac-
quainted with its character TO determine
just what it is. It stands upon q slight
eminence at the end Of an elm lined lane,
some distance from the main road. A
large brick building forms the centre, en-
each side Of which are smaller build
ings of the same material
At the back is low brick
building with q tall chimney, while still
further in the rear are well kept barns,
storehouses and other outDuildings.
Paths laid out with mathematical pre-
eision cross the well kept lawn, with its
flower beds, the plants in which are now
done up in straw listers, and band
pagOda of a fantastic design stands in
front of the centre building
THE SCHOOL APPEARS DESERTED.
An air OF deserrion hung about the
place when / reachedit. No sound could
be heard but the whIstling OF the wind
and no one was IN sight AS / stood I'M
decided which way to turn an uncannV
feeling came over me which was intensi-
fed by the appearance in the distance Of
two small figures, clad IN a blue grey uni
form, which came from behind the large
building, glided noiselessly along path
houses
Finally discovered a sign post hid be-
hind tall bush bearing the word office
ana pointing along a path. / followed
the path to the building. mounted some
steps, opened a door, and found myself IN
large apartment, bare and silent Ike
the rest OF the place l began 60 wonder
whether the inmates Of the institution
had not made q successful revolt, gagged
and bound all the officers and escaped to
what looked like hills over in the west.
I undertook TO attract some ones at
tentlon ey making noise, but the echoes
which went hFing through the place
sent a cold SILVER down my spine. and
hurriediy went out followed another
path, this tine with more success, and
found the superintendent. Dir. Ira Alter
son. who gave me a cordial welcome TO
the school. He somewhat staggered me
when / made some remark about the
forming me that there were 81 boysin
the institution, that they were all at
study at that time and the Quietness Of
the place was due to the excellent dis
eipline which was maintained
THE MAJORITY TURN OUT WE'LL.
l told Mr.. Atlerson that The SUNDAY
MORNING NEWS had sent me to MIN for
the purpose OF ascertaining, II possible,
what became OF the boys after the leave
the Observation-Disclosures they turned out
respectable citizens or drifted into Grim
inal careerss
Boys under sixteen years Of age, he
said. IN reply TO my questions, are com
nitted here for all crimes except murder.
The school was established il 1856, nd
since then there have been over 2 O90
boys in the school. Five years ago we
inssitured.the plan Of visiting the boys by
an agent after leaving here. OF the
boys traced during that time IS per
cent. are doing from fair to excellent
Some are employed in this institution in
positions Of trust Our head baker Was
once a boy here and learned his business
while under our care. They are married,
have families and are highly respected.
One of our old boys owns that large
house you see over yonder and thirteen
acres of land around IT, He also has a
family and is one OF the respected citizens
Of this nelghb0rhood. Two OF eur boys
are hremea on the Central Railroad.
They are both sober, Industrious men and
highly spoken Of By the officials of the
company.
Az EMBRYO GENIUS.
cone of them is bright machinist and
IL he had the facilities Tor eultvating his
talent would make a name for himself
Several are living in Camden and al
doing business in Philadelphia Ali are
men of family and esteemed members of
the community in which they live. There
Is another of our boys in Jersey City who
for many years has been the COLLECTOR for
a large manufacturer. HIS employer
gives mis- an excellent reputation and has
never had occasion TO regret the conf
denee placed in him
a boy went out of here in 1884 aud
took 70 driving hack in Newark Now
he owns his own hack, has a family, and
he q respectable, honest young man He
is we'll known in Newark, and all who
know him speak highly Of him. Another
went IrOmhere to become q physicians
Office boy His honesty and steady. indus
triOus habits attracted the attention OF a
wealthy widow, and she set him up in
business. He is now doing well and bids
fair 10 accumulate a fortune before he
dies. There are numerous cases such as
these which all so 10 show the practie-
ability Of al institution Of this nature
The boys are kept here, until by GOOD
behavior aud attention to their duties.
they attain certain percentage, when
n ey are either aPprenticed TO some trade
or given over to their parents Here
they are divided into families OF fifty,
each of which has its school room, play
room for stormy weather aud dormitory
All the families eat together in the large
mess room.
HOW THE BOYS SPEND THE DAY.
''They rise at six o'clock and breakfast.
From seven until q quarter Of twelve
O'Clock they are employed a. some man
ual labor We have shoe shops in which
the bows make ali the shoes Tor the in
mates Of the school, and q tailor shop
where they make ali the clothes. In the
printing Office they have a paper which is
entirely set mp and printed by the boys
under the direction of an experienced
newspaper man. There is a brush max
ing shop; q pipe flung shop; a place Ter
them 70 learn 70 fire boiler and run a
stationary engine. a carpenter shop,
where ali the repairing about the place is
dene; palnt shop and a blacksmith
shop. In The summer time Their are err
piayed about the farm.
From quarter to twelve to quarter
TO one dinner is served. and from that
time until TWO O'clock the boys labor the
same as III the morning. From two until
six O'Clock they are in school, where they
are Taught the English branches. Supper