The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-26

son, addressed 10 our secretary. Mr. Williams
! who by no means confines himself within the
narrow roundof asecretsry'sduty, but in quiet
constant devotion is the very soul of our en-
| tire work
Prison ASSOCIATION OF VIRGINrA,
| INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
YAKIMA GROVE, APRIL 3. 1891. J
Rev. W. B. Williams, Secretary:
Dear Sir.-I desire TO make the following
| report Of our work TO present time:
We commenced duty al this place Septem-
Der Is, 1890. bringing with us the ligher arti-
cles Of room and bed furnishings and one
| horse ond wagon.
We at once went 30 work 10 get our rooms
and place IN habitable order, rainy weather
at first delaying work Carpenters COM
menced repairs and work October sth and
| completed November lst Plasterers work
was completed shortly aftor
Painting, whitewashing and much other
work was done with extra help.
| We have IN our main building a dining
| room, kitchen. sowing room or Office and store
| room, on second floor asitting-rOom and bed
room.
In school building a school-room, two small
rooms for employees on first floor, and large
| dornitory and convenient clothes-room on
We also had built small stable and boys
| closet
Tho mill building when cleared of ma
| ehinery Will make an important addition 10
! our room.
Tho buildings would then give room for
/ twenty Eve boys, and with crowding perhaps
/ few more
Our first boy was received November 3,
| 1890, and we have now fourteen in all. Their
average age Is thirteen and one-haf years
! running from nine 10 sixteen and though 50
| young with one exception all have been re-
| peatedly arrested. and most of them havo
] earvad Oua or mora Ceutpupes In fha common
| jails.
TANNING AND RESULTS.
Regular school instruction ia given. A
friend kindly furnished our first boy. Walter
| Turpin. his school outfit and a magazine for
| one year.
This boy, when he came with us. could not
| read the simplest sentence: he now reads in
tellgently in the second reader, writes letters
to his friends and adds figures rapidly and ac-
! curatey.
part of each day is employed in such
manual labor as may be desirable and posi-
| bic, such as keeping our own place and rooms
! clean and in order grading school yard, work
in tailor shop and kitchen laundry work Of
Of the school, cutting. saving and splitting
fire wood, cleaning grounds Of brush and
| grabbing and preparing for the garden.
Our discipline is mild, yet effective for the
| present work of the school; greater strctness
| Will be necessary with increasing numbers
|
/ and limited military movements
Our Sabbaths are spent with regard to the
| day
When possible we take all to church We
| hold a regular sSabbath-schoOl service, or
service Of song and other exercises with tho
| BOYS.
Each boy is furnished with Sunday suit Of
clothes.
Attention is given to correct habits and
| personal cleanliness.
Our sewing room has made 16 jackets. ~
! pairs of pants, q skirts, 10 caps A sheets. %
| pillow slips. 10 roller towels. Is bed and 20
| pillow ticks and repaired six pairs of pants
| and 80 pairs Of socks also made eight plain
tables and one wheelbarrow. Respectfully.
WILLIAM c. SAMPSON, Sup't
MIS- II. Is. SAMSON Matron.
The real warmth and feeling of the picture
presented by Mr.. and Mrs. Sampson cannot
| DO better brought out than by perusal Of a
/ brief extract from q communication from Mr.
| williams, after one of his recent visits % the
school He says:
They have now fourteen boys in their charge,
ranging from ten 20 sixteen years Of age.
When these boys were received most Of
| them we're very dirty. full Of vermin. and
wearing that old jail scowl and hunted look
TINT criminals so soon acquire
The first step towards their initiation is al.
ways to clean them up.
The hair Is cut close. their clothes are re-
moved andIburnt, and their bodies thoroughly
secured.
They are then clothed in complete plain
new suit.
II was my duty az secretary 10 receive these
boys when first committed to the custody OF
the association. and when saw them a few
weeks after their arrival did not recognize
tlem.
The scowl and dirt were gone and they
greeted rae with pleasant smile, and looked
go bright and rudy that / could never have
known them as the little cowcd and p-ema-
turely old criminals that we had 81 rex emily
received
While was there, few days ago. the din
| ner hour arrived. and | was called TO see the
way III which lt WIS served.
The boys formed a line IN the yard, stand
ing motionless until the door was opened and
the command given 10 march, when they
entered in very soldierly style, and, after
marching twice around the table. deposited
their hats on stand and took their seats.
A large bowl Of excellent soup was then
brought in. accompanied by large dish OF
pork and beans which completed the dinner.
At signal from the superintendent every
boy then bowed his head and audibly, and at
some length. offered thanks to God and asked
His blessing.
Regular hours are appointed for eating,
sleeping, playing. studying and working. 50
for brooding over their confinement, con-
cocting plans for escape. or INDUCING In filthy
conversation.
The question is often asked. How do you
keep them from running away"
Ii cannot always be prevented, nor can IT
always be done by prison walls; but We find
that, knowing the eye Of a keeper is always
upon them, they are not likely to try 70 es-
cape.
At night man sleeps In the room with
them and the door is securely fastened.
Fellow-citizens, we do not claim as yet 10
have accomplished great things. Perhaps We
shall never assert such claim but we do feel
some quiet assurance of your verdict when We
leave it 10 you to say whether the first year OF
our existence and the first six months Of our
actual work have proved failure. or whe-
Their they give reasonable Assurance of mode-
rate success hereafter.
BY your hbcralty our school has been es-
tablished and equipped upon modest scale.
II has been supported and is growing
We have also bought and paid for nearly
one hundred acres Of land admirably adapted
20 our purposes at Laurel station. on the
Richmond, fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
road.
Two changes are imperatively necessary in