The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-12-05
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
A Visitor Tells What He Saw and
Heard There.
Grafton Standard.


Through the courtesy and kind
invitation of Col. J. X. Smith, par
ty consisting Of James w. Holt, S.
W. Poe, L. NJ. LaFollette, Leonard
Mallonee, S. L. Allen, John Doonan
and I. M. Wilson visited the Reform
School at Pruntytown last Friday.
The visitors were shown through the
buildings by the Superintendent,
Col. Smith, and everything of interest
pointed out and the details of the
running order of the Institution ex-
planned. There are now about sew
enty boys cared for at the school of
whom about twelve are colored. The
two races are kept apart as well as
the somewhat limited capacity of
buildings and grounds will admit
and thus the spirit of the law
is conformed to as nearly as posi-
Bile. The Davidson building has
been remodeled and thoroughly fitted
and is nearly ready for occupancy,
the furnace fires being already start
ed up. This building will be occu-
pied by the white boys. A lerge
and commodious room on the second
and third floors respectively will be
fitted up as dormitories, well lighted
and well ventilated. A large hall on
the first floor will be used as din.
ing room and the basement fitted up
and set apart for the culinary depart
ment. The grounds around the new
building are ample and afford an ex
cellent play ground for the boys, be
sides serving to keep the white and
colored boys effectually apart The
latter contingent will continue to
have their quarters in the old Jail
building. The old court house
building will be used for the school
room, workshops, library, necessary
offices, and such apartments as the
assistants may need. A good tailor
ing department has been establish
ed with first class tailor in charge
and number of the boys engaged
therein, many of them making rapid
progress in their new trade. They
are busily engaged on their new
uniforms and soon all the boys will
be decked out in regulation style,
which will add much to the appear
ance of the entire school, A boot
and shoe department has been added
and a number of boys are engaged
in learning this useful trade. Such
other trades from time to time will
be introduced and taught as the
growth of the school demands, and
the required meals at hand will per-
nit The feature most full of prom
Use is the thorough educational train
ing that each boy will receive. The
superintendent and assistants are
practical teachers and thorough go
ing school men. The boys under
their tutorage will have school
training such as to be envied by
those who count themselves more
fortunately situated in receiving the
advantages afforded by our best
public schools. The school will
have the training or industrial fea-
tare and thus an advantage over
the simply educational course. The
institution is just making a good be-
ginning, as it were. With the pres
ent progress that it is making. it
will soon be amply provided to meet
the ends for which it was establish |
ed, that is, the better training of ju
venile offenders and their reclama-
tion from evil courses already begun
or likely to be embarked upon on the
principle that early restraint is less
costly than the punishment of matur-
ed crime.
The visitors came away agreeably
surprised with what they had seen
and under many obligations to the
genial superintendent, the gracious
and obliging matron, Mrs Slime, and |
last hut not least, the whole soued |
and deeply interested Col. Smith
who as one of the directors is doing
his utmost to make the school sue
cess and an honor to the State.