The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-07-28

ick Smith, of New York.
Development of the RefOrmatOry Idea.
In his address. "Aims. Methods and Re-
suits of Reform School Training" delivered
Charities and Corrections John T. Malla-
lieu. superintendent of the Nebraska In
dustrial school. said:
The rapid and wonderful development
in the material resources of our country. in
the arts. sciences and literature. has not
been more marvellous than the advancement
along the lines of charitable. penal and re-
fOrmatOry work, or the growth of public
sentiment in connection Herewith. Wher-
ever poverty exists. the hand of charity is
extended; wherever national misfortune
dwells there we find the RED Cross" wav-
ing. In the midst of individual misery and
tribulatiOn, we behold the benevOlences of
individual sympathy and orgazined assist
ance. In this broad field of misfortune,
love and sacrifice have left nothing undOne
to beneht those who are the objects of COM
miseration. This work is universal and
continuous. 1t taxes all the energies of the
mind, the heart and the physical nature.
The insane the blind, the mute the con-
vict, the juvenile criminal, the immigrant,
the tramp. the feeble minded and the infirm
all have been and are objects of most
serious consideration, earnest study and
practical philanthropy. Men and women.
inspired by noble. lofty and God like pur-
pose, are sacrificing their time and talents;
their money and even their health-fOr
what? That the pathway of fallen human
ity may be made bright; that the jail SyS.
tenn may be purified; that the insane hos
pltals may be made comfortable and the
management more humane; that the peni.
tentiaries may be better arranged. and that
the physical and sanitary condition of the
convicts may be improved; that the reform
atories may be more practical and better fit
boys for usefulness when they emerge again
into active life; and that all the subdivisions
of this great charitable. reformatOry and
penal work may be elevated and improved.
X X Whatever may be the adverse criti-
cism of those of pessimistic or fault find
ing disposition. the fact is patent that re.
form. schools do reform, and by verylarge
majority. And what is still more encOur.
aging. the results of the work become more
fruitful each year. AS our institution be.
comes better equipped, the officers and en-
plOyes gain more experience, the principles
of reform methods are closer studied and
applied, and more liberal policy is pur-
sued by the controlling boards, the work
becomes more efficient and the percentage
of those who 60 out and do we'll is CORE.
spOndingly increased. Our mission is a
just one and the results are noble and en-.
during Notwithstanding the assertion of
those vapOry individuals who are generally
on the wrong side of every question. 1t is
comparatively easy thing to tear down
building. Any person possessed of an Or
binary supply of muscle can accomplish the
task. 1t. however, requires the genius of
an architect and the skill of the experienced
mechanic to properly erect symmetrical
and durable structure. Some persons I'M
agine that with one broad sweep OF the
hand they can overthrow the work of the
reform school system. They do not realize
the difference between the material and the
immaterial; between mind and matter.
Our institutions are character builders and
when their mission is properly carried out
by judiciOus school training and subsequent
guardianship the results become of per.
manent nature. 1t is very easy for man
to affirm that our graduates are not what
thev should be. Talk is cheap and easily
done. but the proper and, judiciOus exercise
of the brain is difficult. The chronic talker,
like the parrot has little use for brains.
One case OF an adverse nature is sufficient
for him to build upon. If one boy strays
from the path of right after his institutional
career is ended you will find it subject of
local gossip and probably newspaper notori-
ETY.. The II told you.sO will put on
wise expression and roll the news as a
sweet morsel under their tongue yet there
may be dozen graduates in the cOmmun-
ity. living quiet. industrious and manly
lives. The newsmOnger. however. can't
see them. He is too busy proclaiming the
demerits of the strayed one and casting re.
Elections upon the schools. In his mental
make. up the execution becomes the rule.