The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-27
.,ol crre,uonalnec Of the InldliuenI.,,,r. y.

sytal Correspondence Of he 1n,diigentsr.E
PcrSrYrowS, W. Va, Feb. 25.-Tho
raIorm school at Pruntytown is n model
Institution OF its kind, indeed, and the
citizens OF the stale should feel proud
Oiit Tho superintendent leaves Moth
inc undonc that would add comfort, in.
diligence, or morality to the boys who
are there. lie is progressive in every
department.. His idea, judging from
hi; work, is to mako tho institution one
1.-THE best in this country.
a great many people imagine tho in
g,itulc to be something between n peni-
tertiary and a Jail. This is Il wrong i'm
preston. The 10 to 50 boys now at tho
reform school arc receiving instruction
that perhaps, they would never have
received at home, besides habits.are be.
Ing formed which will make them bet
Ter boys, better men and better citizens.
The school is not merely an educational
institution, but they have 10 perform
labor, such as farm work, cooking, shoe
making, tailoring, &c,--in short it 10
model homo for them. II there is any
good at all in n lad it is sure 10 develop
curing his stay at the reform school.
They arc given generous and wholesome
liberties as long as they do not abuse
them.
When the boys arrive at the school
complete history oil each case with a
minute description OF the boy is placed
on record. Then they are informed Of
the rules OF the institution, and are as
signed u sleeping place in the proper
ward. The white boys sleep in the
large court room and the colorcd boys
in the jail building. The whites and
blacks eat, attend school and Sabbath
school separately. The first thing given
q boy is o bath, and it is quite a task
ior some, and seems novel to them all.
The superintendent and assistants study
each lad like physician would his pa
tient, all arc treated kindly and say
they have yet to receive q saucy word
from any OF the boys. They are man
aged in way that commands the re-
spect and generally their obedience.
When it is necessary to punish boy
ararity-it is done in q proper and very
successful way. 1t is usually runaway
or an embryo Sullivan who has to DO
punished. In extreme and unusual
cases tho superintendent is compelled
to use the switch. The usual modes OF
punishment are: To place the culprit
in room alone for a day or two with
nothing but bread and water to live on.
Avery successful ay,when the weather
will permit, is to stand tho boy in bar.
rel out in the play ground for an entire
day where his fellows can SEQ him all
the time, and he is forbidden to speak
10 any Of them. One dose is generally
cure.
Prof. Show0lter kindly took the IN
TELLlGENCER representative through the
various departments OF the institution,
and every ward, room and arrangement
showed that the superintendent had
established thorough system in every
detail. OF course he has several assist.
ants under him, but everything is under
his general supervision.
Mrs. Virginia Slime is the matron OF
tho school. Sho has proven to be The
one for the place. Her duties are to
Fec that the clothing and bed linen are
regularly washed and mended and to
Euperlntend the culinary department.
The boys all eat heartily, and it re-
quires bushels and bushels of food
every day for them. When beans are
On the bill OF fare it means that q
hushel OF beans has to be cooked.
Bread by the dozen loavcs is baked
daily. a general variety OF food is given
the boys, and they have plenty.
The daily Ioutinc is about this: The
boys rise at @ o'clock every morning.
Two sleep in splendid iron cot, which
ms springs, mattress and clean linon.
me occupants Of each cot makes up the
bed after rising. After the morning
meal, the largest boys have little odd
JOBS to perform around the buildings
until school time at 8. The colorcd
boys attend in tho afternoon. When
not in tho schoolroom the boys spend
tho remainder OF the day at work.
lhoso who are too small for much work
are allowed to play, and arc drilled in
marching
About thirty OF tho boys are learn
Ing tho tailoring trade, under tho in
struction OF Mr.. G. T. Thomas, who
alter learning his trade took n spocial
course in q New York cutting school.
eeverai OF the boys can make pair OF
pants out and out. About like num-
Der are learning the shoemaking trade,
ana We learn that all tho bows learn
very last, Others are employed at var
1oNs duties out on tho farm.
No school is had on SATURDAYS, and
alter q certain number of hours arc
passed in farm and other work, the bows
horns.
Inc boys retire Mt 8 o'clock-not later
c, alI tho order is usually good. On
sunday afternoon they are taught Bible
lessons, and the natives, OF India could
r rI hayea less idea and knowledge OF
tntisI than some OF the boys here.
Among the industrial schools, or do.
printing $50 . : 49, -
A very handsome new building is al
'"Tst completed, which is to be used as
TG.uN9F'n!tory Tor the inmates. 1t is some
H hslr distance south OF tho original
buildings, and the location will afford n
, m"ch larger playground for tho in
.