The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-26
EVIL COMMUNICATIONS"
Have q Disastrous Influence on Youth
ful Prisoners
WHO ARE SENT TO The C0UqY JAIL
while Awaiting Trial They should Be
Sent to the Reform school Where
They VIII He Treated In Manner 20
Improve, Not Destroy Their Morals.

ne staUomonCb IN tuoso coiumns To-
garding the Incarceration of children of
tender years, who have been arrested for
some offense and have been remanded to
in to await trial, have undoubtedly
made an impression on the thinking
public.
The fact that little boys who have been
guilty perhaps of no greater crime than
simple larceny, or playing ball on the
Sabbath. are compelled to spend time
with criminals OF the BLACKLIST type, until
they are brought up for trial. Will seem
10 all as unnecessarily severe. Mere AS
sociation with depraved characters Ill
make any good man depraved - a cer-
extent providing he cuts loose from all
restraint. and the effect on the natures
and characters OF the little fellows M ust
be evil in the extreme.
Parents realize bow quickly their chill
dren pick up the habits and manners OF
their playmates. and II stands to reason b
that the compelling OF a boy to dwell
even for short time in the midst Of the
scum and offscourings of the ciry's p pu-
lation has an affect on the boy that Is in
nine cases out OF ten demoralixing to his
character. anu the effect Of which can
almost always be traced In after years.
1t would seem then, that kno wing the
baneful and demoraliziag Influences to
are exposed, and In view OF the fact that
a law has been passed providing for the
committal OF youthful prisoners TO the
State Reform school to await trial. the
court justices would follow the statute
prescribed by law. But this is not al
WAYS done. In some OF the courts the
judges give weight to these facts and the
boys are taken to the Reform school
There they do not come in contact with
men SO.
Hardened In Crime
In crime and debauchery rs to have
grown oblivious of the teachings OF their
childhood. They mingle with boys of
their own age and are subjected to the
good Influence that pervades the school.
The boy Is trie and is sent back to the
school. He is not coming into a stran &c
place, or one that Ii filled with horror
He has already passed n time in
the confines OF the school, and
knows just what treatment he will
receive and what he Is expected 20 do.
Consequently he will give no trouble and
will SHORTLY settle down into calm ex-
istence, during which he will acquire
trade and wnen he comes out Of the in-
stitution he has been benefited In sew
eral ways: He haA been weaned from his
bad associations aud has been instructed
In an occupation that will enable him to
enter at once into the world.
Bnt marx the difference between the
attitude OF this bov aud he who has been
confined In the Jail previous TO trial.
The former Is resigned and gives hut lit
CLING with the depraved specimens
of manhood at the Jail has prob
ably conceived q horror of the
school which his imagination has pic
tured as far worse than his quarters in
the jail. He goes to the school, and Is
Is.rtf 4. Ia ot
during his jail life. He looks upon his
guards as his natural enemies ins cad
OF his protectors and gives them
trouble. Aud again. he has learned
nothins but idleness while undergoing
his previous imprisonment and when the
opportunity comes to work and learn
some trade he refuses and force 10 neces.
sary. 1t is well-known fact that the
future career of boy can almost always
be foretold by his actions duri ig chil l.
hood. aud it is the popular opini that
t degrading Influences exs xsrted Oh the
Nou1n during his confinement in Jail
leave brand on his character that looms
up IN brilliant lines In after years.
The chaplain OF the prison is working
harl for the recainlng Of these boys,
but he states tnat ne finds IL
Very Hard Work
to make any impression on the little fe!-
lows VINO come 10 Tue scnOOl from jail.
The hardness OF character developed by
the boys during their short term in jail
is amazing, aud only SHOWS more con-
clusively how terrible the conse q uences
of such Imprisonment are to theai.
About a week ago little fellow about
18 ears OF age was sent to the Jail from
the Sixth district court to await trial for
truancy. This seems to be very slight
charge on which to serve term In Jail.
but the boy was seut there He
was bright boy and was
filled with a spirit OF mischief
This boy has b en- watched very ciosel y
since his confinement and marked
change has been observed to come over
him. Where beiors he was lively and
foil of animal spirits now he Is contin-
uallv moody and de-pondent and his
forehead Is frequently kuotted in deep
Irown. That that youth will resist tue
authority OF the reform school officials
assd will give no little trouble Is fore.
gone conclusion. This is but one case of
similar imporG o1t oil hundreds.
The dilligent efforts Of the CHAPLAIN in
bringing about a reform, however, are
slowly bearing fruit. aud under the
pressure OF popular opinion the evil can
A IL 4. l.