Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-11
REFORM SCHOOL.
Annual Visit of the Governor
and Executive Council.
Everything Found in Splendid Order
and Pink of Condition.
School Doing Good Work in Lines Tor Which
II is Intended.


1t was distinguished party that arrived in
Portland ON the $50 train this morning
and took barge and carriages to the Maine
State Ref.rm School at Cape Elizabeth.
Once year or oftener the Governor and
committee on reform school of the Execu.
tive Council, invite a limited number OF
people to accompany them to this public
institution, for the purpose of giving them
an insight into the workings add mode Of
living ut this refuge for the unfortunate
boys who make this their home.
Since Hon. Fred Atwood of Winter
port has been a member of the Council,
and chairman of this committee, he has
taken great interest in the school aud ha,
gwen it a great deal of thought and atten-
ton.
He loves the school and the boys and the
boys all love him.
The party which arrived today was COM
posed of Hon. and Mrs. Fred Atwood OF
Winterport, Hon. and Mrs. Marquis King
Of Portland, Hon. and Mrs. Edwin Clark
and Miss Mabel Clark Of Waldoboro, Hon
and Mrs. Waldo Pettingill of Rumford
Falls, Hon. and Mrs. Charles A. Harring.
ton of Norridgewock and Judge Downs OF
Calais, the gentlemen representing the
Executive Council.
Among the invited guests were Judge aud
Mrs. Enoch Foster of Bethel, Mayor Baxter
Of Portland and wife, DR.. and Mrs. H. B.
Hill of Augusta, Mics Eta King and Mrs
DR.. Alfred King of Portland, Hon. H. X.
Morrill, of Gardiner, L. Frank Jones, Esq.
of Portland.
There were also present Hon. Albion
Little Of Portland, president of the board
of trustees. and Mark P. Emery, Esq, and
John j. Perry, Esq, of Portland, and
Ansel Briggs, E'q of Auburn, represent
.ng the rest of the board. Mrs. Hawes, the
visiting lady of the board of trustees, and
Miss Taylor, principal of the Portland
Mute school.
Immediately after the arrival of the party
at the institution, they were given a sump-
tuous lunch in the private dining room in
the main building by Supt. Harrington and
his estimable wife.
After lunch general review of the insti-
tuition was begun, and the whole building
vas thrown open for inspection.
There are now about $50 boys, ranging
all the way from to IS years of age, con-
fined here, and all appeared happy and con-
tented; and well they might, if good food
good substantial clothing and kind treatment
amount to anything.
The principal industry of the boys l.
weaving cane seats into chair bottoms. IL
the main work room some so of the boy.
were actively engaged in this branch of tht
business. Others were in the woodworking
shop, while others were busy about the
farm, which contains some hundreds Of
acres, and cuts about 200 tons of hay.
Everything about the buildings and
grounds are kept scrupulously clean and
the schoorooms were model of neatness
and comfort.
Many of the boys are very proficient with
tools, and a handsome black walnut pulpit
10 the chapel attests to the skill Of THEN
workmanship. Nearly all the repairs abou,
he buildings are done by the boys.
The cottage which was built some two
he main building, is one of the most pleas
tng features of the institution. Here tn
boys graduate into the outer world. and b
brighter and smarter looking Set of lands i.
~ ould be hard to find. Here the best boys
are separated from those who have just en-
,ered the institution. Having reached this
higher Grade the boys are given more iber-
lies. They work about the farm and enjoy
freedom which the other boys do not Z, t..
TO reach the cottage" is an incentive t,
The other boys, and they know if they WORK
md obey the rules of the institution the.
will soon attain grade higher.
In the cottage on the first floor are the
work shop, play room, boiler-room, bath
room, storeroom, water closets aud coal
room. On the second floor are the dining
room, schoolroom, Cffice, kitchen, store
room, familyroom, chamber, bathroom and
closets. The cottage will accommodate
about 80 boys. The cottage is under the
charge of Master Skillings and Mrs. ski
lings, the matron, who are deserving of a
great deal of praise from the manner in
which the building is kept and managed.
An exhibition drill was giver about noon
by the boys Oh the farm in front of the
cottage, which was enjoyed by the visitors.
After tour of this building, the party
were invited to very fine dinner in the
diningroom of the cottage of which the
following is the bill Of fare, nearly all the
food being prepared and cooked by the
boys:
Baked Salmon,
Roast Beef,
Mashed Potatoes