Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-18

nxed that their short stay In the scnooi
only tended to rid society OK tne'r pre-.
ence for time; as we cahhot 'esa",
detain them after reacnihs .ne' ~"
jority, they go back to their o'n naun,s'
and soon find their way pack !" 'ne 'a"'
from thence 10 prison. Then II IL that
The possIps lot loose their tongues ana
the reform school gets "a scorching.' TO
obv,ate all this. IL is necessary, then. Tor
notice magistrates and oil In whom power
NJ committal is vested TO exercise great
care in committing children to these IN
situations.
HABITS FIXED.
boy who Is past the age oi 30 800
is too old TO be committed W 80,
school. His habits are nxe"' do wv
OF is is, so Is the man OF ~. -, IL,
Those of us who have had TO oeai WIN
criminals and crime for years kho" '''s''
often perhIry s added to the onehee
already committed, In order 10 eNp'a'e
in n measure for the crime, by pieauns
youth and 10 gain. II possible, the sym
nathv of his Honor" In order I" eseap
a term I'm state prison. HIS comm, ' az
70 the reform school can on,y ". H.
binding during his minority. fte''y s'.r'
afiidavits begin pouring III up"
u,no knows better than the mother The
resu,, IL that great harm has been dohe
% tba Younger children by this perJ"ren
youth He has been insuboriiha,e'
dctant and his general behavior WINE
here has been to defy order ana hhso'p'"'.
and To set at naught all regulations 'ha'
must from necessity govern tne sSnoo' !,
He is now released. and tuii,neuse
hero in his class. He heaps aii MAJ
ner OF abuses upon the iuSNtu'io" N
failed to reform him.
THE AIM.
IL should be the aim or all REFORM
schools TO reform its inmates by ruIy
Industrial and educational method, re-
cordIess OF any expense that may arise.
We must teach our children CLEANLINESS
and good manners; cultivate whatever OF
genius we may have. and have sufhcleht
number OF Industries at hand TO De aDie
to give each "A start IN that inc OF
industry best adapted to himself ana MS
surroundings. To do this we must nave
the means necessary 10 carry on the
work. The idea of making REFORM
| school self supporting should not De
thought Of This thought belongs TO the
"workhouse" IL should not be the
| object of a reform school TO make money,
but rather make men; men who. In after
years would be capable Of filling places
of usefulness, of trust. ot honor. lf
Christian philanthropy be worthy OF the
name surely it's founders would not hest
tate in "overturning the tables OF the
money-changers," and destroy the plant
| because OF its mssappropriated use.
| spoke of a workhouse. such an in
stitutlon should be made TO be "self-sup
porting" and is, in my opinion, "A very
| much needed auxiliary both TO city anc
| country government.
BY IL all shOrt-term prisoners coul'
be compelled 10 earn their board and pa'
| their fines, by working for the county oi
| State at stipulated rate. whereby the
! institution could be made 10 profit by
! their iabors.
BAD METHODS.
The scene around the police courts OF
| Richmond on a Monday morning be
| speaks little for the methods in use OF
| protecting society. Why not put that
motley, hungry horde OF dark hued gen
| try" to work, rather than let them prey
| upon the industrious white man who
| PAYS for their maintenance In jail?
would 10 God the good people of this
| great State, THE mother OF Presidents
| would see the subject in favorable
| light, and at once proceed 10 erect such
| a structure that all the counties OF tn
| State might send their prisoners there
| at hard work until all costs. fines. etc
| are RENTED. besides the serving sen
! tence for the punishment Of the offence
| committed.
! Society demands our protection against
| those public leeches who are sappins
| the very life-blood from the industrious
| classes. If | can in any way serve IN,
people in the advancement and upbuild.
! ing of society. | assure YOU it Will be
my pleasure. Yours truly. rem.