The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-14

Tombs-FOreignersT Taught English
So as to be Able to Understand the
Court.
Copyright, 1896.
New York, Dec. 11.-Mrs. Schuyler Van
Rensselaer,, the woman who has started
most of the prison reforms of the later
years of the century. has in progress one
If the best things yet done for these
.,moral erfpples,'' one that may make them
whole If they will consent to the treat
ment.
Mrs Van Rensselaer, sits much of her
day putting down upon paper the plans
for the "Tombs College" and perfecting
the most novel educational idea of the
century.
Into that dark Egyptian pile, construct
ed sixty years ago in New York, to repre-
sent in detail an ancient mausoleum, and
aptly named The Tombs,'' an additional
ray of sunshine is about to penetrate"
said Mrs Van Rensselaer, to a reporter,
who secured the first interview from her.
There are many rays there already,
for the presence of which philanthropic
men and missionaries are to be credited
Now comes another and a novel plan TO
tighten the mental darkness from which
most of the prison inmates suffer.
I'VE propose to establish a school in the
Tombs prison for the benefit of the GRIM
inals who are waiting to be called to the
bar, and who have nothing whatever to
do under existing conditions beyond eat
ing the poor prison fare, Sleeping on the
hard prison beds, reading the prison BIZ
bles are brooding over their sins. The lit
tie class already begun is preparatory.
Realizing that this is not very likely
way to bring young criminals to their
senses, we hit upon the bright idea of keep
ing their minds occupied and instilling into
them book knowledge by establishing a
school in the prison. According to the lat
est prison census there are thirtytwo boys
confined in the Tombs, and it is these that
we wish particularly to reach. The prog
ress thus far made is the most satisfac-
tory in every way.
Il have not only secured the requisite
nermission to begin the work. said Mrs.
Van Rensselaer,, 'fbut have had room set
apart in the Tombs for the school, by one
of the commissioners of correction. He
has also provided a supply of chairs sutfi-
Gent for our schoolroom. If it amuses the
scholars we can arrange them like an in
FAINT class, all sitting around the teacher
There are old men in the Tombs, too,
who need instruction. They are grand
fathers, yet they have not the rudiment-
airy education of their grandchildren. For
these there will be a course of instruction
"a special one.
to sit by the side of a boy and be taught
his letters. therefore there will have to be
adult classes conducted separately. The
teacher will stand before his blackboard,
while the pupils, open-mouthed, as have
often seen them, listen intently.
THE teacher has already been decided
upon. He is a volunteer am glad to say.
His name is Willard. He came to New
York to teach in the public schools after
graduating from college,
He passed the examination as a public
school teacher, and while waiting for an
appointment became interested in the
work done by the University Settlement.
Their work is largely among just such
boys and men as he will meet in the
Tombs, and the training he has had will
stand him in good stead when he comes
to face a class of Tombs criminals.
He knows just how to manage boys by
a combination of kindness and firmnes
and will be a most valuable man for the
Tombs schoolmaster. For the old men
who may want an assistant-some nice
elderly gentleman who will volunteer to
assist
81 do not hope to accomplish much more
at present than to get the boys interested
generally in the pursuit of knowledge.
They do not stay in the prison long enough
to enable us to thoroughly educate them.
Three months is usually the limit of time
of course, we are not able to follow them
after they leave the prison.
Others in for long trials will have a
course of their own. Some are denseiy
ignorant, and these will derive direct
and permanent benefit even from the linn
tied amount of shooting they will get in
the Tombs school.
viii we have special courses of study?
Oh, yes. For the young man in for three
months we can give typewriting if we
get the machines, or stenography for a
burglary case awaiting trial For man.
slaughter there is no limit to all we can
teach. He will have to cut out Garnet
TO lit our room and adapt the course to
the man. Reading and writing would
take three months anyway
WIN we teach the languages? ONLY
English Any foreigner confined in the
lombs can learn to speak English so as
10 De able to plead in the language of the
court.
The sessions will be held regularly al
stated hours, and, we hope, will prove
welcome relief from the monotony OF
oeh me, in addition TO the other bene.
nus derived by the prisoners from the in
novation.
People come to me and inquire what
my plans are and whether or not / in.
wnu 10 extend the work. 1 can only say
mat have no plans beyond those out.
med. The scheme may develop into some.
Ining bigger and more far-reaching. We
must wait and see the good results
RON the school for criminals in the
Iombs before talking of further plans
After the first we shall need funds
as all charities do. for Tombs prisoners
cahnot be expected to be particularly
careful with the school supplies and
these will have to be replaced if de-
sfoyed. The University Settlement has
Aihdly allowed us the use of their library
rom which to select books, and there is a
uorary in the prison to help out in case
we need more books for class readings.
We shall not bring the question of re-
Hglon into the schools. 1t is to be a
secular school, pure and simple. While
1 hardly dare expect that future Presi-
eents and merchant princes will &C
,orih from our little prison classes dc
Nheve that the slight peep into the
realms of knowledge obtained by these
Ri criminals will prove a turning point ir
lne lives Of many. There have been cases
"here brands snatched from the burning
became great useful logs. Perhaps oui
poys viii go from the Tombs to Yalel
The commissioners have entered hearth
INTO our plans. Besides setting apart 9