The morning times., 1896-12-13

Mrs. Van .ReDsselaef to reporter who
secured the first interview with her.
There are many ia vs. there already, for
the presence Of which philanthropic men
and missionaries are to be credited. Now
comes another and novel plan to tighten
the mental darkness from which most OF
the prison inmates suffer.
A REAL SCHOOL
I'VE propose 10 establish school in the
Tombs prison for the benefit Of the crimi-
nails who are waiting to be called to the
Dd-, and who have nothing whatever to do
under existing conditions teyond eating the
poor PRISON Ia A., S.etl.nS on ,'.e n3Id
prison beds, reading the prison Bibles or
hrouiing over fheIy SINS. fnn little class
has already begun its preparatory.
..v;.nziug tn1-v ANS Is tsr. :, ,ery likely
way to bring young criminals to their
ing their minds occupied and inStilling into
ft,~,,, Dook nuuN.,..-t. il, tstat,t....!nL IL
school In prison. According to the latest
prison census there are thirty-two boys
confined in the TOnlbS, and it is these that
We wish particularly TO reach. The prog
| ress thus far made is the most satisfactory
in every way.
Il have not only secured the requisite
| permission to begin the work" said Mrs.
Van Rensselaer,, but 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 sufft-
| cient for our schoOlroom. If it amuses the
| scholars we can arrange them like an in
| fant class, all sitting around the teacher.
A, b, C's FOR OLD MEN.
"There are old men in the Tombs, too,
| who need instruction. They are grandfath-
| ers, yet they have not the rudimentary
| education of their grandchildren For these
mill hn a nf A
| special one.
| III would be mortifying for an old man
| to sit by the side OF a boy and be taught
his letters, therefore there viii have to
be adult classes conducted separately.
The teacher will stand before his black
! board while the pupils open mouthed,
as I have often seen them, listen in
| tently.
The teacher has alrfady been decided
upon. He is a volunteer, l am glad to
say. His name is MilIard. He came TO
New York 10 teach in the public schools
after graduating from college.
| TOMBS SCHOOLMASTER.
.'He passed the examination as a pub
| lie school teacher, and while waiting for
an appointment became interested in the
| work done 10y the university settlement
"Their work is largely among just such
] boys and men as he viii meet in the
| Tombs, and The training he has had VIII
| stand him in good stead when he comes
10 face class OF Tombs criminals.
He knows just how to manage boys
by combination of kindness and firm
ness, and Will be a most valuable man
| for the TombS sChoolmaSter. For the NlC
men he may want an assistant-some
nice elderly gentleman who Will Toiun
teer to assist.
II do not hope to accomplish much
more at present than to get the boys in
! 1eres ted generally in the pursuit f
knowledge. They do not stay in the
! prison long enough TO enable us to thor
oughIy educate them. Three months il
| usually the limit of time for the boys tC
remain awaiting trial, and Of course W.
are not ableSto follow them up after the.
/ leave the prison.
s'Others in for long terms will have
course of their own. Some are denSelylgnOr
ant, and these will derive direct and perma
nent benefit even from the limited amoun
of schooling they will get in the Tomb
| school.
COURSES FOR MURDERERS.
"win we have special courses of study
Oh, yes For the young man in for thre
months We can give type writing, if we Sc
| the machines, or stenography for a bun
glary case awaiting trial. For manslaughte
| there is no limit to all we can teach. H
will have to cut out carpet to fit our rooI
and adapt the course to the man. Reading
and writing would take three months an.
way.
..WiIl we teach the languages? On
English Any foreigner confined in tn
Tombs can learn to speak English so as {
be able to plead in the language of tn
court.
1.-THE sessions will be held regularly
stated kours, and we hope, will prov