The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-16

was in charge, whom I found to be an
attractive. educated and accomplish
! ed Young woman. Her office was a.
dorned with flowers, and the furni-
ture. glass, linen and all were of the
best. The girls imprisoned, chiefly
for drunkenness, were sewing in the
| corridor. The matron said that they
were mainly from class that saw
civilization only at a distance, like a
passing panorama. So she taught
them how to live, dress, and care for
themselves; to set a table properly,
and behave at meals with propriety-
to sew, and knit and take an interest
in the thousand things that accompa-
ny life, with their more favored sis
ters. She had been a trained nurse and
could minister to their physical ills.
They say here that the girls who go
out, are really elevated by their con-
tact with better things than they have
seen in their candid lives. The whole
visit was a revelation of the possibili-
ties in prison Reform"
This great body comprises many
others. and on Wednesday, the officers
of the State Board of Charities were
invited to n dinner together, at the
Morton House, together with the presi-
dent and secretary, and the president
elect. North Carolina was compliment
ed with the chair, at the head of the
feast. and Indiana and Tennessee on
one side with Ohio and Massachusetts
spM qT 'pIpoq Qua 10 puo I9qlo qua
-uo00H qua ulIM LaqQO qua J0QIB QUO
plished wife of the president-elect at
Suorssaoons III suQ4 puB 'I9Qlo aql no
L +o hui, Innnt hnT. those
whose correspondence is gradually ac-
cummulating the basis of fact for the
action of their respective State gov
eminent.
Judge Grant, of the Supreme court
of Michigan, famous for subduing the
wild element by the law, made
the chief address of the evening. Tor
onto. Canada, was selected as the next
place of meeting. The citizens have
We'd with each other in hospitality.
They have this subject deeply in heart.
Michigan, beyond question has done
more in the effective charities than
any other State, and is one of the four
only. in our Union, in which crime is
annually diminishing, upon which
text / may have something of impor-
lance to taxpayers, to say.
Did you know that the statistics
for six years past show that CRIME
is increasing annually III Norh
rarolina. five per cent? Does that
mean that in twenty years, there will
he a need for double the Jail room,
donhle the penitentiary farms and
force. double the criminal docket OF
fine courts and all attendant eNpendi-
lures to the taxpayers, to say nothing
of the injuries inflicted, the assaults,
and burnings, rapes and murders TO be
chronicled in sombre ways? 1t does
mean that very thing, as the facts ana
figures of recent Investigations by the
secretary of the Board of Public Char
tiles will show, beyond question: III
the report to the Governor and Cen
eral Assembly of 1897, in January next.
DO we like this state of things and
if not. what are we going to do about
ito If we are wise we shall e&tin-
p1lish this fire. like our neighbors, who
have found a way to do it. There are
only four States of the Union IN winch
crime is steadily palpably diminish
inc. They have followed the example
of the British, who, by deyoting chief
attention to reforming the young Of
tenders. reduced their criminal list OF
offences 10000 in five years, and closed
MANY prisons altogether, as no longer
needed Two of these States are Min
nesota and Michigan. Nowhere has as
much proportionately been accomp-
lished as just here, and so | went Satur-
day to Lansing. the capital, to see for
myself.
The country showed tine marks OF
Sunday nights terrific storm. 1t
struck one hotel and floods of water
through the roof damaged the superb
suites of rooms, oil cloths and mat
tresses filed the passages. Upon en-
tering Lansing we saw the terrific
destruction of the cyclone; fortunate
IN only reaching the suburbs, but
leveling every thing in its way My
companion, the distinguished secre-
tary of Public Charities, Hon. J.. c.
Shorrs, of Michigan, presented your
correspondent to the Governor, whom
/ found to be a large man of giant
frame, but kindly eye and big heart.
The reformatory, which is entitled the
Michigan Industrial School for Boys,
was in the northwestern suburbs,
about one mile from the capitol, with
a front of 1900 feet, with eight acres
in lawn. and 260 more at the rear as a
farm; the buildings are of brick, with
brown-stone trimming, and granite
foundations, with a center building
with tower and wings, and ten cot
tages, five on each side of the square,
and each cottage containing accommo-
dations for so boys. Not a bar or CRATE
or lock among them all. The old
building, unused except for storage
and manufacturing, with its peniten-
tiary gratings, stands like a grim
monument of the past.
Yet $50 boys were here, every one
sentenced for misdemeanor or felony
of some sort. They may be sentenced
from ten years of age and upward, and
are retained until seventeen years old,
unless discharged by reason of good
conduct. Children without parents or
homes are received from seven years
upward. They are i'm school four and
one-half hours daily, employed i'll
trades, etc, four and one-half hours,
and allowed five hours for meals, recre
alton, etc. | have never seen brighter
and happier set of inmates in any in
stitution Of the Union. They have
military drill, and all wore neat gray
F. r. ABB g