The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-09-03
a NEW KIND OF REPUBLIC.
"A Government "Of tho Children. fi,a
the Children, by tho Children" :"
with oil tho Institutions OF a Wen
Ordered state.

Prof. J. a, Gamewcll in the S. c. Advocate.
a farm near Trceville, n. Y, con-
tains all the territory OF this complete
little Republic and it's citizens are bows
and girls from the slums of New York
City. The founder and president is
MIR. William Il. George, who has for
years given Ill his time to the interests
OF this noble littlo commonwealth.
Tho sending Of poor children to the
country for u few weeks during the
summer has Interested good people for
Il long time, but no ono has ever put
into operation tho plan which Mr..
George has so faithfully and success
fully carried out. His idea is to COM
blnc with country life and recreation,
employment and Improvement and in
this way to send the child back to the
city moro intelligent and improved
morally rs we'll as Inado stronger by
new scenes and fresh air. At first he
tried to manage these bad and rough
boys and girls by himself and he told
me that in ono day he thrashed thirty
two. Aftcr careful experiment he con
cludGd that the better method would
be to let them control themselves and
thus to teach them many duties of 1.
citizoh. Now these young people max e
and execute their own laws, Mr.. George
having u veto power which he seldom
uses. Tho basal principles of the gov
crnmcnt is that every citizen must
earn by some kind Of work u living,
the kind Of living depending on skill,
thrift aud industry Zach one is com
poliod to look out for himself and at
tho same time contributes something
10 the common interest. Industry and
good behavior mean good living and
cnjOymcnt,w ,wh hile idlcncss and violation
Of law is followed by Imprisonment
and misery. The laws are enacted by
Il congress whose members are elected
AT the ballot box, managed us it is in
il city, and these laws arc executed by
proper officers who arc boys, put into
office by boys and paid for their services
from tho public Golfer. For two years
the girls pctiti0ned this congress 70"
the use OF the ballot and finally the
petition was granted and the republic
has female suffrage this year for the
first time.
The government has issued it's
own money and has adopted neither
gold nor silver as u standard. The
money is tin in tho denominations Of
tho United States silver coin. While
this means Of exchange is Of no value
outside Of tho government it has It's
purchasing power whcrc it is used. a
tin ten cent piece will buy Il good meat
or Il nights ,odginE and tho absence Of
this tin ten cent piece means q pau
pcr's bed anu Il hungry boy on girl.
CnSkillcd labor such us work On the
farm is paid hfty cents in tin money a
day and AS three meals and IL bed cost
10 cents and a daily tax Is ; cents the
common laborcr has to put in good
illl,. ~, nniS j.,
the highest WAGES paid. Some barely
make rnds meet while others at the
end OF each week have IL surplus to
deposit in their bank, which pays
three per cent. interest. \ few Of the
boys soon become what they call IL
capitalist. \ capitalist lis IL boy who
by work and economy has saved enough
to keep him going without work.
asked we'll dressed boy how nc made
his money. He said, " do not worl:
and have made enough money to lusI
me until the end of tho season.
, made my money selling apples to the
! boys. Catch INC carrying watcr at two
cents Il pail when ] can make eight
! dollars II week on apples" Tho food
and clothing that Is sold to these chill
drcn arc the contributions from friends
! Of the institution. MIR. George said
to me: "lf had that cellar full Of
potatoes | would let them rot before ,
would give one ;twuy-but there is no
danger OF my potatoes rotting.
! There are several hotels and rCSt;tu
rantS conducted by the boys. These
! prOprict tors pay rcntanu for provisions
and make what they can. The names
Of the hotels they have brought with
! them from New York city The Il otcl
Waldorf and Dolmonico arc the resorts
Of the rich. DO you cat at Dclmonico,
| asked boy. He replied, mo sir,
Twenty-Five cents II meal there, too
| high for me-" The boys dress accord
ing to their means. ~ full suit with
shoes and hat Indicate prosperity. The
| bearing attracted my attention BY
| having on q coat and low cut vest and
no shirt.
- I..>si .AtrrC-'ing feature OF this
| life is the police court, which meets
every day for tie trial Of criminals
In the court room found Judge. clcrk
police force and criminals. 1t was no.
play although all wcro ragged boys
a more solemn assembly have seldom
seen. The trembling boy prisoner
was brought before the boy Judge and
the boy clerk read the bill. Witnesses
are sworn. In the lighter offences the
! judge gives the decision but for the
! gravcr violations Of the law jury o!
! boys Is cmpanncicd and boy ia"ycl
! defends the cu!prit. Just below the
court room are the cells where thc
| prisoncr,.are confined. SSOlnc offenders
T get oil with d fine q five collars Or
more. 4 not ao.>: 10 pay ;hc fine they
arc pu. Z. hard .a1Dr. The mar. 1ec
/ Of CrIulEa- = on the Gccrra-c. one
..Tr,. .E Jr. -gt! 4,.-t.y- no, Dy.-. .Lc