The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-04
Tur soHoon nv TaF ronss.
rr. wniard's work Auaoss Beys cenanea
temporarily In Ire Prison.

81. WtI1nr0O WorA ANaonG hoy0 Conmno1
temporarily In thS PFissn.
tisa0ry up on tho fourth floor Of the Tombs,
IN tho northeast corner Of the new part. You
have to pass through the yard and mount the
iron stairs, and walk along In front Of tho cells
n, its pupils to get to II. II In q little room, but
brich. and sunny for q prison room. Four
,oSs Of benches extend clear across Il, with
boards hinged on their backs for desks. Two
other benches extend along either side. In
tho corner is q little oak cabinet which con-
Trims the copy books and pencils and other
,chool materials. md on top of Il q white bowl
with n great bunch Of red Glover, and another
containing daisies and a big red peony. A
blackboard stands In tho other corner, and Q
music box rests on ono OF the benches. That II
all. There Is no teachers dosk.
It. Is a quarter past 0 and the schoolmaster
comes in. He deposits an armful Of books and
his hat on one OF the side benches. A moment
later tho first boy comes into the room.
why. what can this boy DO in prison FORT
you involuntnrily ask yourself. His face is re-
fined and his hair brushed smooth. His clothes
are neat and Of good quality. He takes his scat
on the end OF tho front bench rather abashed.
"IIe is the oldest pupil horo,'' explains tho
teacher, aside. "He has been hero for six woeks
s%waiting his trial. Nobody seems to know why
,oT Tho w ffh' a 0G ssoo "a s1s; ad'ifh face. PMS aoos not
look capable Of anything moro serious than
top button Of his J" pink shirt s,ir '' free. H T,'n looks 9Rs
happy. as II he enjoyed coming to school.
''no YOU know how to sharpen q pencilf" asks
the S}% iSsc sirs''
Please hS these, ,thon, while the others are
q knife, and the big boy sets TO work.
The rest are not SO prspossossing. They look
scmc arc in their shirt sleeves, for It Is warm
pp here. Some wear. caps to the door, though
they have come only a few steps. Seems
into his pocket; There are Ave or six new boys
TraSS"ted since the !" previous Vi day. Most Of Pt the
pupils OF this school stay only, two or three, days.
h lhsn s tx OF I"s efs6t 'n Weeks e ws these and nd none Soy ,Gns see
IT,. They look surprised at seeing tho other
Finally they Sfc oil in. The teacher looks
over them to see how many pupils he has. There
rooSl. He simply asks tho new Ss'fb boys their
lanes. They range in age from 10 to % years,
fMSntTVoSc Is sG tRs aRs iim shsrS but sr man. 1iae who on srs
older icign. youth In order to get into the pleas
snter boys. wards.
music box. Then. for opening exercises, the
teacher reads a couple OF letters from former
RRa as been o sent Is ;h From to a s sSs s II the a s sGansey to H rs'
form. He writes a cheerful letter and ex-
presses much grntituds. The other is from 3
have been read lessons arc begun. The teacher
arc bent low. This is Iaborious work for most
q o. them tsacho Then Sin, spelling pape eF are passed sSS .o and
sentences: The spelling papers arc taken up,
and the list of the day before is written on the
blackboard and gone over
session to the boys. 1t is a half hours talk by
the teacher on practical, everyday, subjects
a 81 the T Sodg. Most Il IS OF OF tSs Soys listen aaa w thf r raP1
attention. and frequently in%ter'ect questions
talk Is over ana school is out. Before the boys
are dismissed each OF thcm receives a book Oh
masEnSipe Of Il the Fsd aayi in Then his c they d sie out. the re
Such is the Tombs school, which has beer
running since last December. 1t was started by
charge h r'e Of David Willard Of the &els anS o.
Guild of 70 Delaney street. Its sessions are
in the morning, except on Visiting days, wher
1t is dismissed an hour earlier. It is Intended
t91 the P Pe be- . irsea tn f tao vs s9ks, % casnee Sh or ar,
POUND. After dismissal the, teacher spends az
talking. to then, and Helping them in any way h
San. TO some he gives individpal instruction
The venture has been in many ways sue
sessfpi. The primary object 81 course, Is z
t EsssG way a | tS set ian the Boys. | F Pfssss Se sn,s ~ ed an'
eating a boy Is the best way to reform him, and
second, because lectur1ng these boys on TIT
error of their ways or promising them damna
ton is simply wasted breath. They have to b,
reformed unconsciously to themselves. Tn
school can be made so effective that the tern
o. a boys Imprisonment may be made an actua
advantage to him instead of a step furthe,
toward a life OF degradation, and l believe
has been.
The letters I read this morning are sample
Of those I get every day from boys who hav'
been in the prison school. encourage them :,
write to me and TO visit me-. In short, l max,
them feel that / am interested in them person
ally just for themselves, without any considern
ton OF reforming them or anything else. l an
sometimes able to get them places when the.
get out, or 10 interest other people in them.'