New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25

OF the boys SeVeral Oh the eITlS Oh thio uo.'
under the direction of a teacher were cutting
out and sewing together woollen capes for the
girls THE girls" said Miss Borden. formerly
wore shawls to chapel. but now we propose TO
have them these capes. Besides. It gives
them instruction In new line OF work
These same girls will soon go 10 the cooking
class. There they are taught to cook small guam
titles OF food such as might be used by family.
Many Of them after they leave here obtain places
as cooks In families We seek to educate girl IN
her special aptitude. Some do not like sewing
but prefer homework They. therefore. are not
pressed to become seamstresses. but cooks Ihere
is always demand for skilful cooks. dress
makers and laundrAsses. and therefore we seek
especially to give the girls instruction In those
trades"
a schoolroom was next entered. Here class
Of about fifteen girls was found employed in
receiving instruction from a woman teacher
The schooroom was large and we'll ventilated
and the small number OF pupils gave opportu-
nifty to the teacher to give Thorough instruction
to every scholar. The public schools are over
crowded. many teachers having fifty or sixty
scholars. The small number of pupils In this
class. therefore. was pleasing contrast to the
usually crowded schoo.room of a public schoo.
I'VE do not believe in having large school
classes" said Miss Borden. land therefore half
OF the girls in this class receive their instruc-
ton in the forenoon and half in the afternoon
The half of the class who are not here are now
either in the sewing class in the laundry or IN
the cookery class" An inquiry regarding the
birthplace Of the twenty -four members OF the
class showed that only six were born in the
United States. The other eighteen members OF
the class were bora either in Sweden. Italy. Ger
many. France or ireland.
The little boys laugh. In the girls de-
partment. In room in which some brightlook-
ing boys were at work. Two American flags
hung on the mantelpiece back OF the teachers
platform. and also a small red flag. THAT red
flag" said Superintendent Carpenter. Indicates
that this Is the class Of honor in this depart
ment: that is. that these boys have the best
standing in their studies" The class was a
small one. like the girls class heretofore de-
scrbed Many Of the boys and girls upon en-
tering the House OF Refuge" Mr.. Carpenter ex-
| planned. do not know how to read or write and
1t Is obvious have been utterly neglected 10y
their parents" A large proportion OF these chill
dren are here for such petty crime as stealing
! on apple from grocer's basket. They are not
habituai criminals. and they can be and are re-
formed. Many OF them have reached distin.
guished positions. At present the Governor OF
OF the States and three congressman were
! formerly inmates Of this institution. We. OF
course. do not disclose their names"
The boys In the room had a pleasant express
sion OF countenance To them, despite It's con-
fning walls the school evidently was In no
sense prison. They were happy and were busy.
! and clearly thei way back into the
world in an improved condition OF mind ana
body.
| In another part Of the same girls department
| some boys from twelve to fourteen years OF age
| were found at work In tailors shop. Here
they were hard at work making their own gray
| uniforms They make trousers and Dlouses;
H. Aax,c %a,Sv IN 81
| in darning stockings. This may be considered
| girls trade. but the boys showed no suspicion
OF that fact and were darning the stockings
| skilfully. Downstairs bathroom was iound
| with boy hard at work hopping up the water
which remained in what appeared TO be shat
low box twenty by ten feet sunk In the moor.
| but which was ir fact a gigantic bathtub with
long lines Of iron pipe ranged In the air above
| it. from which the water Is sprlnkled over the
boys taking bath; large NUMBER OF o1 ,s 's
bath in running water at the same time
The dining-room was soon reached. Here
| boys were at work preparing for the dinner
which was soon to be served. The notable arti-
cles Of furniture In this din!ng-room were the
black walnut tables, which admit OF nne polish.
! The surface OF these tables shone like mahogany
and they were absolutely clean. The boys
take pride In keeping their tables In a highly
polished condition. the floors OF the dinlng room
yond the dining-ro is big drillroom and
Mushroom. where one hundred ana hfty boys
can be drilled In military evoutions In the
winter and where also one hundred and nfty
boys can wash themselves at the same moment.
| An iron trough into which water spurts from
| hundred orifces ia iron pipes running above the
| trough supplies each boy with clean water.
With the purpose of preventing the dissenina-
ton OF diseases Of the eye. each boy has his own
| towel. A hair brush and comb accompany ths
| towel and have one invariable place on the wall
The dormitores Of both the girls and boys are
filled with neat-looking Iron bedsteads The
| girls and boys after breakfast return TO their
dormitories and make up their beds and 90
other dormitory work Of every sort. In the girls
dormitory Superintendent Carpenter pointed out
some doors which he said. had Just been mace
by the boys in their carpenter shop Except IN
one part Of the boys dormitCry, the iron doors
of the rooms Of the boys and girls have been
removed. Miss Borden said that the prison idea
was rapidly being superseded by the school idea'
and she related an interesting story OF FORMER
| member Of the House OF Refuge, now married
! woman OF good reputation In New-York, visit
Ing the institution one day In condition OF
great sorrow because her younger sister had
| lust been sent there. and how pleased she was
! when she found the House OF Refuge in condi-
ton greatly modified from It's character when
| she was an inmate.
| In her time" said Miss Borden, 1.-THE House
Of Refuge was prison. with bolts and iron
| bars everywhere Now she found that her Sis
ter was treated humanely. that there was a
! pleasant sitting room ana that at least once
! week the girls and boys were permitted TO go
outside Of the walls Of the institution. She felt
greatly relieved by this change In conditions
| Sare and went back to her city home In much
| happier condition OF mind.
| In summer time the boys have also the liberty
OF a big swimming tank on the Sound. liberty
which they greatly appreciate. Over In the boys
department large number OF rooms were fou"d
where the boys were being instructed In various
trades In the loft Of one building they were
being taught all the duties Of sailor. like that
of furling a sail. making knots In ropes and
| making mattresses. The boys Of this class were
ali clad In sailor uniform. and upon leaving
the Institution will go to sea upon some steam
ship or ship In a printing office fourteen boys
were discovered working as compositors. They
were engaged that day In putting In type The
Bright Side" the institutions newspaper. The
bows learn thoroughly the trade Of printer. In
carpent.r's shop other boys were planning
boards and doing all forms OF work required in
a carpenters shop. This carpenters shop"