New-York tribune., 1897-08-30

reached the age of twenty-five with a thorough
ly bad character. there WAS little chance of re-
forming her. We therefore had the age limit
changed. and do not take any women after they
have reached the age of twenty-five years. We
also have had the age Of admittance reduced
from fifteen years TO twelve years because we
found that we ought to undertake the work Of
reforming girls AT as early an age as possible"
BUILDINGS on a PLATEAU.
The bull iings OF the House of Refuge for
Women occupy plateau that covers an emil
nence south of the city of Hudson about a quar-
ter Of a mile. Passengers who travel by the
Hudson River Railroad the buildings Of the
Refuge east of the railroad tracks about half
mile covering the summit of hill, whose base
touches an inlet and bay of the Hudson River.
An Administration Building Of red brick faces
the west and is conspicuous from the railroad.
and 10 the nOrthward is a chapel. with a square
brick steeple Eastward Of the Administration
Building is an open space. surrounded by the
brick cottages in which most of the in
mates Of the asylum live. The eastern end Of
this quadrangle is occupied by the prison build
ing where most Of the women sent to the insti-
tuition are first kept Then further to the east
ward Is a brick building used cooking
school and school for dressmaking and long
wooden building employed a hospital
William r. Stewart president OF the State
Board Of Charities. and Tribune correspondent
few days ago paid visit to the institution. in
company with President Rainey, of the Board
OF Managers. First the Administration Building
was visited Mrs. Sarah V. Y. Coon. the superin-
tendent Of the institution. said that when a
woman is received at the Refuge she IS fitted out
with proper clothing and assigned to place
In the second division Most Of them said
Mr. Rainey OBVIOUSLY have been Incorporate.
They are also usually very ignorant and Hit
crate. 1t is rarely that there is an educated
woman among them. our first effort. therefore,
IS 10 teach them habits of self-control and also
TO obey large proportion Of them find
were the children Of fathers or mothers who mar
ried second tme-that is, they had stepfathers
or stepmothers and not cared for as they
should have been. We have them go to school
steadily, and teach them a trade. our cooking
school and our dressmaklng-schoo are our most
popular departments. The Board Of Managers
is now thinking of establishing a school of
millinery Many OF the women have great skill
In making artistic bonnets
THE FIRST PROMOTION.
After two months in the prison, the minimum
time TO secure promotion, the woman is trans
ferred. according TO her record. to a cottage.
where the idea of family and home life is carried
ont as far as possible Mr. Rainey thinks that III
the case Of some Of the younger girls they might
be placed at once in a cottage. When the girl
reaches the cottage she has the advantage of
schools in the main building. and she Is not
locked in her room at night, although she may
not leave her corridor without permission She
Is also required 10 keep 10 her own room al GER
tain times for study and reflection part OF
each evening is taken up in the preparation OF
lessons for the succeeding day in some amuse-
ment There is a reading occasionally by the
woman having charge Of a cottage.
On the day Of Mr.. Stewards visit, two school
rooms In the Administration Building were found
occupied by pupils, and they and the teachers
were at work. School continues the year round
with the exception of six weeks. There is a
primary and a higher department. In the latter
the pupils were engaged upon lesson in geog-
rapby. A conspicuous feature Of the room was
a glass case filed with butterflies and moths
These have all been collected on the grounds
OF the Refuge by the girls" said the teacher,
''and they take a great interest in the study OF
natural history
There is a wooden fence eight feet high about
the twenty-five acres Of the institution grounds.
These grounds give good deal OF space, how
ever for walks. and upon these walks the but
terfiies were collected The schoolrooms were
well lighted and well ventilated, ard the teach
ing seemed as good that impaired In the com
mon schools Of the state.
Leaving the Administration Buding. Mr. Stew
art and Mr.. Rainey walked through the court
yard 10 the cooking school. This yard could be
greatly improved. Ii is now covered "ith rank
grass. Ii could well be converted into a beaut-
ful level lawn. with beds Of flowers The cook
Ing school was found to be fully equipped for
teaching girls how 20 cook Ia a scientific manner.
long table filed the centre OF the room, and
ovens are at side OF IL. instruction Is given