New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24

that the offences OF which they have been guilty
have been caused by defects in education for which
the State Is to great degree accountable ana 'h"'
it is the duty OF the community TO repair inc shor'
comings in this respect by mears OF instruction, de-
yeopment Of the physical and intellectual faculties
and IN particular by kindness Indeed. the only
severity TO which this class Of the inmates OF the
great institution Montcsson are subjected Is tnat
which is indispensable for the maintenance OF as
ciplne. and the portion Of the establishment ue-
voted 10 their use conveys much moro the impress
sion of college for the sons OF weli-to-do people
than a reformatcry or a prison.
Very different indeed, and to American ideas, at
any rate strange is the section of Montcsson which
is destined for the OF boys and girls who nave
been consigned tnith,r py me riDuh II, docs ,e not
admit OF any brutality on the part OF parents 10
"a physical force a means Of CORRECTION. w nen
boy girl absolutely refuses to yield opedence
bells against their authority. application is made
by them to the court, generally TO ON. Poi,co
magistrate who, without any fuss or publicity
grants a warrant for the young persons incarcera-
lion at Montesson. usually at the expense OIL ahe
and not more than six months. This class OF IN
is subjected to treatment of an entirely T,
ferent and Infinitely more severe character. ne ne
ground is taken that unlike the members OF inc
tages of education and Of careful bringing up and
that If they have erred sufficiently to REQUIRE iher
ness and bad instincts, rather than through igno.
rance. This being the case. they stand In need OF
IL,
their minds with melancholy reflections concerning
the evil of their ways.
With this object, solitary confinement ana silence
are vigorously maintained in their case. 1hey
are locked up I'm their cells alone they take their
meals and the clasSroOmS in which they
attend ,heir lessons and lectures are so arranged
with partitions that student can hold any IN
obtain a glimpse OF ms leIioWS.
from their cells TO the lecture-rooHi
and on their return their heads are envelopcd 10y
n thick black Grape veil, which. while II enables
them TO see where they are going, absolutely pre-
vents their features from being distinguished
The inmates OF the upper tiers or the buiIdinE'
who have separate yard attached 10 their cen;
wear this veil when exercising In the GROUNDS, anu
the prisoners under strict orders 10 don III even
when the Warders their cell. They lose thelr
name from the moment that they cross the thresh-
While on the hand. all these precautions are
designed TO make them feel more cruelty me
jcnominy of their punishment. 1t Is nj the same
time destined to prevent them being SUBJECTED In
after life 10 any blackmail on the part OF leIoW-
prisoners or prison warders based on Inc
tact Of their having served a term at Montesson.
The prisoners of this category, unlike those OF
the other class the regular convict dress are
fed with ordinary prison fare. on pialteis una III
lin vessels of the coarsest description In 1act
everything that possibly be conceived Is done
70 hreak the spirit and the only redeeming point
the only bright spot in the imprisonment Is the
nermisson TO cultivate the soil In the small yard
that constitutes adjunct to every cell on the
ground tier These prison yards nave peen IN al
nost every instance converted into pretty gardens
throuph the efforts OF the young prisoners
/, does not speak we'll for the relations or French
children toward their parents or for the relations
nj the latter toward their offspring. mat me ue-
mands made upon this particular section OF the
great institution at Montesson should always De
| Far in excess Of the available accommodations