Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-08-17
A bad GIRLS SCHOOL.
What the Milwaukee Industrial.
Does for the Hayward.
THE STREET AND THE DANCE

Some Orphan Girls Cared for and Little
Boys-Aii Well Trained and Then Sent
iato Homes-Fo,unded in 1873 Good
Women Manage the Institution.
Madison. Aug. 16.-"Isn't he a fine
looking little felow?'
The superintendent of the industrial
school for girls and little boys pointed
out a lad of 10 at his desk in a school
room. There We're twenty little folks
at work over their books. piano was
at hand. for singing is diversion they
all enjoy, and some one had posted up
a likeness of Hebson on the wall to
give timely flavor to ehe standard art
pictures that giadd ened the room.
This is our little postmaster" said
the superintendent as she put her hand
on the curly head. The lads fine
lined face looked up tinlidly and the
other children smiled sympatheticalIy.
Il do wish some one would adopt
him." she said aside. He is an un-
usually bright and promising lad, and
l do so want him to be educated and
not merely turned over into a farm
Superintendent Bland has been hand
ling boys and girls in Ohio and Wiscon-
sin for seventeen years and when she
hits on a lad ef promise, it is the CON
clusion OF all expert.
Inmates Kept Separate.
There is a state reform school for
bad boys at Wankesha under the state
board of control. wholly supported by
| the state. When girls get bad, how
nrf IN
Industrial School, in Milwaukee,, which
is only semi officially state ihstitu-
ton. 1t also carries along few little
boys who have no homes. 1t was found
ed by private charity, but the city of
Milwaukee gave the eight acres of land;
the state provided the buildings, and
turns in about $4,000 year for support,
The balance of revenue comes from the
counties, each paying $3.50 per week for
each girl committed. The great need
is central heating and lighting plant,
which the next legislature will surely
grant
The institution is beautifully located,
overlooking the big lake. some ways re-
moved from the densely populated sec
ton of the city, and is one of a group of
fine institutions situated near each 9TH
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Protestants, two orphan asylums and a
hospital, The school dates from 1875.
and there are now within it's walls 25S
girls and fourteen small boys, under
10. There are five buildings, including
the chapel, where all the pupils meet
in the morning. but that is the only
time they come together, the big and
the little, the vicious and the innocent
There are many Catholic children there
The Problem of Intimacy.
/ chatted with the street car con-
ductor as / went down town isn't
that about the worse place to put a
bad girl?" he asked me. Wont she
get to be twice as bad by associating
with other girls who know more wick
edness than she does?'
1t is an I'D question. I saw the point
he was making. They are a good deal
better off there than in their own
homes" | said, nodding back at the
comfortable, home-like buildings and
remembering the refined, gentle, Chris
tian women / met there.
But the conductor was barking up the
right tree. What he meant was that
good home is the best place for a
girl. Everybody understands that now.
Mrs. Bland believes it. The old day
when children were shut up behind in
stitution walls from-the age of 6 to II,
is gone. They are placed In good homes
as rapidly as possible.
But who wants Il bad girl-a fallen"
girl, or a girl so hayward that her par
ents request the authorities to take
care of her, as being a too difficult
problem for themselves? Nobt dy.
And so this institution takes them.
1t seeks to brace up their self respect.
1t provides neat. inspiring home. 1t
teaches them to cook; for they have
daily lessons from a Pratt institute
graduate--an opportunity that is de-
MED the girls of the best homes in Mad
ison. Without such refuge these girls
would be kicked from pillar to post AMI
recruit the ranks of the shameless sis
terhood, Some of them go that way,
as it Is.
A bad girl is worse than q bad boy.
| The girls have a reckiessness that is
simply devilish Bad boys are deferred
by an ambition to get ahead in the
world; they care what people think and
say; they are worried by fear of
eternal justice. But hayward girl.
and especially fallen" girl, lets go
of everything and doesn't care The
most awful retribution that can come
| to the betrayer is to witness the dare
| devil. reckless, head-Iong dash for hell
that a fallen girl SO often engages in,
| side tracked by the very qualities that
| might have made her a noble, helpful.
| tender woman.
Wire Netting Over the Windows.
| These girls do not stay in the Mil
waukee school any longer than neces-
| sary. The average period of detention
| is two years and half. And while
| there every effort is made to avoid con-
| Elimination. A separation Is made be-
| tween the "chaste" and "unchaste."
| 1t is noted that the former are more
| Intelligent. For the latter two build
| ings are set aside. "Lynde" and 'Har-
rison'' halls. named for noble women
who have long served in the directory
| These inmates never see Except at
| chape) the other grls-the "chaste"--
who have a building for themselves
| There is a wire netting over the Win
| dows, for many of these girls would
| escape, If they could-and they do &C.
casionally. But there has been a faith
| full man on the place for seventeen
| years, a trained detective, and he knows
| so we'll the haunts Of the hayward that
| ne soon brings them back. Each build
| ing has a fenced play ground. and the
| INN ates never go outside, for no
amount of sentiment can oblterate the
| fact that the school includes desperate
people and there is an imprisonment
room" for the obdurate.
| But apart froIl this, the equipment
and atmosphere is that of a boarding
school for girls. I am familiar with
| the institutions Of the state, and knew
| not one where the reign of authority
| seemed more kindly, helpful. practical,
| humane. Prison bars make no cage
| here.
Prominent Women Manage 1t.
Each of the family buildings has its
dormitory; its school room; its play
| room: and it's staff including matron,
| a housekeeper and teachers.
| The managers of the school include
| the names of well-known Milwaukee
women, supplemented by others in the
| cities of the state who aid in placing
| the girls. The president is Mrs G. G.
| Swallow; the agent who places the
| girls and visits them in their homes,
| is Mrs, j. L. Kaine, who has recently
| received a temporary appointment as
/ auxiliary member Of the board of con-
troll The work largely falls on the ex-
| ecutive committee, who meet every
two weeks. About sixty girls are
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