Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-22
WILLIAM SVILLE.
Dr. c. Il. Bruce superintendent Of an In-
stitution Containing 1000 Children.


stitutIon Containing 1000 Children.
Newfane has good many sons and
daughters outside her borders in whose
success she takes a just pride. Among
these may be named DR.. G. E. Bruce of
New York city, who recently made flying
visit to his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Eli
Bruce of South Newfane. DR.. Bruce left a
lucrative city practice about year ago to
accept the position of superintendent of
the New York Juvenile Asylum, one of
the largest institutions of its kind in the
country, which position he has thus far
filled with marked success Mrs. Bruce,
who was formerly Miss Emma Worden of
Newfane, is an efficient second in her hus-
bands work, and Edward Fisher, also of
Newfane, is one of the assistants. In
recent letter to the writer, Dr. Bruce
speaks of their work as follows
The New York Juvenile Asylum is the
largest of the Protestant institutions in
New York city, receiving children for des-
titution, disobedience, truancy and minor
delinquencies. 1t is non-sectarian in char
acter, has no chaplain nor UNCONVENTIONAL
teaching, but is thoroughly evangelical.
Its religious life consists of daily teaching
of Bible lessons. as a part or ordinary class
room work. The International Sunday
School lessons are taught and illustrated
The Sunday exercises consist of morning
Sunday school after chapel assembly, CON
Quoted by the school teachers. A general
assembly of the entire school at three
o'clock, brings together over 1000 children
800 girls and 700 boys. The exercises
consist of singing, repeating Psalms and
other portions of scripture from memory,
and an address from a clergyman or lay
man whose previous invitation has been
accepted. Various Christian bodies are
represented, but all meet on the grand
common platform of love to God and man.
These children, gathered, as they are,
from the poorer element of city life come
to us sadly deficient both in moral and re-
ligious training. The crowded tenement
brushes out the religious life, aud soon
apathy becomes neglect which in turn be-
comes unbelief During the short space
of time in which the children are detained
the strongest effort is made to engraft up
on the child mind the elements of Chris
tlan living. Grace is always said before
food, morning prayers in dining halls after
breakfast, evening prayers in the several
small chapels after supper.
These elements engrafted surely bring
| fruit. Only this morning a letter was re-
ceived from a girl recently placed in
home in the West, stating that she had be-
come Christian and desired to love God
with her whole heart. This girl was born
a jew. Many instances of similar char
acter can be mentioned. Many of our
| children, after from Is months to years
! in the school, are placed in homes in the
| West. Under the laws Of Illinois the
institution has articles Of incorporation so
that the wards of the asylum are thorough
| ly cared for.
There have been 1927 children thus
| cared for, over so per cent of whom have
done well-many very we'll Professional
men, lawyers doctors, preachers, congress
men, and successful business men are
among our asylum wards. Every boy and
| girl has fair start when taken from the
| crowded tenement districts of large cities
| The governors of two great western com
monwealths were poor homeless New
York boys sent West through the kind Of
| fees of a New York institution. OF the
daily home life so little can be said in a
few words TO interest the outsider, that we
simply mention that all our clothing, shoes
mending ana homework are done by the
children. We cannot teach trade, but
we do endeavor to instil habits OF indus
| try.
We know our children 90 from rs better
equipped to fight lifes battle than when
they entered. There has been under the
care of the institution since 1888 30. GS6
children. Las; year the daily average vas
1901. What an army, and these are to be
the parents and voters of New York in the
near future.