Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-08-12
FASTENED BACK TO BACK,
How Boys Are Punished For fightns ="
Brooklyn Institution.


In the Brooklyn Disciplinary Train
ing School For Boys delinquents suffer
the oueerest sort Of punishments These
punishments are the invention Of Prln-
cjpal Downing who has been in charge
If the institution since its establish
ment a year ago. He is young west
ern man who has made a study OF pencil
ogy and methods of reform, and he
manages the tough boys committed TO
his charge with skill
The other afternoon, as the writer
approached the old Villa de Sales IN
which the disciplinary school Is now
located, a side door opened and there
rame out two boys who were fastened
back to back by the upper parts OF the
nrms, which were strapped. They sided
out Of the door crab fashion and went
down short flight Of stairs to the
playground. The larger boy was heavily
built and appeared TO be German. Ills
face expressed stolidity. The boy fasten-
ed to him was evidently Irish. He was
in a rage, and as soon as his feet struck
the firm earth he began to buck and
wrench about like wild broncho. The
other boy braced himself, but declined
to become excited He looked straight
ahead in a gloomy way like thought
full buffalo.
There were nearly so other boys on
the playground, and these gathered
about the newcomers. They howled
with delight and played tricks on the
unfortunate pair. The Irish boy kicked
and thrashcd about wildly until he ex-
hausted himself. Then he stood still.
The German promptly sat down Oh the
grass, and the Irish boy was forced TO
do the same. The whole scene was
wildly funny, and all the boys in the
playground enjoyed it to the full. They
gave up their other occupations in or
der to guy the victims.
"That is the punishment for fight
ing, " said Mr.. Downing, when asked
the meaning Of the strange spectacle
"The Irish boy attacked the German,
SO fastened them together ii that man
ncr. | find the plan very effective. You
see the point is that they've got TO come
to an agreement before they can 90 any
where or do anything. The most effect
i've part Of the punishment is that it
makes them look ridiculous If they
were whipped or put on bread and wa
ter or put in solitary confinement, they
might pose to the other boys as grand
and gloomy desperadoes Of the cent
novel variety. But it is quite impossi
bic for them 70 maintain their dignity
when tied back to back. The more des-
perate they are the funnier they look
and the other boys have no mercy on
them.
"They don't stick it out very long
when fastened together They are in
each others way at every motion.
When they 20 to the table to eat, they
must stand sidewise. They must walk
sidcwiso They must lie sidewise, back
to back, in the bed When they have
had enough, they come and apologize
and promise to keep the peace. And
they do keep it,"
There are 10 bars or bolts Oh the
Disciplinary Training School For Boys.
Sometimes the Youngsters who are sup.
posed to be the toughest that Brooklyn
can produce, run away. They don 20
very far, and they are always brought
back. The runaways are punished by
being made to run round and round the
grass plot. Thus they get more running
than they want-New York Sun.