The Portland daily press., 1898-05-19

Trustee Fred Atwood of Winterport
gave an interesting talk on the methods
and achievements of the Institution.
First he briefly reviewed the history Of
the school, spoke Of the gift of the farm
by the city of Portland to ths state, fin
1850. and the erection in that year of
what now constitutes the main building.
Its first super intendent was W. r.
Lincoln. Every boy sent there in the early
days was locked into cell at night. IN
1874, when the present superintendent be-
came connected with the institution he
had half the cells abolished and the
dormitory system tried was an expert
ment. The next year the remaining cells
were removed, and since then the aim has
been to reform, rather than to punish the
youth sent there. IN
Mr.. Atwood said that 1864 boys have
been graduated from the school, and the
present number connected with it is 1872,
OF 6S boys sent out Oh the last parole,
favorable reports have come from CO.; two
were reported "fair,'' ana the other six
have not been reported. He. highly com
mended the cottage plan and praised the
management of the school. Then he an
nounced that, in view Of the faithfulness
of the present superintendent, the trustees
had decided to name the new building
Wentworth Hail." in his honor. This
announcement was received with ap.
plause, heartily participated in by the
boya
Councillor Spofford of Deer Isle spoke
In complimentary manner of the work
of the Reform school
Father O'Dowd, frequent visitor at
the school. made brief address, speak
ing In his tender, kindly way, of his as.
ISOLATION with the boys and Of the great
good the Institution is doing. He COM
pared the humane methods in vogue here
with the accursed cell system still exist
/ ng in reform schools in Europe.
Ex-senator George M. Seiders expressed
hearty approval Of what he had seen
and heard and referred to the fact that
most of these boys had been deprived OF
the kind of home training that would
tend to prsvent their falling into habits
of shitflessness and mischief making.
This Institution tends to correct their
missteps and to turn them into paths that
lead to good citizenship. He considered
the word reform rather harsh an ap-
plication of corrective school of this
kind. In conclusion he gave the boys
Esome good advics on the topic OF
obedience. az
Recorder Levi Turner of the Portland
Municipal court voiced his. pleasure at
attending the interesting exercises and
assured the boys Of the school that there
Is no position in life out Of their reach,
If they continue to follow the advice and
instruction of their teachers.
The last speaker was Mr.. Snow of Ban.
gor, gentlemanly appearing young man
who graduated from the school two
months ago. During the least of his stay
there he was major of the Cadet battalion.
He said that during his connection with
the school he was treated with the great
est kindness, and was helped forward
and upward by all the officers and teach.
ers. All the boys who are obedient re.
ceive that kind of treatment. The school
had been to him, he said, what NOTHING
else could be, and it was his aim to make
his life worthy of the care and tenderness
that had been lavishsd upon him.
A concluding song by the boys, and the
visitors left the new building and
journeyed to the main building. WHARF
lunch was served. prior to their departure
for the civ.