Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-21

taking the house No. 500 West Fifth
street, and IL was opened with two in
mates.
Having outgrown this building We
we're compelled to move. and took the
house No. 5l5 West street, at. which
lime there were nine girls In the auhool.
The prejudice OF the surrounding
residents against having an neighbor
an institution Of this kind, combined
with the providing of the house and the
consequent demand for still larger Ro
Communications, necessitated the removal
Of ths school again, which was accom-
plished January 18th, 1896. by taking
No. ia East Sixteenth strsst, at which
time We had IA girls. There are now
20 girls 10 the school.
Before that time 1t was recognized
that there was d necessity for build
ing constructed with especial references
to tho work to be done, and 10 futner.
anoe Of this object there was given, to
be used for the purposes of this institu-
t,on, a whole square of ground in the
northern part Of the city fronting on
Twenty fourth to Twenty. fifth street
aud back to Lammot street, for which
the donur paid IS, QUO cash.
The work OF the school is thus FIVE
years old, and the experience gained in
that time has amply proved the need Of
q new building, for the work has. out
grown the capacity Of the present prem
iaes and il carried ON at serious inool-
venience for lack ct proper acc0mmoda-
tions and appliances.
The question ia often asked, IL tho
school a SUCCESS SO far as nesting the
,eeds for which 1T was intendudY"
1mphatically. yes.
Wa have now committed to our care,
(as stated above. 20 girls. any of whom
would be detriment to the comm unity
il permitted to roam the streets and
who would cost the county or State
considerably more to keep in jail than
for us to keep in the school. Aside
from the cases brought before the
Municipal Court in Wilmington and
before the Justices Of tho peace in our
State, many applications have been
made directly to the managers by the
parents to havs thoir girls committed
to the school. 10 the beginning this
was not so, mud this goes far to prove
the efficiency Of our work.
Shall we permit tho misguided girl,
who under proper conditions might be-
come a respectable member Of society,
to be mixed indiscrimiuately with tbs
hardened criminal In the common Jail,
with IT'S inmates OF both sexes, o! all
iees, and Of every degree OF crime? In
our iails the inmates are huddled
together in idleness and neglected. by
the world. In our school they. are
given employment that inculcates in
them the habit OF industry, which is a
powerful factor in the reformation OF
even the worst; and 10 furnishes em-
pigment with which the girls may
begin life anew and that will make
them self-supportine. They are taught
all branches of house work, and many
kinds of needle work aud If we had a
proper building they might carry on
many industries that would help sup
port the institution, while being fitted
TO support themselves.
Many of the girls have had no ad-
vantagea ct school life, and In our
school they diligently apply themselves
and are taught the sans branches
taught in the public schools.
The school is no longer problem
with the managers, for we know thai
These girls have bean helped, and thai
il has been blessing to the communit,
in many ways. Those who visit it ant
come In contact with the girls, seeins
the character of the work, becom,
greatly interested; yet we need the in
tsrsst of all public-spirited citizens 0
the State.
This being a State institution AMI
open to oil applicants, we have a small
appropriation from the State and
small one from the county, but the ex
peuses of the school ara largely pais
for by the contributions Of the peopl,
OF Wilmington. The premises now uaet
are over crowded and, in our crippled
condition for want OF larger building
it IL impossible to receive more girls.
While the appropriations for Bucl
work in other States are much large
than In this, aud efforts are CONSTANT.
bsing mado to have girls that we ar
compelled to refuse for lack of room
placed in their schools, it 10 neithe
Just nor right that we should ask then
to DO at the expense OF caring for ou
hayward girls; and thsy are rsfusinl
to do this and we are compelled TO car
for our own. We feel that the citizen
OF Delaware, once fully understanding
the needs Of the school and thu worl
that has been and is being done, vii
show more sympathy and kindness. an
will have too much self-respsct to eve
who should he cared for at home.
The school has increased in the pas
and will increase still more in th
future, and We will need more hell
more room and more means. The head
and hearts OF the managers are full (
plans to advance the work and help th
girls; and they trust that THO impor
ant work-the first and only school (
the kind In Delaware--may prove owe
greater blessing than has been antic
mated but there ia a sense ut fear
taking up the labors of the future whe
we look at our needs
Under these circumstance, we fe
compelled TO proceed with the sreotio
of building adequate for present an
irrespective requirements : ~ y
Plans for such building have bee
carefully made by an architect who
IN expert In such institutional worl
which have been gone over and revisit
py the managers OF our school who al
familiar with Ito needs, which wi
adequately take care of our preBsl
requirements; and which also was d
signed with especial regard to furth
additions as may become necessary
no work grows upon uH and furth
room becomes Imperative.
The site having been given, and ii
plnns prepared, it Is estimated I'll
building will cost not less then $50, 90
OF this amount we have, subserie
paid and pledged, about 81, 900, and '
now make this appeal for the remaiude
The managers earnestly desire to ID
press upon the mind Of every good cit
Gfaf 10 har