The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-25
hrrE ar rBE REFoEM4roRr.
How the Boys are Trained Mentally and
Morally At the Institution.


A Times reporter visited the Laurel
Relormatory last Friday. going yia the
Lakeside car line as FAR as ihe telegraph
road whore he was met by the Roiorma-
cory carriage and conveyed 20 the insu-
tuition
The driver was hroad-shouldcred rug
ged youth. who wore che Reform school
uniform. He was as ODliging and polite
as many tcnder-bred boy and MS skill
with the ribbons was simply marvellous.
Ho afterwards explained his eXpertness
with the remark that he was from Texas.
Superintendent sampson was round m
his cosy, but plainly furnished office and
the object of the visit was made clear 10
him.
[ was then presented 10 Mrs. Sampson.
and found her a most excellent lady.
whose snowy hair does but add charm
% her kindly countenance.
NJ Sampson told briefly OF the Work
ings OF the institution.
Since its establishment i'm 1891 there
have been over four hundred boys COM
mitted to the school. of these 2iO have
The average time spent boy the boys al
the school Is one year, live months ana
twenty-five days.
The first thing that is done TO the boy
after he is received rs "a thorough wash
ing Uhis of Itself Is cOmmendatOry or
the institutions methods, and then ne Is
attired I'm the uniform OF dark gray. The
boy is then placed in charge OF AN officer
and his description recorded. lie IS then
placed I'm one of the three classes, accord
ing 10 his age. and sent into the school
The majority OF the boys do not know
their "A, b, cs when they enter.
After the school hours the boy is set
10 work. II ne is in the smallest class
he IS given light domestic duties. such as
piling up wood. house and kitchen work.
If he is in the second class ne is sent
over 10 the overall factory 90 learn the
business. TO the shoe snOp. where under
Il competent instructor. he learns 10 make
ana 10 mend shoes. or he is sent 20 the
wood pile IN winter or 10 me potato anu
corn fields In spring and summer.
Most Of the boys iu the third or largest
class are employed I'm the overall fac
tory or in the stock sheds.
II was stated by one Of the witnesses
M the investigation that his son who Is
In the school Is piing up pronts Tor the
institution. II seemed a pity that this
could not be true. but "a the fact stands
the earnings OF the boys Will average
.nroe cents a day. The only source Of
revenue outside Of State assistance 20 the
school Is the Laurel overall factory. man
aged by two enterprising gentlemen.
which pays the institution g 800 annual
y for the use Of one hundred boys.
The institution with this and the State
fund. makes ends meet. but there Is but
little surplus. II costs about thirty cents
day 10 keep boy and the state gives
about twenty-five cents Of this and tho
other part represents what the boys earn
J was conducted throughout the build
ings by the kindly superintendent first
through the shoe shop. where half a
dozen boys We're at work. and then
through the horse and COW stables.
Everything was scrupuously clean, and
its cleanliness was evidently usual
Ine main building which contains the
dining and school rooms was then visit
ed
While inspecting the dinine-room We
were treated 10 the sigh. Of the boys az
dinner. They filed In In an orderly lire
and took their places az the little tables
At 4 signal they were seated ana every
head was bowed while the boys in unl-
son lifted their voices I'M simple PRAYER
20 Him who notes the sparrow faH
The food was already set before tho
boys and they fell to- with vim and m
Is they sat there it seemed that there
never was such q healthy, hearty and
altogether happy gathering Of lusty
youth. Even Joe Pride. who has been IN
the school almost since its opening, who
bears the name OF the worst boy In the
school. and whose feet were shackled.
seemed happy and grinned with the rest
He is the only hoy who wears the chain
at the present time. and he earned Il by
assisting a boy TO escape not long ago.
The food seemed clean and wholesome.
There We're big Slices Of white bread
CUPS OF stcaming coffee. bowls OF stew
that gave forth a peculiarly appetizing
Odor. and down in the neat kitchen were
big buildings awaiting 10 be served AS
dessert.
Dinner over, the boys assembled on the
play ground and for an hour played foot
ball (sans Rugby rules.
While watching the boys at play chance
was given 10 interview the Farmer boy.
whose mother testified before the lnves-
tieating Committee the day before.
He said that he had entered the school
In February. 1896 and that he had Only
been whipped twice His last whipping
was received a month after his sister
had visited him. and he had showed her
no scars or bruises.
Grant Harlow. another big. healthy lad.
came up at this point for a talk.
Grant had entered six months before
and brought with him 4 younger bro her,
who had chung TO him like a leech Sud
denly. however. the younger brother de-
Vcloped "A desire 10 return home and was
accordingly packed OF.
There was considerable mystery as 20
the cause OF this boys sudden leaving
until letter was found IN the pair OF
uniform pants he had discarded. This let
ter was written by Grant 10 his home
folks. and told that he was miseraby
treated, that he was starved and was then
nothing but skin and bones
In reality Grant had gained seventeen
pounds since he came.
The hospital was next visited. AID here