The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-13
MATRON THORPE'S VISIT
To the Industrial School For
Girls at BelOit.
Sees Many Interesting Sights
and is Enthusiastic.
Says Only or z of the Whole 100
Girls are Light Haired Thinks
Whipping Chair Should Be
Abolished.

Since Police Matron Thorpe has re-
turned from Beloit where she took Jen-
ME Curliss to the Industrial school for
girls, she is enthusiastic over the IA
cilities and management OF the girls
who are kept there. It is now a state
institution, and improvements are be
ing made there rapidly.
Speaking of the school Mrs. Thorpe
has this to say:
1T is seldom that one ever sees the
naturalization of a pet ideal. but it
happens that have seen two of my
ideals realized-those of a home always
clean, and of a school for housekeepers.
Fifty-seven miles beyond Solomon City,
at Beloit is situated this industrial
school for girls. Here a hundred IN
fortunate, helpless girls are sheltered,
protected, fed and educated, by our
state"
Speaking of her trip to the school
and her experiences, Mrs. Thorpe says;
LAS we approached the institution,
beautiful in the twilight with its
cleaning lights, my little charge, who
had borne up bravely all day, suddenly
burst into tears, crying, %, can't bear
it. Mrs Thorpe But the next moment
she controlled her feelings, being reas-
sured.
LAS we entered the halls, and waited
in the parlor for Mrs. Bare, the sup
erintendent, Jennie's eyes were open
WITH aSLOnlSuIneQL ana Q6ilBnl ~ now
nicep she exclaimed o, Mrs. Thorpe, l
know I can't help but like it. I didn't
know it was like this Mrs. Bare soon
made her appearance, and with her,
two girls who tripped away with Jen-
ME to grandma who was to give her,
first a nice BATH and then her uniform.
After a little rest in Mrs. Bare's
own rooms, We walked to the cottage,
a half block from the institute, and took
supper in the private dining room.
In that charming room, 1 could not
= TaH~
bright and cheerful. When seated, a
touch Of the bell brought a dainty little
girl in blue and white. There were
bows of delicate blue ribbon over her
white temples, and dark curls about
her face. From her careful little hands
we received the good things, which
were all in keeping with the surround
ings.
by and by we were seated in the
chapel of the school, beside the super
dntendent, and heard the tramp, tramp
of little feet, marching, to the beating
of a triangle-up the broad stairways
from either side, circling about the
room in perfect time and order, until
at given signals they were all seated, a
hundred wide-aWake, earnest girls
their ages ranging from to 20. And
while they are all engaged in a service
of song, we looked in vain for the I'M
ruly and vicious girls we expected to
see. I saw about go womanly maidens
over Is, a number of delicate younger
girls, a little tot of called Dolly the
baby of the school; u or Is neat little
cOlOred girls strengthen the songs with
their good voices.
They are altogether as fine a lot of
girls as we see in our own grammar
schools, and most of them are serving
time there because of other peoples
sins, and for training and protection.
Very many have been left homeless
and adrift by the separation of their
parents, and humanitarianS have Sc
cured them this safe home. Some have
neither parent living, and drifting in
dangerous places, have been sent here.
OF the hundred girls, but six or seven
have light hair.
My little charge was among them
looking bright and happy in her new
uniform. The girls are divided into
FAMILIES and each family has it's own
uniform. My other Topeka girls greet
ed me as they might a mother.
Bertha Mcdonald from North Tope-
&Sa, has been there three years and is
one of the brightest little things in the
school Barbie Artzer, a rosy German
girl was taken there by Chief Steele
last March. She is a gentle little seam
stress, and has long since secured all
her credits but will remain yet for
some time, under Mrs. Bare's wise or
dering, for settling and eSta blishing in
all womanliness. Birdie Heron, whom
GhleE steele took there at Christmas
has the warmest praise from all her
teachers. This is the child who was
taken by the police from the notorious
'Ragan' house, where, an unsOphistica-
ted country girl, she had been shared
She has spent the time since that in
the deepest sorrow and humiliation
Her health is also shattered and she
must spend much of her time in the
school hospital. All is being done for
her that may be, and she is apprecfa-
tive.
Mrs. Phoebe J. Bare is an ideal sun
erlntendent AS our own matron at
the Orphans home, she has truly found
her own work. She has a mother heart
big enough, for a refuge and comfort to
each one of the hundred girls as we'll
as her own lovely daughter of Is. Each
one cOnfides in her, and receives her
love individually.
AS much may be heartily said also
Of her corps of officers and teachers
The school has it's own dynamo and
electric lights. 1t has it's own stand
pipe and waterYorks. A large build
ang for a laundry. an engine house; and |
an the buildings, sewing room. kitchen
ETC., etc, everything that could be
needed The sleeping rooms and dor
mitOrleS are all so perfectly clean and
neat, every visitor goes into raptures
over them The floors are polished. the |
walls are dustIess, the rows Of little
white iron bedsteads support the soft
est whitest beds that could be- Each