Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-01
FOR GIRLS.
President of the Board Of Directors
Furnishes Interesting Information
Concerning the Industrial Home at
Salem, W. Va.

De menace TO society," IL is lOcdJeQ
on the main line of the B. G. O. west
of the town Of Salem. whose neat
little cottages are built up to the line
Of the State grounds.
While having the advantage of the
country, it is SO near the railroad and
town as to preclude all possibility of
ones becoming lonesome. The build
ing, which will be handsome when
completed, is situated on plateau
above the town, commanding beauti-
full view of the valley in which lies the
town of Salem.
Every one who has visited the insti-
tuition has been pleased with the build
ing and surroundings. The Board
asks that any one who has an oppor-
tunity will visit the institution.
Everything has been made as COM
Portable as the appropriations will
allow, and the home and surroundings
are as beautiful as any one could de-
sire. The grounds will be made more
beautiful as the years go by, the nat
ural lay of the land being such as to
greatly aid in making them the most
beautiful grounds in the State.
A girl committed to this institution
remains until she attains the age of 81
years, or until she is discharged by
the Board of Directors. This decision
must be influenced largely by the con-
duct of the girls, and somewhat by the
character of the home to which she
will go when released. The home is
intended as a child-saving and reform
atory institution, and its chief aim is
not to punish but rather to educate
and prepare its inmates for better and
happier living in the coming years.
The Board will not discharge girls be-
fore the expiration of their sentence,
unless they believe that they have so
far reformed as to justify the same
The law authorizes the Board to
bind out the girl to some suitable per-
son, who will engage to educate her
and instruct her in household work
or some proper art or trade. The
Board may also place girl in care
of any resident of the State, who is
the head of a family and of good moral
character, on such terms and condI-
lions as the Board may prescribe. Or,
may return the girl to her parents or
guardian upon. such parents or guar
dian giving bond with sufficient sure
ties for her good behavior and care,
but in these cases the Board insists
that the girl shall either have become
thoroughly reformed or that the home
to which she is going be one that will
conduce to such reformation.
Experience demonstrates that good
girls who have good homes are not
often sent to such institutions. 1t is
also true that bad girls and poor
homes are not usually made perma-
nently better in the space of a few
weeks.
Every girl in the institution is oblig-
ed to be in school four hours a day,
the remaining hours being spent in
homework and sewing. 1t is intended
that when these girls leave the home,
they shall have sufficient knowledge of
housework to enable them to earn an
honest livelihood.
The girls have an abundance of
good, wholesome food, and with the
pure air and water, it gives no occa-
sion for solicitude in regard to their
health. There is Sabbath school every
Sabbath morning, and religious SER
vices conducted every Sabbath after
noon by some clergyman.
While parents and friends are per-
mited to visit the girls occasionally,
there is no provision for lodging and
boarding such at the home. Girls are
not allowed to receive visits from
their frien-sS within three months from
the time Of entering, and not oftener
than once in two months afterwards.
Girls are not allowed to receive visits
from thnir frio dc 40 T.
days.
We are happy to have our girls re-
membered by small presents that are
not incompatible with the proper man
agement of the institutions; express
charges must always be paid in ad-
vance. Do not send money in boxes or
baskets with other things; it may be
lost, and we cannot be responsible.
Any communication with reference
to the release of girls must be adj
dressed to the superintendent or the
Board, and in no case to the girls.
Letters to the girls containing allu4
sions to their release will not be de-
livered to them
commitment papers will be furnish
ed on application, and in no case will
girls be admitted without such papers
being properly made out. A girl may
be placed in the institution by parents
or guardian without commitment
papers, providing they pay $3.50
week for board, the girl to remain net
less than one year, and subject to the
same rules and regulations as the
other inmates
1t is requested that no clothing be
sent with the girls except a change of
plain underwear. The girls are uni
formly but neatly dressed. No girl
must be brought to the home without
first ascertaining that there is room
for her. At the present time, no more
girls can be admitted except those
whose commitment papers have been
sent in, and not until the first
of October, when the new wing will
be completed.
Any one assisting or aiding the
escape of a girl shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and fined.
1t will always give us pleasure to
answer any questions any one desires
to ask with reference to the institu-
ton.
A cut of the building may be seen
in the window of Schnepf's drug store.
HARRIET B. JONES,
President Board of Directors.
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Upright Piano for sale.
We have used Upright Piano. beau