Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-28
REFORM SCHOOL.
The Legislative Committee Visits
the Institution, Friday.
Pleased With What They Scr The School :
Needs -Ekprested.

Everyone has an interest to a greater
or less extent. in the state Reform
school on Cape Elizabeth. abou, three
miles from Portland but it takes u
visit to that institution to feel any of
the inspiration in the work that the
trustees and the noble teachers feel.
No one can visit the institution With
out having real interest In It, Here
the boy who is perhaps bad. but more
possibly without will to resist the
temptations at his young age is taken
and all the good influences possible are
brought to bear to make him better
boy and not as many think. to punish
institution for the punishment of the
boys, but one where they can have
t not given by mother. Is Of the same
nature.
Reform school. made it's official visit TO
the institution. Friday. A few of the
members of both branches and some of
their ladies, went along as guests To
visit the school. Several had visited
the institution before, but the greater
number had not. All left the institu-
ton with warm feeling in their hearts
for it, and each though a friend before,
is now warm advocate.
They have seen the boys al work. at
play and i'm their chapel exercises, an
instead of a bad looking set of boys
with sullen expressions. they have seen
the bright looking little fellows with
CHEEKY faces that light up whenever a
teacher is addressing them. If it is
possible for boys to- show by their faces
the respect and love they bear their
teachers, more plainly than do those
Of the Reform school, the visitors would
like to see them.
Then besides having the pleasure of
noting all these things and seeing the
work of the boys. they had the pleas
ure of meeting Superintendent and
Mrs. Wentworth. together with all
those who are connected with the in
as all realize these people are doing a
work equal to that of any missionary.
one that is devoid of many of the
pleasures of life, though this must be
made up by those coming to then,
from, the knowing they have done their
duty. and have changed many a boy s
course by kind words and good eX-
ample Besides this Superintendent
Wentworth and all his assistants are
hosts of no small magnitude.
The committee and guests left All
gusta on the $50 train. in the morning.
Upon their arrival-in Portland two
hours later. they We're met by two large
barges to take them to the Reform
school. The forenoon was passed in the
inspection of the. whole institution
from the large main building built
years ago upon the style of the old
English penitentiaries. to the two neat
cottages.
The boys were seen in the work al
making chair bottoms. sewing. and II
the mechanical departments. Also tn.
place where they make their own shoes
In each place was each boy seen doing
| his work understandingly and with d
will. -
All the school rooms the dormitorie.
and every place had some point of in
surprise to many who had not KEEP
posted upon the later development %
the institution, to see that each DO,
| is not made TO sleep in a cell like I
! felon, as of old.
The cottages were highly conimendel
Here the boys live in what seems lik,
| large families and the influence upoi
| them is said to be much better thar
| in the old way of having all together
This system has been approved by al
who have of late years been connecte,
with this sort of work. One. cottag
was completed during the past year
and it is hoped soon to erect another
though this Legislature will not b
asked to appropriate money for i,
Some have asked what will becom
of the main building in such an even
as the erection Of more cottages. 7
1 this the renlv is made thai il will eye