The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-04

Interest Felt In nm Experiment at the House
Of Refuge for Women.

| HrDsoS. Aug. 3-Former superintendents
| and managers OF the House of Refuge for
Women here az well as others interested in
the institution are watching with curiosity
/ the operation of the rule made by the new
| Board OF Managers forbidding corporal punish
ment The new board is composed Of Fulton
Paul Of Hudson. DR. Thomas Wilson OF Clavc-
rack, Prof. Herbert 7. Mills Of Nassar College.
Mrs. Annah Halcomb OF Syracuse. Mrs. Marcia
{. Powell OF Client and Howard Townsend OF
New York. One OF its first acts was to abolish
corporal punishment. and to decide to follow
the requirements Of the Civil Service rules.
which the last board had dsregarded
Inc refuge is not. strictly speaking, q penal
institution. but Is conducted as reformatorv
to reclaim young women who have fallen into
evil ways or whose steps are inclined in that
direction. Each girl on her arrival is received
at the prison by the superintendent. who tax es
her record Then she takes a bath and is fitted
out with tho regulation clothing and assigned
to place in the second division From here
she may he promoted or reduced according to
her behavior. While in the prison she is
closely watched. After few months she may
be transferred to cottage. where the idea of
family and home lie is carried out as far as
possible. She has now the advantage OF
the schools in the main building She
is not locked in her room except at
night. although she may not leave her
corridor for any purpose without permission
She is also obliged to remain in her own room
Mt certain times for study and reflection At
times talking. in low tone is allowed All
conversation however il supposed to be held in
the open corridor and not in the nmat es rooms
Thus the girls are always under the eye OF a
supervisor or matron. whose duty is to check
oil bolSterOusness or tendency to misbehaviOr
The term nf sentence is five years but the
prisoner may be discharged on parole at the
The inmates rise at 80 O'Clock and break
breakfast half an hour later The daily routine
Is; Prayers at housework from Is to $50
school from 9 to II In the forenoon and from
1:3O to 80 in the afternoon. dinner at -.
al s. silent study or work !, to O'Clock. 4R he
Tsst G she sn1 ing S sen to
winter half an hour earlier The young ' Women IN
are taught cooking. drcssmakinE. laundry
work and stenography. besides reading. pen
raphy, physiology. and history some. when
they are proficient. are assigned as, maids to
mates who escaped were filling such places
when they walked out. decked in their mis-
tresses' finery and with $3.50 taken from the
One Of the greatest objections to the institu-
ton is the inadequate means of separating
criminals Young girls. in their teens. may be
sent TO the institution for q misdemeanor,
be still good but they are thrown into associa,
ton and comradoship with those who have led
d!ssolqte lives. The result is OF course de-
porable in cases.
The place OF matron or teacher at the Refuge
is not altogether pleasant. 1t is q fact that a
matron when first entering on her duties has
been known to be exhausted. not by the phys
zeal exertion. but by the trying situations in
which the inmates have placed her. As will be
generally admitted. when woman desires to-
she can 60 to extremes to which man with
reason or sense Of shame would not Various
methods OF correction and punishment have
been resorted to in efforts to subdue those
whose strong will and bad tempers could not be
treated In the ordinary ways One OF the pun
ishments was to dress the disordery one
In very short Mother Hubbard like gown
and clowns cap The mode OF punishment
that has proved most efficient in breaking the
spirit OF the moro headstrong girls has been
sousing them with water from a hose First
the girl was put Into asnall room and the hose
turned on her But she could move about and
dodge the stream, 90 an appliance was ar
ranged to hold her arms above her head while
the stream Of water was turned directly into
her face. 1t made the strongest OF them wilt
dungeons are stu on the, premises and will
probably be used IN place OF the forced bath.
1t seems to be the opinion OF those having
the best means OF judging that very few OF the
inmates are reformed into leading purer lives
Ctvi! service examinations will be hold on
Aug. H. to NIL the vacancy caused by the retire.
mont OF the recent superintendent which &C.
Cured when the new board organized.