The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-04-08
A Visit to One of Our State lnsti.
tutiOnS.

That the state of Wisconsin leads the
Western states in the matter of public
institutions ls generally accepted fact.
But We venture to say that compare.
lively few Of our citizens realize the
complete and perfect system which is
maintained throughout the various
public charitable institutions in charge
of our State Board of Control, and it is
my intention to give the readers of the
TINES a brief sketch OF the State School
for Dependent Children located at
Sparta, which visited on Monday.
March 9th, in company with Rev. +.
H. Wright, with whose family spent q
day or two. To me this institution,
which takes and cares for children from
the age Of four to fuurteen-is Of all our
institutions the most pleasing to visit,
though all the others we are told are
conducted and managed equally we'll.
Superintendent S. S. Landt and his
excellent wife devoted considerable
time to showing US through the build
ings which mum Der six, the main build
ing containing offices, reception room,
dining halls and living rooms; the
school building where 169 children.
varying in age from the kindergarten
to the 9th, 9TH and Sth grades are
taught by the most delightful and cap
aole teachers. A recent feature of con-
siderable importance has been added
to the advantages to be found in this
school, that is, both sewing and cook
ing classes haye been established. After
a round of the school rooms where all
the children were smiling and happy.
and doing good work. we visited
their home houses-large brick houses
| on either side of the main building.
Here the large rooDs are fitted up with
single white iron beds, which We were
assured were changed twice a week,
and judging from the spotless coverlets
and pillowslips We should not have
doubted had they said every day. These
dormatories are all we'll lighted. heated
and ventilated, and the walls are deco
rated with we'll selected and instruc.
tive pictures. In the childrens' dining
room tables varying in height from the
little kindergarten size to the high, full
sized ones, are provided, and supplied
with white cloths, instead of oilcoth,
as il used in some institutions, the lit.
tie ones are watched over, and carefully
taught to behave properly at meals, ne
might name some things l saw in pro-
cess of connection for the dinner:
| Mashed potatoes. beefsteak, fresh
| bread, which was perfect; canned corn,
and for the little ones milk, all they
want to drink, for you must know that
in connection with the institution a
large farm, some 125 acres, are under
cultivation, and all kinds of domestic
animals are kept, supplying the estab
| lishment with butter and eggs and other
good things.
The boys here are trained on the
farm during the summer. and farm pro.
duce enough to supply the needs of the
house is raised on the place. The laun
| dry where washing and ironing is an
| every day occurrence, ia not the least
| interesting of the many places. and the
kept busy cutting and directing the
sewing girls, was revelation. Two
suits of clothing throughout are made
| and kept ready for every child admit.
to forget to commend one thing that |
noticed there is no uniformity in the
dress. This relieves the general assem-
bly, of a made-to order appearance
often found in such large institutions
Last but not least, we entered the
new and elegant hospital building, which
though not large, is complete in every
particular, and it speaks we'll for the
general health of the concern when
, say that not one child was sick in bed
and that of the SIX or seven not feeling
we'll all were costly enjoying fine din
ner in their little dining room. The
hospital is provided with an operating
room, drug store and several private
rooms. as well as a couple of wards
AS l SAID at the beginning, this insti-
tuition is one of the most satisfactory on
| our list Of public charities. and if many
Of our poor, struggling people could see
the advantages provided here, and
| which in many instances the children
could never gain, feel sure that the
feeling regarding sending and giving
children to the state would disappear.
They are taken here. properly trained
and educated, and rs fast as possible
placed in good com Portable homes Last
year 306. if | remember rightly, being
part, though always feeling kindly to-
ward large reformatory institutions, l
can freely say that my visit to the Sparta
school has greatly strengthened my
faith in and for them, and | hope those
who read this article may gain some
thing of the same confidence, and APP
preciate more fully what wonderful
things our state authorities are doing
for the unfortunate Of our great state.
ALLUNA.
TRANSFERS FOR THE WEEK