Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-29
At SCHOOL IN THE TOMBS.
Mr.. WlIsrd's Boy Pupils in the New York
City Prison.

educational and philanthropic work
among the prisoners in the Tombs.
The share of the association in this
work is done by means Of what is
known as the "Tombs School" Among
the prisoners are many boys. for whom
the city prison is an early step in the
downward path from the street play
ground. by the way of police court.
states prison. and low lodging house.
10 the Potter's Field.
The visitor to the school must climb
many stairs and pass through many
gated corridors to reach the school
room The last gate is opened not by
a keepers key. but by the hand Of the
schoolmaster. Mr.. David Willard.
The room is a small one with
benches ranged across one end. Al
the other are TWO bookcases and a
small organ. Some pretty bowls for
flowers and a blue cover on the table
lend a bit of color. The walls are COW
cred with fine photographs. the gift Of
a woman member of the Public Educa-
lion Association. They include Ameri-
can views, Cuban scenes. the cathe-
drals Of Europe. the monuments of
Egypt. and the masterpieces of re
ligious art. which extend around the
room. Sometimes a lesson is given on
one Of these groups. the pictures APP
polling more directly to these pupils
than could any textbook.
II is a comfortable place, positively
attractive by contrast with the cell
hordered corridors leading to it, and
the sun shines cheerfully through lis
windows in spite Of the fact that IN"
light thrown on the stone Moor Is
crossed ny ne shau"" 81 ron "a ;:
"'iNei H"'"'" , III LTD III
me occupants Z ''"uu '"F u ',i'"t''S
q. me Hcn"'i "'' uE"l9 J." u'Hl''''
one morning there may be 80 boys
nora lnnfhpr morning not more than
l,,if ,s MANY. and On no two DAVIS Is
rb, constituency of The class the same.
'rhns. arc prjsnncrs held 10 await tba
.,,rinn nr tha Grand fury None If
tt.n Il , cnuvirt ana ,hnu4 half If
mon, ava, .,.1i,,doad i,,pocpnr ~. ,.aIaasa6
r..,. .I,,.l, M ..,.f1aroa Every d1z- nov
..n.- ,rn hrnuab- III. every d,v some
:rr taken to court Or set free. Few re-
main longer than three weeks
on account Of This Irregular attend
ancr the board of education declined to
establish a school i'm the Tombs. and it
was left for the Public Education As
aociatfan M take the matter in hand
4 member of thu advisory board su--
.ested the idea and the President ap-
proved il. Then arose the problem of
finding tha right teacher. for ii vas
plain thar 4 person with special quail
1fcations was needed. Mr.. Willard
WIN has hnan successful with bows
..a1an+oa ,nd onns.nt.d II .o,.,.a mi.
,,i.,,..
."' Ill.,. ,..-..,, ..,.,,
ii, schooIs arc oran. I'm, since crime
t,l.s mn vacation NJ. Willard felt
.b,t ~, c.i,IJ pot ,frn,d o,,a aitbar anl
IL \. III bis nnsr tbn vaar rnund can
tinamant in = caIl in the T,mhs dining
hot weather cal,sas mucb s,fferiru
,mono thn prisoners and Ar Willard
considers III roller afforded them III
ovap . hri.r stay in the airy schooI-
,onn snncfnpt ,aacnn fo,. lnanfnr tb..
..bnoI nn.r II tba e,r,n,ar
~ ''"'N I'VE 'IIIii='S III ''le " cen
t"e 't''N ~ 'ntS, 10y ~ I''''',IH 81 III,
III I'LL
'''' ~ "'' = : ~,
"''' 'Si' H'''',S ,'''
ir' course an" prut'i i'rtS. "',''! :
keen ana cunning ana SUI others
merely STUPID. Not a lew look III
cases Tor an asylum Tor the IeeDIt-
~ l"e"' 'Iu th"t 'Hc iil"i a. iIiip''iie -
frequent type II atleSle" .! tfio"f
VINO seek l" improve lhc!r tohuIIloil.
lhey are "l varying natonal'tleS' ana