The times., 1900-04-16
AT THE REFORM SCHOOL.
speciaI Easter Services Held at the
Institution.

The bows in the District Reform School
obseryod Easter yesterday afternoon. II
was q festival without parallel in the
citv For weeks the youngsters had been
looking forward 10 it. At O'Clock yester-
dsv afternoon they filed into the chapel.
Fresh linen collars. newly polished shoes,
and roundabouts and trousers from which
the last speck Of dust had been brushed
told Of the pains to which they had gone in
making themselves presentable.
Col. C. A. shallenberger the superin-
tendent who sees 10 it that Easter and
Christmas are always celebrated, had IN
vited Rev. Dr. George o. Little and Assist
ant Postmaster General W. ;. Shallenber-
ger 10 address the lads. DR.. Little, VINO
FOR TWENTY-FIVE years was in charge OF
Assemblys Presbyterian Church, now hoids
The chair Of pastoral theology in Howard
University. Besides the two speakers OF
the dav perhaps forty other friends who
are interested in the school were present
and they took most OF the room available
in the chapel.
Colonel ShallenhergeT the superintend-
eut presided To the music OF piano and
cornet. the boys al 3 o'clock filed into the
room two abreast. in squads under the
| ewes OF the teachers. They ranged in size
ali The way from little fellows Of six or
seven still in short trousers. up TO bigger
lads Of sixteen or seventeen, who VIII
soon be dismissed from their terms OF de-
tention trhe over one hundred were
colored. The others. numbering about
seventy-fve were white boys. They live
In different doTmitories and occupied diner-
ent sides OF the room, but all wore the
q bod
coming down 10 the hips with small brass
buttons. light blue trousers. and indigo
! forage caps. Some OF the youngsters up
/ stairs were sick with measles. They cried
/ lugubriously al being unable 10 attend the
services. Easter is one Of the biggest
! davs in The whole year with them. TO
miss 20 is almost like missing Christmas.
Sitting there in long rows, the boys con-
victed Of every misdemeanor known TO ju-
yeuiIe offenders Joined in the services with
An earnestuess that was fascinating. The
crowd Of strangers attracted only passing
attention When the readings and the re-
/ sponses commenced the boys interest was
riveted alternately on the leader and on
/ their books They gave their responses 10
l the same disciplined systematic way in
/ which they marched. and in the hymns
/ they Joined with all the power Of their
7 STURDY EDAhk NNiNNa-
After Colonel ShallenherEeF had finished
! tie opening exercises. made up Of invuca-
/ tions. responsive readings and hymns
Rev Or. Little was introduced He spoke
about Easter. The gladdest day In all the
year for Christians He told how it meant
/ the resurrection OF Christ and symbolizsd
/ the resurrection OF the body. The now
ers and the music and the dress. which
! characterized our observance OF Easter,
| he said. all typify the happiness that
/ Christians feel on the day when the Lord
| conquered death and the grave His ad-
| dress was simple explanation OF the car
| dinal principles OF Easter observance. The
| boys listened to it with wonderfully close
! attention
There was some more music. and then
! Mr.. Shalleuberger. Second Assistant Post
! master General made a short talk. lie
J told the boys Of he constant strife that Is
! entailed in fighting against sin, and he
! eNhoTted them to continue in well doing
! Al the close Of Mr. Shalleuberger's talk
| Miss Mary Walk sang an Easter carol In
/ pleasing style and the exercises closed
/ with song by the boys
The room was decorated with Easter
1 lilies. while on the walls there were bright
colored Biblical pictures and engrossed
| texts and big posters. containing the
/ Apostles creed and other simple religious
| exercises Donald Macleod acted as plan
! ist snd W H. Thomas was cornetist
Among the visitors were Captain Brian
foreman OF the Government Printing Of
! fee; Samuel W. Curriden and William VI.