The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-25

ClOpS.
six wears to an insane asylum as a
lunatic; that the indeterminate sentence
and provisional discharge of prisoners,
of course, required reformatory methods
and APPLIANCES in the prison. and that.
with our present facilities or lack OF
facilities, it was probably inpracticable
for Virginia to incorporate these great
and important elements into her crln!-
nal system to any considerable extent;
indeed, he thought it likely that the
power Of conditional pardon given to
the Governor, ana so wisely used by
him. was about all that Virginia could
be expected to do at present IN tnls
direction save in one respect, "hlch
he would refer to later.
He regarded the reforInatory at Eli
mira, ~ Y, as the greatest ana most
successful experiment yet MADE any
where in the world in the application OIL
the indeterminate sentence, disciplinary
and reforuratory methods, and conal-
tion,1 discharge to adult criminals.
stating that under the Old or Punl'4'e
nrison system eighteen por cent. "as
the highest proportion of convicts claim
cd nv any of its advocates to be re-
formed: while careful statistics ana ac-
curate reports from Elmira Relorhia'o
showed that eighty-one per cent. OIL 'he
men who were discharged from 1t were
reformed and became iaW-ap'olhs aAo
productive members of society.
PREVENTION.
ru+ 1,,, far the greatest advance made
nv modern prison reform was the es-
punishment of reformatories and child
saving institutions in almost every en-
i;rhteued Christian country, thereby cut
ting off as it were, the supply Oh tiie
20 ,T- material out of which criminals are
made: and he added that while IN mos
of the Christian States and coun'rleS "
the world, as above stated, CRIME "..
Increasing faster than populatioii'
,,,i,ht he said that this ratio lesseneo
80 ohou+ in proportion to the success
80 cr+,h,ishnent Of reformatorles Gnu
;,.d,,st,i.1 schools. Such institutions are
nar+,inlv more numerous and better
r,.n.~e1 IN Great Britain than IN any
- country of the world, and that 10
,,ar,,,ns the only country in which crime
r. MT to-day increasing faster thah pup
ulation. r,op,,Ar0RY
T. vas very gratifying to the n'anhs
r,a,+ ~ the Laurel Industrial School t!'at
~, po,nd after a close Inspection AZ
1i,a min. heartily approved OF II, anu
stated p,1blicly that it was the most &C.
nonic,l,y administered institution OF 'he
kim he had ever seen, and iacheu ~,
little to make it a Thoroughly successiu,
and admirable institution; 5ut ne s'ateu
as his deliberate conviction that ,ie M
thing required was Ihas III.
ol,owing indeterminate commitments
which had been repealed by the last Leg
islature. should be re-enacted by TINS one.
He commented upon the acts passed. t"o
Years ago committing boys to Lauerl LOT
fixed terms, graded according TO me Sc
robustness of the offense; as LOT lhstaice
eighteen months or less for Vasrahce' hol
more than three years for mlsdemeahoi,
from two to five years for felony, ana
also another act which gave the Cover
nor power to pardon boys sent to Aaurei
all of which statutes, as he said, were
nassed upon the theory and basis OF pun
ishment tended to assinslate the school
to a prison, to give the boys the leeiihs
that they were criminals, conVlcts "hd
prisoners, and that they were to look Tor
their release at the expiration Oh the.r
sentence rather than to the eNceueace
of their conduct.
Mr. Round mentioned other imp 'r"c-
ments which were needed at Laurel,
amongst other things 4 simple building
containing two rooms for the general use
Of the boys. one quiet room for reading
and writing, and another larger room as
a general meeting place for the boys, es-
pecially in bad weather and in the even
ings where they might be more at liber-
ty to indulge freely in conversation, play
and exercise-a common club-room, as it
were.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
He made various other practical sug-
pestions for the betterment of the school,
which it is not important to repeat here;
but, upon the whole, he strongly and ear
nestly commended the institution to the
confidence and to the fostering care of
His Ecellency, the Governor, of the Gene
raj Assembly. and Of the good people Of
the State and city.
It is believed that one Of NIr. Rounds
most important suggestions was the or
ganizaticn OF an Auxiliary Committee of
ladies, who should pay special attention
to certain departments of the outfit and
management Of Laurel School. tending
especially to the refinement and elevation
of the boys, such as better dining-room
service, chairs, tables, table linen, crock
cry, etc.. also better beds, bedding and
laundry, the cultivation of flowers, etc
It is earnestly hoped and prayed by the
gentlemen Of the Board of Directors,
some of whom have. at great personal in
convenience, for ten years past spent
much time and thought and effort in the
founding and development of this Laurel
School, that the thoroughly wise and ad-
mirable work OF Mr.. Round may bear
good fruit, in the rousing Of public and
especially of Christian conscience upon
the subject, and the rallying of the best
elements of the community to their aid
in detecting and correcting evils which
may have crept into the management of
the institution. and in purther develop
ing and perfecting it for its great work.
ROBERT STILES.
Example Close at Hand.
Papa asked little Dickey, puzzled at