Evening star., 1900-12-11
THE BOYS REFORM SCHOOL
ANNUAL MEETING OF TRUSTEES AND
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Influence of the Institution Upon
Lives Of the nmates-Num-
her Enrolled.

| The board Of trustees of the boys reform
| school held it's annual meeting at the school
yesterday afternoon and organized for the
| ensuing year by the election of Gen. Cecil
| Clay as president. James E. Fitch as vice
| president and Samuel w. Curriden as sec
| retary.
| 1t was reported that the boys in the
| school now number 215, and That the
| health of all is good. The case of vario-
| loid recently developed in the institution
was Of a boy brought there from the jail.
| i'll at the time of his coming. By confine-
nent to the school hospital the area OF
| danger was greatly restricted. This ana
| other timely precautions, taken under the
| supervision of the physician of the school,
| DR.. Charles A. Wells and of Health Officer
| William c. Woodward, have, it was stated,
relieved Superintendent Shallenberger and
| the board of trustees of what, for time,
| threatened great interference with schooi
| work.
| All the schools are now in active opera
| ton, it was further reported, the four
families being divided into as many schools:
| Every boy is assigned his daily tasks OF
| labor in shop or farm or other place. At
tendance at either the afternoon or morn
| ing school sessions of his family is also re-
qulred Of him, and upon progress IN ms
school work, proportioned to his years ana
ability depend his successive promotions
! toward the coveted honor badge inns
badge having been duly earned. Superin-
| tendent Shallenbergers Recommendation
| for the discharge of boy is always faVor-
| ably acted upon by the board Of trustees,
| the board making all discharges, subject
| to the power conferred upon 1t by the act
of Congress approved June 6 last of it's
| bringing the boy discharged back to the
| school if his conduct is such as to make
| this desirable for his welfare For TINS
| reason before any discharge Is recon-
| mended by the superintendent or Is au-
thorized by the board, investigation Is
carefully made of the character of the
| home to which the boy Is to be sent:
Building Nearing Completion.
! The new assembly hall building is now
nearing completion, and the board conf
| IDENTIFY hopes to be able to occupy it dur
| ing the coming February. AS designed by
! and constructed under the supervision Of
| Architect William ]. Marsh, the proper
| tions of the building are described very
| pleasing In addition to beautiful au
| ditorium for Sunday and other services,
| the basement includes a room of height and
size ample in all weathers for the military
drills and other physical exercises in which
all the boys now stately participate under
the instruction of Col. Burton r. Ross.
For the assembly hall, as aid in all de-
votional services. pipe organ Of generous
size is being built under contract by MIR.
Samuel S. Waters of West Washington. At
the initial exercises in the new assembly
hall efforts will be made by the board to
secure the attendance, as far as possible,
of boys now grown to manhood who hay
ing won their honor in school laborS,
have in the outer world won for. them
selves success and good name among men.
From the honor roll Of this institution. now
in the thirty-second year of it's history, the
number of men Of high character and
achievement in life is large, and Of these,
it is stated, none recalls with regret his
life in the school.
Physical Welfare.
The physical welfare of every boy is
given constant attention. Each Of the four
families has its ample playground, and
every boy has equal and abundant partici
patton in outdoor games. Thus, opportunity
for pleasure and healthful recreation is
given every one. And, as far as possible.
between all officers and teachers, and the
boys in their charge, and for whose well
fare they are held responsible, a sympa-
thetic relation is encouraged. That this
relation is cordially maintained, and with
most fortunate results, is proved by the
entire absence Of inclosing walls or bar.
riers-neither this nor any discipline OF
prison sort ever being permitted. No re-
straint nor compulsion. but mutual good
will and cordial respect for authority
tempered with confidence in the boys upon
the part of those in authority-these are
the influences that have obtained, and nave
worked results which in many instances
have been surprising and have very rarely
proved disappointment
Takes High Rank.
In its methods and its work the boys re-
form school takes rank with the very best
institutions of this character in the United
States or any other country. Year by year
its work has developed and made progress
along lines laid down by the present man
agement, this being made possible by means
wisely furnished by Congress on the recon-
menda ton of the authorities of the District
and wisely expended by the board The
school supplies example an illustration of
methods to many visiting officers of like in
stitutions in the states and in foreign coun-
tries, and in this respect it is literally set
Upon hill" A welcome is always cordial
ly extended to all thus coming in their ef-
forts to be able to give uplift to unfor-
tunate and erring youth.
The board of trustees consists of seven
members. appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Attorney General,
as follows: Henry F. Blount, Cecil Clay. S.
w. Curriden, James E. Fitch, Crosby S.
Noyes, William NJ Shuster and William S.
Thompson, and, eX-officio, Commissioner of
the District of Columbia Henry B. F. Mac
farland. All serve without pay.