The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-14
TIE MATRON TAKES CHARGE
sTRs. r. L. bowler INSTALLED As
POLICE NATION.
she Tells OF what she Expects TO ID"
in Connection with Her
New Work.

step BY step Houston is taking on met
ropolitan frills. the last innovation being
the appointment of police matron, to look
after the female prisoners who have to be
lacked IN at tho police station, mainly
for offenses that do not ascend In the
catalogue OF crimes beyond the plane OF
,n,sdemeanors. But whatever they are
there for the city council has been per-
suaded that 1t would be a good thing to
have matron IN charge of them aud thus
relieve the regular officers of the care OF
this particular class of prisoners.
AT the last meeting of the city council
Mrs. f. L. Bowler was selected matron
from among number Of applicants for
the position. and yesterday she assumed
her new duties An office has been fitted
up for Mrs. Bowler in the second story
OF the building, opening into the corpora
ton court room. Here she was found
yesterday when Post reporter ealied
TO ask her how she liked her new )oo'
..oh, am glad to have II" said the
new matron. who is a plump, sprightty
little lady who looks like she would ac-
conlplish anything she undertook.
she Is mot what ones mind would picture
as the typical inatrOn--long, gaunt ana
stern. She has not that sternness oil look
generally coupled with the idea OF con-
trolling and subjugatinS tough and un-
rulv characters, but IL 0ne can rule oy
mild measures as well Ns by sternness
Mrs. Bowler viii at the position admir-
ably. Besides she Is deserving of It, Sne
has an invalid husband and four NIUE
children to support and however hard the
lot land her position at the police station
is certainly not a bed of roses) she says
she IS willing to undertake 1t ana give
the task her best service.
Have you adopted any rules yet for
the government of the female prisoners?'
NO. not yet" she replied. but | am
= thinking out plan and II the one | adopt
fails TO accomplish what expect, then
will try como other. This sort OF work
is entirely new to me and | have no pre-
cedent for It in Houston"
"Wil your work be along the line of
religious reformation
From the class of material anu told |
will have to work on. and from the spo-
radio intervals at which l viii be able to
get at them. | am afraid that / would not
be able TO accomplish much However, [
propose to do what | can in this direc-
tlon. | shall mako Bible reading and
prayer a part of the daily routine. but l
expect to accomplish most along indus
trial lines.
Relieving that cleanliness leads to God
llness | shall use the female prisoners for
keeping the STATEN house in cleaner
condition than II AT present appears to be.
For this purpose ! will use those prisoners
who can do no other kind of work Those
who have more Intelligence ard can sew
! will put them TO sewing for some of
the cleenos-n2ry institutions of the city.
my chiet aim win he to discourage idle
ness among the prisoners during the terms
Of their Incarceration and II by this means
can inculcNtc habit OF industry much
will be accomplished In the way o.
a reformation.
Next time yoi come" replied Mrs
Bowler, as the reporter took his leave, ~
hope TO have n char to Offer you As yol
may observe, my office has no. yet beer
fitted mp, but they have promised to hav,
II ready for me tomorrow"