The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-27

cagos prSoll--a work that we
again ask if there are none to start on
an equally effective basis in the prison
here-there comes most appropriately
the brief account of what that admir-
able and devoted woman. Mrs. Ralling-
ton Booth. is accomplishing in what
we call homes of hope. Hope hall, No.
|, and Hope hall. No. ., she names
them. The first one is at Flushing.
Long Island. and is a small farm COL
ony. The second is out i'm the suburban
region of Chicago.
She refers to them. in her lectures
and appeals for their maintenance. as
part or the prison work of the Volun-
teers of America. But it is through
her own untiring personal efforts that
they are actually sustained She is as
much both the soul and body of the
prison work OF the Volunteer Army"
as Mrs. Elizabeth Fry was of the al
most miraculous prison reform work
accomplished in Newgate and in the
whole prison system Of England in the
early decades of the nineteenth CEN
tury.
Mrs. Booths prison work was begun
in systematized fashion almost i'm
mediately after her last visit to Scran-
ton. In 1896. largely through the in
itial interest in her work aroused by
the metropolitan newspapers accounts
OF 1t, she was able to secure the Flush
ing farm and house. Over one thou
sand discharged prisoners coming out
into the world without a place, or a
foothold for honest work. anywhere
else in 1t. have been received, sheltered
and fed. at Hope hall, No. |. They did
what work the farm could give them
to do until employment could be found
for them. 1t has saved by far the
largest proportion of them from return
to crime.
In Hope hall, No. >, the Record Her
AIDS investigation explains that the
parole system of Illinois makes il pos
sible for the home to work with the
state officials" That Is, some respon-
sible person must guarantee employ
ment for year in order to secure Il
PAROLE As Hope hall gives free
home until employment is secured for
those whom it takes, the guarantee IS
modified to ft the case. In the two
years and half during which this
ceived has been about 450, and of these
"about 20 per cent. have become honest,
industrious and law-abiding." While
in Hope hall the men do the work OF
every kind, but alternating in the
duties OF the house, laundry and
poultry yard, SO that one half of the
average number of twenty TO twenty
five inmates are free through the day
to look for work
1t Is rare, says the paper from which
we quote, for any to have To depend on
the home for three months unless on
account OF Illness. The parole sys-
tenn, of course, requires a monthly re-
rules are not irksome. The inmates
are forbidden to use tobacco or uro-
fame language at the home, They must
be In by dark i'm order that no false
charges may hold against them: and
they are required TO attend two re-
llgious services a week" The neigh
bors in the scattered suburb in which
Hope hall stands have, It Is added,
but kind words for the insti-
tuition and its mission. That Ia in itself
a certificate of the successful manner
in which II is doing It's work.
Mrs. Ballington Booth makes an
earnest appeal for subscribers to the
extent of $500 month, for the more
regular and substantial support of the |
two homes. in order to leave her free.
to do more work in the prisons.
How that delicate frame of hers is |
upborne by the spirit to do what she |
lccomplshes is The marvel The help |
she asks ought to be forthcoming, and |
IN the two states in which the homss |