New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20

"OIk WITHOUT gong with him
morning to the Tombs- All the keepers kno--
him there. and as he walks IN the front a..
and passes from the hall TO the elevator ts.-
do not cry out Pass oner' as when stran-o,,
come On reaching the juvenile ward he sbaksa
the hand Of the turnkey. who frequently grsst,
him with:
We'll. Mr.. Willard. you've got some new. o,o.
IN your class this morning"
While he is looking over the list OF prfgo-e-.
to learn who are going to court a keeper sf,-,.
down a neighbOring tier A slate with the n-t,
oner's name hangs on each steel door. but o..
keeper only gives it glance now and then n
knows them all except a few OF the lategt =.
rivals. Pausing before boys cell. he tb-,,..-
his key into the lock. and asks:
Coming 20 schOOl?'
OF all the prisoners on a recent NfoDdav
ing there were only two who answered @,so -
that question one had been locked IN -
night before for the first time and he f.,
that this might be only another form ~ =
QUESTION. The other had Just returned fo- -
third time. and he did not want Mr. Wiua-s :.
see his face. In spite OF his aliases bis -,
record would then be known Mr. Willard 80
fOrsets a face. and there is no comDplso-.
school law in the TOmbs.
When order reigned In the schooIroor, Nh
the prisoners sat on wooden benches ana ~
Willard stood between a couple Of Cart,o,.
windows. one would hardly realize that sra.-.
members Of the class was charged with 49,
The majority looked more dirty than v7iclst
Many seemed TO have Just tumbIed out OF bsd
and had not bothered even to wash their -
nor brush their hair. And yet on either SID -
one frowsy looking lad sat two prisoners .vbo
had been bank clerks. Their clothes fitted well
Their linen was clean. and one wore a g.tek,i,
which frQvgSv a .+--1
grin
After receiving the books and papers which Ia
had leaned his pupils" the day before tbs
teacher announced that the lesson would be q,
history. a few began to yawn, and the school,
master spoke faster and began TO move 10 and
down the aisle. A little fellow was about to
shuttle his feet, when the teacher held ID q man
with the words:
Yes. the history OF this place VIII interest
you more than any other in the world New
York, your home
Not fer mine mumbled the frowsy lad
''Ner NINE echoed several Others.
The teacher paused. and then he asked:
All those who regard New-Tork as their
home lift up their hands,
Not hand went Up.
All those who were born In New York raise
their hands,
Nine of the thirty-fve held up their hands
The parents Of these nine. however, as their
names showed, were Italians. Hebrews and Poles.
There was profound attention for q while. as
the speaker told Of the fights between the Dutch
and the Indians but as soon as the subieet
changed from fights TO the fur trade q pair OF
feet scraped the floor heavily The teacher
paid no attention apparently to the source Of
disorder. but asked:
There were many hills on Manhattan Island
when the Indians lived here, and a few remain.
What are some of the hills in New-York at the
resent timer"
David B. HiIT' shouted the lad who was
scraping his feet. The insurrectiOuist was sent
to his cell, and thereafter the interest OF the
class was UnbrOken- The teacher held his listen
ers still more intently when he told how the
Tombs stands where once there was a pond and
how its foundations rest upon thousands Of
water soaked piles. AT the end Of the lesson
more books were distributed on the promise
that they all be returned the next morning. Two
youths stayed after the rest One wanted Mr.
Willard to sharpen his pencil. so that he could
write letter home and the other asked if bis
teacher would not try to get him set free
IF only had another chance, and could live
away from the gang. Ia be all right" he said
Mr.. Willard promised to DO al he could.
ION Monday mornings" said Mr.. Willard to
a Tribune reporter. after his class had returned
to the cells, there is always q certain under
current of disorder. We had no school since
Friday. and the lads feel more restless than
-