The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
Something of Interest About the In
dustriaI School for Girls and
the woman's Prison.
INSTITUTIONS ARE SEPARATE
YOUNG GIRLS ARE KEPT APART
FROM CRIMINAL CLASS.
Many of Them Grow Fond Of Their
Surroundings, and, when Away,
Desire to Come Back.

Among the places of interest TO the Wis
itor in Indianapolis and one Of the most in
teresting institutions in the State is the
Indiana Industrial School for Girls and
Women's Prison, both of which are under
one management and located on Randolph
street, just south of Woodruff Place. The
grounds include fourteen acres and are ex-
ceedingly attractive, having large shade
trees. a beautiful lawn and pretty flower
plots.
This institution was built thirty-one years
ago. and Ia 1869 an act of the Legislature
changed the name. Prior to that time 1t
wa known as the Indiana Reformatory
for Women and Girls. Then the two were
made separate. but under the same man
agement and the same roof. The work be-
ing done ct this place is going on in a most
progressive manner. and great Improvement
along all lines can be noticed. Although the
building. which has been standing ever
since the prison was built. is hardly ade-
quate for the growing needs, yet such ar
tangements have been made that the work
is carried on successfully. These two in
situations are the only ones in the State.
In the woman's Prison there are fifty
two inmates. and sixteen. or more than
one-fourth. of these are from vanderburg
county. The Industrial School for Girls
has 1872 pupils, and as the capacity is only
$50. the crowded condition may be imagined.
DISTINCTLY SEPARATE.
Although under one head the two insti-
tutions are distinctly separate. The girls
side presents a marked contrast to the de-
partment where women are serving time for
crimes ranging from larceny TO murder.
On the former side the inmates are conn
mitted." while in the woman's department
they are sentenced and despite the fact
that each is shut out from the outside
world by a large brick wall and all wear
the regulation blue Bingham dress corre-
spending TO the stripes of Jacksonville,
yet 1t does not take long for a visitor to
detect the difference in the atmosphere of
the two places.
The entire institution is under the charge
of Miss Emily z. Rhoades, who has been
there in that capacity for two years. She
has done much toward making the condi-
tion of the Industrial School an institution
for learning and help and keeping the
thought Of confinement out Of the place.
This has done much to make the lives of
the girls brighter and excellent results
have been attained In the way of finding
good homes for the girls and putting them
on the road to better lives. and happiness.
It must not be supposed that all members
Of the school have been placed here on ac-
count OF being incorrigibIe or as punish
ment, for such is not the case. Many are
simply unfortunate; a cruel stepmother. a
hard-hearted and drunken father, who has
turned his daughter adrift to shift for her.
self. tells the story of many of the inmates.
1t Is for this reason that all has been done
that can be to take away the atmosphere
of tail life 0r frv0lrrnfarv oop6,o-,o
TIE life in the Girls Industrial School is.
for the most part. a pleasant one, and in
most Instances far better than the inhabi-
tants of the institution have previously been
accustomed to. One of the features of the
home Is that the girls do all the work, which
makes the school. to a large degree, self
supporting. and at the end OF the year there
Is usually a balance to be turned over to
the State for work done by the girls. The
inmates sew. wash. iron. and. in fact. do all
the wcfS about the building. AS stated be-
fore. there are 1872 girls in the school. They
are graded on what is known as the merit
and dement, system. and there are three
classes or grades. No whipping or corporal
punishment is used. but the girls are put
upon their honor. Girls In the first grade
are allowed to see relatives once a month
for one hour, and are given mail when Ii
comes Those OF the next class are only
given letters every Sunday morning, and
are permitted TO see relatives one hour every
two months. Ten merits a day are given
for perfect conduct, and when a girl gets
q thousand she is put In the first grade. The
life of the third-class girls is not an easy
one. They are not allowed to write any let
ters or receive any. and no person is allowed
60 visit them.
HOMES FOR GIRLS.
When possible the girls in the Industrial
School are given good homes. and they re-
port once a month for a year. There have
been cases where the girl was so well
pleased with the school that she asked to
return. Not long ago a girl was sent to Fort
Wayne from the institution. and after being
there a short time wrote the managers that
she couldn't be good at home with a step
mother" and was sent back. She is one OF
the best pupils in the school now.
A new feature CT the work this summer
IS the establishment OF a summer school,.
which began last Monday. The work In the
school is done just as in the public schools
of the city. and the girls show an aptness
for study generally absent among pupils of
the city schools. The girls are committed
until they are twenty-one. but are not al
ways kept that long. In most Instances.
when suitable homes are available. they are
sent away as soon as possible IL their record
Is good.
Aside from the work and busy life of the
school the recreation Of the institution is a
prominent part OF the life OF the girls.
After the evening meal an hour is allowed
for fun. and IN the winter the sounds of
merriment may be heard from the sitting
room. where games occupy the attention.
There Is a large library. also. that affords
them a great deal OF pleasure. A brass
band has recently been organized among
the girls and there Is music frequently.
Services are held In the chapel every Sun
day afternoon. when a minister from one OF
the city churches breaches. The girls sit
down stairs and the prisoners occupy the
Balcony.
Everything Is done 10 keep the women
and young girls apart. The little girls OF
ne Industrial School are also net permitted