The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-26

not given that cordial reception upon their
return that they cfttimes deserve. but in
stead they are looked upon with suspicion
and encounter conditions that dishearten
them and make IL more easy TO return 10
old companionships and to crime
FEW MISTAKES MADE.
THE methods adopted by the manage
ment in securing a full and complete his
tory Of the inmate enable the board INTEL
ligently to pass upon all cases seeking
parole, and from the records We find few
mistakes have been made; so that COM
munity where one OF these paroled men has
been sent will be safe in lending that as
sistance and encouragement that will great
~ aid the inmate in his efforts 10 re-estab-
liSh himself in society.
Il believe that in institutions such as the
Indiana Reformatory Sunday should be OBJ
served a special day-a day OF rest, of
religious services and the of good
literature. To make the inmates more APP
preciative of that day and TO make them
feel like entering more thoroughly into the
Sunday services, ii Is the intention or the
management to give TO each inmate Sun
day suit of clothing as soon as possible lie:
the inmates, and will be made from cloth
purchased for that purpose by the state.
1t will be a neatly fitting suit and the in
mate will wear this on each Sunday until
such time as he is paroled or discharged
from the institution, when the suit that he
has been wearing on Sundays VIII De
thoroughly renovated and will be the suit
in which he is discharged.
'.If there is anything in reformation it
will be brought about by using such meth
DDS as these upon boys, many OF whom
have never known what a Sunday suit or
clothes is.
MANY pages have been written and sta
tistics compiled endeavoring TO snow the
cause of crime. Environment, the want OF
industrial training and economic habits.
together with general mental culture, lack
of proper parental care and defective nome
influences are some of the sources leading
to the downfall of many that are found in
our prisons and reformatories. therefore,,
the most important point to be horne IN
mind is that reform must begin at the earn earn
est point possible. 1t is not In our state
prisons, or in our reformatories, where the
older men with fixed habits are found, but
in the reform and industrial schools, where
the juvenile offender is sent that the great
est good can be done. A large percentage
of these youthful offenders have never
known home discipline, nor have they had
their better natures appealed TO by kind
words or a pleasant smile, which, In their
case, would always go farther than goio
dollar.
Upon the management and kind treat
ment of such subjects from day to day
in these institutions is nodded the char
acter that is designed to make useful and
respected citizens of this and other States.
Under our national system of govern
ment these boys will presently have
voice in the control Of public affairs.
Patriotism, morality, and humanity all en-
force the obligation to train them into
good citizens. The hope of better things
TO be accomplished in the twentieth CEN
fury finds its germ IN the hearts OF the
children of to-day. Ruskin rightly said:
The true history of nations is not in its
wars but i'm its households The asylums,
prisons. reformatories and humane institu-
tons Of our country are only repair SHOPS.
more important than efforts to repair. This
must come through lines of education. The
masses must be made to understand and
realize their duty relative to the rearing
of the child. Impulses must be aroused
and stimulated that tend to action. help and
beneficence-the desire for removing hu-
man error. clearing human confusion and
diminishing human misery, the noble as
piration to leave the world better and hap
pier than found 1T.
much interest is certainly being mani
tested in this work of reform in Indiana,
and in the methods that are being adopted
in dealing with the delinqnents, of our
State. Perhaps in no other State has such
rapid development been made. 1t is only
another proof of the practical Christian
philanthropy that characterizes the civili-
cation of the present age, and that so Won
derfuIly out-distances the past ages in
practical work and true progress.
Nothing can be more appropriate to the
occasion than the following from Riley:
| LET SOMETHING GOOD BE SAID.
| when over the fair fame of friend or foe
The shadow of disgrace shall fall, instead
OF words of blame, or proof of thus and so,
Let something good be said
| Forget not that fellow-being yet
MAY fall so low but love may lift his head;
| Even the check OF some with tears is wet,
If something good be said.
No generous heart may vainly turn aside
In ways OF sympathy: no soul is dead,
| But may awaken strong and glorihed,
II something good be said.
| land so I charge We, by the thorny crown.
| And by the which the Savior bled,
| And by your souls hope of fair renown,
/ Let something good be said |"