New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-04

T. q, in Iamaicaave and the line between the
boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens runs tnr9 ~
the propertv Near the main pulldlns ~ d
small chanel in which Catholic and Protestant
services are held each Sunday morning. Apose
the chapel is the hospital. whicn mas not oeeh
The principal in charge Of the Brookiyn
school is Henry Spurde. who has worked with
BOYS for years and has become an expert III III
handling them He has introduced number or
innovations since he took charge. the most inter
esting of which is system OF puhlsnIneht io VI
boys who run away and those WHO are seh' I"
the school for the second time
It used TO be that second term boys were
the heroes of the school instead OF 10 ussi az
as they should have BEEN said professor spur
die in explaining the new system They knew
all the ways of the school. were more skhIul
in drill and gymnasium work ana were aDle 10
show the frs term boys. Some of them reasoned
it out this way I'm nobody at all this year
but if L come back next year III be somenody:
back they came as soon as they mao cidiice
"'This year the boy who is back to for
second dose of school attendance medicine does
not have an easy time. His greatest sorrow is
the loss of dessert at meal time He loses three
quarters of his play time. and in the quarter
allowed is confined to a small portion or the
ward He has none of the special privileges
which good boys earn. and no matter now Sood
he is it is impossible for him to become
trusty.
The most striking thing which the principal
has noted about his boys is what he aptly cans
the "disbelieving habit" 1t takes them about
two months to understand that there people
in the world who will keep their word They
have become so accustomed to doubling the
promises of their parents. their teachers ana
their friends that they confirmed sceptlcs
Never is a promise given at the Truant Home
which is not kept to the letter
Once each month Professor Spurdle gives a
dinner to the boys who are perfect in their
department. At the last dinner Twenty-Five or
the seventy four boys in the school were eligible
For these dinners ne buys lot of things whlcn
appeal to the boyish taste and they spend the
evening over the various games which the rec
reation room affords.
For the bad boys the supreme punishment is
confinement in one of the two quiet rooms.
These are dimIy lighted bedrooms. fitted with
nothing but cot. The culprit is made to un-
dress, put on his nightgown and go to bed be
hind locked doors to mediate on his sins He
has all the bread he can eat, and no end or
water to drink, but that is all Twelve hours
of the quiet is usually enough to bring the
most hardened to terms. The boys dread TINS
confinement more than they would whipping.
Some of them even plead to be beaten instead
of locked up, but corporal punishment has no
place in the public school system
boy who sent to the quiet several
weeks ago had been only short while in the
dark place when he began to cry that he was
dying. The attendant called the principal and
the door opened.
For the love of Heaven send for a priestT'
the boy cried. I'm goin' to die
with him, and Professor Spurdle who is some
thing of d doctor himself, could discover no
ailment. To be the safe side. however, he
sent for the doctor.
The boy was questioned to symptoms. but
they changed rapidly as the Irishman's flea
First his leg panied him frightfully then 1t was
a dull ache in the back of his neck. He finally
decided that he was bleeding to death inside
Of him.
st can cure that in a minute" said the doctor.
He mixed up harmless dose that was as bitter
as he knew how to make it. They poured a
spoonful down the boys throat
Now give him that every time he says he is
sick and you'll have a cure before you know it,
The boy tried the sick dodge just once more.
but second dose of the medicine cured him.