Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-20
TWO BAD BOYS
Are Sole Inmates of $500. 900
Home.
Have Six Cottages and Big Farm All
to Themselves.

Chicago, Dec. 19.-Walter Olson and
Johnnie Mahalovitch, each Is years old
and a product of slum life in Chicago.
today constitute the aristOcracy OF bad
boydom in America. For them and for
their benefit exclusively there exists
for a brief time only-the finest insti-
tuition in Illinois or any other state for
the reformation of juvenile offenders,
the ST. Charles Home for Boys, in Kane
county.
Some day" said Judge Richard S.
Tuthill to the boys, you will be proud
to say that YOU were the first two seal
awags that the kind hearted. fatherly
state of Illinois ever sent to St. Charles
to be made over"
The boys We're appreclatlVe. A few
days before they had been brought be-
fore Judge Mack of the Juvenile court
for various acts of "devilishness," the
policeman said who arrested them, and
they had expected no better fate than
to be sent to the John Worthy school.
The boys were sent to the st.
Charles home" by Judge Tuthill, who
three years before first conceived the
idea of the institution and brought it
into being with the help of legislative
appropriations and contributions from
private sources.
Until tomorrow when forty other jul
venile offenders will be transferred
from the John Worthy school to st.
Charles. the following features of the
home have no reason for existence
other than the reformation OF Johnnie
MahaloVitch and Walter Olson:
\ farm. three miles west of the town
of st. Charles. consisting of nearly
l 900 acres of the best arabic land in
the country.
Six cottages of modern stone and
brick construction, each with a Ca
pacity' of forty boys.
\ schoolhouse, equipped with manu-
al training workshop. built to accom-
modate 200 boys, in halliday classes of
$50 each.
\ power plant, equipped with $50
horse power engine and supplying
steam heat and electric light to all
buildings.
An elaborate water and sewerage
system.
Large out buildings, with 20 horses,
% COWS, $50 hogs. and innumerable
chickens. and storehouses Of hay, oats,
and corn, potatoes, and other vegeta-
bles.
\ complete equipment of farm ma
chinery and implements.
All of which has cost nearly $500. 600,
with $4,000 appropriated by the Hi
nois legislature and the remainder
contributed by individuals.
An additional appropriation, needed
to complete buildings for the home. in
Guiding an administration structure,
will be asked Of the legislature at its
next session.
BY legislative enactment the institu-
ton will be utilized as place Of COM
mtment for Maynard boys by the
state at large. and not restricted to
Chicago. as in the case Of the John
Worthy school. 1t is anticipated. how
ever. that at least 45 per cent. Of Of
tenders sent to the school will be from
Chicago. that being the city's present
representation at the Pontiac reforma-
tory.
The home fills long felt need for
an institution that would reform de-
linquent boys without subjecting them
to a prison like environment" said
Judge Tuthill. 1T was the idea of all
Interested in establishing the institu-
ton that nowhere else were conditions
so favorable as in the country, with
plenty of outdoor employment.
AT St. Charles the boys will be re-
quired to spend a good part of their
time in farming. and incidentally. the
Institution in this way, will be partly.
if not wholly, supporting. They
also will be given a common school
education and taught the rudiments of
ii trade