The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-31
LIFE IN NATIONAL
JUNIOR REPUBLIC
4 COUNTRY OF INCoRRIGIBLEs
10Y AND GIRL "CITIZENS" OF A
REFORM REALM.

The "Republic" Almost Within
sight of the National Capitol.
Governs Itself Like the George
junior Republic Mt FreeviIIe, N. Y.
No "CItizen" Compelled to Work,
Hut Unless He Does He Goes With
ont the "COin of the Realm"-The
Work the Republic is Doing for
Bad Boys.
washington. July 30-There is a
Junior Republic" near Washington,
which is we'll worth visiting. 1t was
started about four years ago, modelled
on the George Junior Republic, at
Freeville, N. Y, as a place for boys
and girls who could not be properly
brought up in their own homes. So
called "incorrigible" children, good
ones in bad homes and bad ones in
good homes-children coming under the
care of the Board Of Guardians, cases
in the juvenile courts-instead of be-
ing consigned to Jail or the reform
school, are sent to the Republic.
The worst boy soon learns that it
pays better, if nothing else, to behave
himself, and that honesty is the best
policy in worldly point Of view
facts that appeal to him at first much
more strongly than abstract senti-
ments of morality. For example, if h!
persists in being idle, the boys do all
the work and are paid in aluminium
Coin), he finds that when meal-time
and bedtime comes he can neither eat
nor sleep till he pays, but will be ar
rested as a vagrant and put in Jail
No Citizen" is compelled to work, but
hn obi of,N -
the currency of the Republic; and with
out this currency he cannot pay his
advance board bill. 1t is the way of
the big world outside, and the key
note in the Republics system. Even
the clothes sent to some of the boys
by parent1 or guardians must be pur-
chased from the Republics store in
the proper coin. Idling and vaga-
bondage cannot be permitted
Tho Hotel Feature.
1t has been found that the way to a
mans energy is the same as that to
his heart. via the stomach. In the din
ing room there are two classes of
boarders-those at the "flfteen-cent ia
bles" and those at the twenty-five
cent tables" The menus differ mainly
in regard to desserts and dainties-gen-
orally dearer to the boyish heart, or
rather stomach. than substantials.
Then, too. in the matter of lodging
advantages, all depends upon the finan-
cial standing of the Citizen"
The well-to-do boys rent separate
apartments in the dormitory building,
and can adorn them according to their
own tastes and stock of Autographs,
photographs. etc. Boys with scanter
pocketbooks rent beds insthe large dor
mitory overhead. OF course this sys-
tenn results in a sort of aristocracy;
and that is just what is intended. 1t
seems an odd idea in connection with
republic. but is an excellent thing
among such boys as fostering self-re-
spect.
In the Jail of the republic a boy
works for the common good, instead of
for himself as he might have done, and
gets no pay-only bread and water to
satisfy his hunger. A very little of
this sort of treatment makes the lazi-
est boy anxious to do his share of work.
The advantages of wealth do not al
ways inspire the boys to fresh endeav-
ors in ways laborious. A good deal of
work is given out to them on con-
tracts, each contractor hiring other
boys to work for him, leaving himself
margin of profit. The republic is
very generous to its citizens" In or
der to compensate for the loss of work.
ing time occasioned by the required at
tendance at school, it is considered
that during school hours the pupils are
employed by the teacher, and they are
paid accordingly.
Administer Their own Laws.
Under proper supervision the boys
makeAand administer all their own laws
and inf1int their own punishment. It is
surprising how soon they learn lessons
of honesty and thrift and appreciate
the efforts made to help them. After
few months even their very faces
change, the expression on them and
the look in their eyes being entirely
dlfferent from those worn by sullen
little savages on their entrance. Every
effort is made to instill proper ideas of
sef-respect. Boys, who formerly
Doasted Of their misdemeanors are soon
anxious to conceal them from their
companions as they become convinced
mat agility in crime is not esteemed in
the republic, as in certain ranks of
the world from whence they came.
There are never fewer than fifty or
sixty boys here; and as each has to be
helped separately and understandingly
10 his special needs for moral uplift-
ing no praise is too great for the men
and women in charge for their endless
patience. It Is intended to train each
hoy in the work or profession he pre-
fers. and is best fitted for, and to keep
track of him after he goes out into
Inc world There are now
republics in Michigan. California. Penn
sylVania and Connecticut-besides this
Of District of CnI,,V,1,So avH the vacant