Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-03

was 4,06I, at nine years Of age. Fol
each age between the two extremes O.
eight and fourteen the total was a few
score over 900. The evenness of tho
totals in question is rather singular
since they vary Sc little that they
might be considered as practically
identical.
Another class of interesting stats
tics deals with the habits of the chill
d-en committed: 12.3l7 are designated
as unfortunate" SSH as differing"
3.267 as ''vagrant', 1894 as bad; 56e
as "beggars' and 1880 as "disobedient
and truant." The small proportion
set down as bad" should be particu-
larry noted, while vagrancy and pilfer-
ing can hardly be called crimes among
the homeless and hungry. Dis
obedience and truancy are the in
eluctable results of unattractive homes
and the unsettled habits that they
breed.
In regard to education about two
thirds could at least read. All but
one-tenth had one or both parents liv-
ing. Again, the proportion of temper
ate to Incorporate parents was almost
six to one. From this the inference is
that misfortune rather than vice was
the main factor in forcing the children
into charitable institution.
There is perpleXing difficulty when it
comes TO the question of deciding what
to do with the street boy. 1t has long
ago been found that reformatories
which do not reform are no place for
him. 1t is hard to control his restless
ness and love of freedom. He is at
first homesick for the life of the streets,
and he must be interested in some
thing useful. The keenness and quick
ness he has acquired in the street
stand him i'll good stead when it comes
to learning trade. When transferred
to Western farms the change of life,
even from that of the asylum. is so
violent that many cannot stand it. A
large proportion. however, asSmilate
themselves in the new environment
and become steady and successful
workers.
President Williams adds: "The best
way to help the lad is to find him a
new home. Generally that home should
be in the rural districts. What the
street boy needs is the country. The
country youth longs for the city with
its incessant and varied activities. and
if ne has had the proper home-training
he is more likely to succeed there than
the citybred youth: but the street boy
needs the open air. the warm breath
of nature on his cheek, the calm pa
tienca of her slow processes, the sub
tie teaching of the changing seasons,
the new companionship of wild and
tanned animals. and by them he grows
into a well-rounded manhood"
This idea has been steadily acted
upon by the New York Juvenile Asy-
lum during half a century. 1t has
placed about 5000 boys on Western
farms; and of these a very large per-
centage have turned out well, becom-
ing Industrious and prosperous citi-
Zens. Not more than quarter of the
number of inmates of the school have
returned to their old life.
III order to instill taste for Out-of-
door and rural occupa tons as prep
aration for future settlement in the
country the asylum some time ago
purchased a farm al Dobbs Ferry, and
has erected a school building and sew
eral cottages after designs by the
architects York & Sawyer. Not more
than twenty boys will occupy any one
cottage, and, as there are only fifteen
cottages. but 500 can be accommodated
at present. 1t is intended, however,
as fast as the necessary funds can be
obtained, to add to the number of cot
tages until as many as may be needed
shall have been built.