The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-04-28

and entertainments are occasionally
given by the prisoners.
The religious training of the in
mates is not forgotten. The needs
of the Roman Catholics and the He
brews are looked after by priest and
rabbi. The reformatory has its
regular chaplain, who conducts regu
lar religious services for the men.
Bibles are furnished to the men who
request them, and many are thus
placed in their hands. The chaplain
is available for consultation whenever
asked. The various institutions of
organized religion are not possible.
Yet some of the men enter into gent
inc religious experience.
The industrial training of the pris
oner IS an important factor in his re-
formation. Crime often springs from
ingbility or unwillingness to engage
in &slf-supporting industry. Every
inmate of the reformatory must labor
in some useful employment, unless
physically unqualified. The various
employnents of the trade school num-
Der thirty-two, and include painting
and frescoing, plastering, brickiay-
ing, blackanithing and horseshoeing,
plumbing, carpentry and building,
pattern making, printing, bookbind-
ing, understanding, boat-build-
ing, brass finishing, stonecutting, up
holstery and cabinet making, bar
bering, and instruction in domestic
science.
Satisfactory conduct requires obe-
dience to the rules, loyalty to the
government of the reformatory, and
abstinence from all intimacies with
the inmates. Satisfactory industry
requires the voluntary performance,
with reasonable skill and without
wastefulness. of an assigned amount
of work. Satisfactory school work
requires strict attention in class, dill
gence in assigned studies, and answer
ing correctly at least seventy-fve per
cent. of the questions asked in each
subject of the monthly written ex-
aminations. For bad conduct, made
quate or poor work in the shops, and
for failure in the school, marks are
deducted, and each month the mans
record is made up on his individual
conduct book, so that he knows thus
often his exact standing.
Under the authority of the law
allowing compensation for inmate
labor the members of the two highest
grades are credited fer their work,
and charges for support and penalties
are deducted from this amount. The
authorized compensation depends, not
only on the products of labor, but
also upon willingness, industry and
good conduct. Each month every
inmate receives statement of his ac-
count with the system. Upon depar-
ture prisoner has taken with him as
high as thirty dollars, the savings of
his term of Imprisonment. Not a
large amount, but representing self
sustaining industry, frugality and
moral seli-control.
Before leaving the reformatory each
prisoner must have in prospect legiti-
mate and bona fde employment. He
is allowed to communicate with rela-
tives and friends with regard to the
securing of employment. The desira-
bility Of the position he secures must
be passed upon by officers appointed
for that purpose in various cities.
Perfect conduct for six months after
release, certified to by the proper Off
GERS, entities the prisoner to final dis
charge.
The system is founded upon the
theorythat such criminals are morally
and mentally diseased and in need of
proper care. They are treated as the
physician treats his patients for physi-
caldisease. Not punishment for crime,
but reformation of character and hab-
its, fitting the men to take their place
in society as self supporting members
of it. is the aim of the reformatory
system.
The very atmosphere of the prison
is a revelation. Sunshine, content
nlent, and good cheer prevail. The
bearing of the men is erect, the step
is alert and buoyant, their faces are
bright and hopeful. Seventy per cent.
of the inmates are never again con-
victed of crime and become self-sus-
tanning members of society, as against
only small proportion of reform
among those sentenced to the state
prisons. The reformatory at Elmira
is virtually a village Of 1900 young
men, engaged in the various disciple
nary exercises of life, having supplied
for them by the state those employ
ments and influences denied them by
their birth and hone training. Here
they are developing manhood fit for
society.-Rev. Hede,ick w. WI
Hams in Ebwoyth Herald.