Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-26
FOR MAYNARD GIRLS.
Good Work Being Done By Sisters o1
 House of Good Shepherd.


 men took possession of the old Sis- son property on Sisson avenue and opened q home of correction for way ward girls.
 It was no experiment. that they were making with the complex prob lem of retaining and reforming fal- len women, but the prosecution of a work which has proven successful where established. The Order of the Good Shepherd, to which these sisters belong, numbers thousands of self sacrificing women. who control and direct two hundred and forty-fye homes of correction for unfortunate women throughout the world. Their organization has been in existence for nearly three hundred years, and has met with signal success ill all the large cities of the world.
 Every detail of their system of up- lifting and regenerating these poor women has been carefully and pru- dently planned. Their methods lack neither efficiency to keep the delin- quent safe from danger, nor strength to uplift the fallen, nor sympathy to- wards the weak and erring.
 The inmates are brought under the pure and refining influence of the sisters. They are taught the clement ary branches of education, and are instructed in needle and domestic work, as we'll as in other branches of industry. Industrious habits are in this manner formed and cultivated in these unfortunate women whose downfall is often due to indolence and idleness. During their stay, they are trained in the ways of repentance, made strong in virtue and encouraged to persevere in good to the end. All applicants irrespective of creed, class, color or race, are kindly and gladly received by the sisters.
 During the past four years enc hundred and sixty of these unfortu- mates have been under the care and instruction of the sisters at their home on Sisson avenue. Many have gone forth strengthened and uplifted and are leading good moral lives, some are content to remain for an in definite period acquiring good habits and making resolutions for the fu- ture: others have chosen to spend the remainder of their lives in the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the con vert.
 This laudable work of reclaiming the fallen, uplifting and encouraging the weak outgrew the humble quart CTS of the old Sisson residence. and made necessary the erection of q large and more commodous structure at a total cost of ninety thousand dollars. The new building is adapted in cv- cry detail for the work of reclaima- tion and reformation. Three hundred inmates can be suitably accommo- dated. In its present equipment and appointment it provides for the com plete separation of the different class es of inmates, those who have been in danger of falling into habits of vice and those who have been lead ing vicious lives.
 Judges of the court as well as oth- CTS interested in the reformation of the fallen are aware of the thorough ness and completeness of the work of the House of the Good Shepherd. They are convinced that the sisters have solved the problem of female re- formation, and are able to point to many examples to substantiate their conviction.
 The state of Connecticut was not slow to recognize the necessity and worth of such reformatory and in 1905 made it q chartered institution. It is today the only institution in the state in which young women between the ages of sixteen and twenty one who are in manifest danger of falling into habits of vice. or are leading VI cious lives may find home, a place of rest and repose and sympathetic friends to uplift and elevate them Before the establishment of the House of the Good Shepherd the only place to which these unfortunate wo- men could be committed was the county Jail. The atmosphere of the iail where all classes of criminals are confined Is not conducive of weak errlng and helpless women. It tends to degrade and harden In vice rather than to uplft and direct in the paths of virtue those who are still capable of much good.
 The judges of the courts of Con necticut are now empowered 10 send young women of this class 10 the House of the Good Shepherd. Many of them have already given practical proof of their appreciation of this state chartered institution, and have sent here the unfortunate charges within their jurisdiction.
 The act passed by the general as sembly of 1905. concerning the com mitment of girls over sixteen years of age to chartered institutions read as follows:
 Any female between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one who is in manifest danger of falling into hab its of vice, or who is leading vi cious life. may. upon the complaint of a grand jurior, or of the prose,.ut ing attorney of any town, city oi borough court. be brought before q justice of the peace, or the town. city ] or borough court within whose juris diction she may reside ar be found and upon conviction thereof may bs committed to the custody of any in stitution chartered by the general as sembly of this state for the purposes of receiving and caring for females who have fallen into. or are in danger of falling into vicious habits. uEti she shall have arrived at the age oi twenty-one years"
 The sisters feel thnt the above statement of their work will interest