Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17

academies for the training of
boys-West Point and Annapp-
Isis known the length and
breadth of the land. But that
he has third school where boys from
many different states in the Union are
educated and trained under military disci-
pliEe is a fact known to few. And yet
i. is so. This third school, though vastly
different in the character of its boys.
might figuratively be callei the United
States West Point for IncorrigibleS or
the Annapolis for Uncle Sans Bad BOYS.
for il is reform school under federal
control and its inmates come from many
states in the Union.
II is located about three miles from the
Capitol on the Bladensburg road in the
District of Columbia. There a system of
instruction and discipline not unsimilar
to that of the United States Military
5 Academy or the United States Naval
Academy is rightly enforced upon the
lads who have been sent there not to pre-
pare for military service. hut to be taught
how to escape the classification of "un-
desirable citizens. And the system of
instruction is both unique and success
full.
West Point. with it's sentry duty and
frequent Inspections is place as diff
cut TO escape from: should cadet so
desire, as a Jail. and Annapolis. with its
companies of United States marines on
guard duty and its high stone wall in
the top of which pieces of broken glass
are cemented. Is even more difficult to
break out of-and yet the reform school
from which place boy might naturally
be supposed TO be ever alert to effect his
escape. makes visible effort to con-
fne its boys There isn't a wall in
sight. ana even the gates at the entrance
of the grounds are always open There
Is no sentry duty. and but one building
has bars on its wndows-and AT that
only on the windows on the ground floor
he entire system of conducting the in
stitution is little like a Jail and the
accepted idea of reform school as could
be imagined And yet the discipline is
strict-never lax single moment of the
day. Control of the boys mind rather
than his body is. however, the point
paramount.
Federal and Military.
The school is under the supervision
Of the Attorney General Of the United
States and a board of trustees seven ir
number. appointed by the President of the
United States. The expenses of the school
are betrayed by direct appropriation by
Congress which average SJa.NtO a year
with total expenditure of approximately
s15.o0O
Within the past week the United States
Senate formally named the institution
The National Training School for Boys
The members of the Board of Trustees
W.
81 the board. who has been appointed b,
three different occupants of the White
House; Col. Henry F. Blount vice presi-
dent: Samuel w. Curriden secretary and
treasurer. Brainard III. Warner. Francis
II. Duehay. Charles \. Wells Judge
charles H. Robb. associate Justice Court
" Appeals. District of Columbia: H. r r
Mcfarland. Commissioner of the Distric,
: Columbia. ex-officio: Mr. William p
bingham from the United States Senate
nd Mr.. John j. Jenkins from the House
- Representatives.
There are at present 81 bows in The
school, all attired in gray uniforms cut
In the cadet fashion. with the peaked
military cap. Over one-half Of them are
colored and almost one-half come from
the District of Columbia which pays 8.
per week to the school for each boy's
board. They are divided into companies
with their own officers. who wear dark
blue blouses with shoulder straps The
setting-up exercises and general foot
movements of the United States Army are
practiced each day. Company and bat
talon drill are INDUCED in weekly In
the spring of each year a competitive
drill is held and great honor is heaped
upon the winning company The instruc-
tors OF the institution receive and return
the right-hand salute" from the BOYS
whenever they pass them just as "A cadet
in either West Point or Annapolis salutes
an officer of the army or navy. A bo,
always removes his cap when addressed
by one of the instructors and does not re.
place il until the officer has concluded
Col Burton r. Ross of the District Of
Columbia National Guard is the drill.
master and visits the school every FRIDAY