The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-20
Letters from Alumni" Of
 Boys Lndustrial School

Following are several letters from boys who, have gone out from the Alabama Boys Industrial School. writ ten back to Mfr. Weakley, the Super intendent of the School. or to Mrs. Johnston. They are copied yer batim and speak for themselves.
 These letters were sent us at our request In order that we might be able to answer the frequent question Where are the boys that so out from the reformatory."
 In consideration of the fact that the school is the product of the un- tiring efforts of certain Alabama wo- men, and is a living proof of the fast that women, banded together, can achieve much, we submit these letters to those who still doubt woman's abii- ity to accomplish great things.
 Mir. D. NJ. Weakiey:
 Dear Sir--I received my recommen- dation &s certainly appreciate It. think am doing nicely in my trade I have got so can take train order very weil-if don't want to be an operator I have done got a 1oo promised me at 5000 per month at H- as Freight Agt-Mr H Is the man who wants me If just learn to be an agent I can learn 1t in five or six months he promised me a raise about every l two months if am an operator can learn in twelve months G get about --"l00"-per month-I am learning both-I have not decided which l VIII choose yet--ans' soon & give me your opinion about what to do V. D. MT D m weakley. East Lakc' Kind SiF--As am at leisure mo-
 ment ] will drop you a line to let you know 1 am getting along O. K, at present s hope when these few lines come to hand will find you all the same. How ia the old Boys getting along trust they are well < studylns nS nsI,,.
 am now working in the Cotton Miiis l My, fob Is engineer you know that Is job T always wanted & am satlsne9 now I get 1.25 per day or course | went get rich at that rate but VIII learn enough about 1t that can get 1 better fob in the future
 TelI Mrs Johnston I have Joined the l church q am trying to live as near | right as I know how l have heard l some good preaching this summer
 My. how wish you 6 the boys could hear the preacher that held a pro- fraoteS meeting near my home'- 
 when come back you were gone an I will write 6 tell you all aoout what did & 50 forth- =. |, D
 wen I arrived in Marion at II r. M Monday night--0randmotne az az low as could be but she lasted nntli Saturday morning at oclA-Oui 'eu her Sat. eve at ck
 The next week visited all my un. cles a day each--Well of course l dlo moi run with the boys went Wlth oe- fore A did not smoke & told every body that said anything about slIloA- Ine or drinking so people iooKe1 upon me as another boy, not old Willie as | I express it. ,,,.
 Evervhoav encouraged me telling me ! what a fine man I would be some day An of my uncles gave me some thing : I,l-a money & told me to spend 1t TOT what needed & when got q wnen I 9ot out they would help me start in life, I have me . joe Waitins snn Msrion tUn me at S7fB a week at the Marloh Standard printing office-I bought me s s,,it underwear, a hat & few more ii+fia thinRs-all the people at home know I am a changed boy-Row all l havA ot do is to get an educatlon hold myself right O yes! one or tne street iofers said to me-"When are vou going back to jail. said 1t was not a jaii 1t was a school he said you yonl" said "I rather be a fool up there going to school than Eentle men & a street lofer"-I study nara but Mother is in a bad fix. cups are short and things cost so muSh lor
 
 me but she is going to let me study awhile longer-she said for me to do nv hast (which I will, l don't see no sense in smoking now Gas you saio would do later on) did not think so until made my mine tip not 10 shlohs any more End day was at nome
 stopped in cigar making stand or d home raised tobacco shipping stand Mr R. the man that runs 1t he asked me to have a cigar-I said thank you sir but I don't use the weed-mr said well good for you you are the only boy that doesn't smoke In tnls town and 1t was all over town by night ,-, .o
 I had a time with the girls I have ana of their pictures-I braged on the School to every ono Oh l would not do like I did before for any amount Of money r...4o says: .,. .b,. .,,.rroon fin connection with the boy who wrote the letter about refusing cigar ana about how the boys laughed at him. He found a very bad boy who was go- ing to ruin and persuaded him to come to inc Industrial School He then hegeed money enough to defray their exnenses to the school and brought the hoy to Mir. Weakly. He mad enough money to get him uniform  also.
 We have had a glorious revival ana over 100 of the boys have been con yerted. I enclose letter which shows tha other side of the picture. You nav publish 1t if you choose:
 Alberta Penitentiary, Canada. Dear Mrs. Johnston
 was just thinking over old times a T thought I would write you a letter to let you know I am still alive!
 vSish had paid heed to what you used tn tell us--I have got to the end of
 You know when you paroled me 6
 Harry & Tom that we went 10 st Louis that was in 1904 at the Worlds fair 1 - Joined the Wild West Show & rode | in inc United horsemen of the world
 I got the Sd prize so went to oklaho- -T rot better in the saddle in 1905
 got second prize in Denver Col Then [ got reckless & went to stealing 1 horses & got into lots of trouble & l lf,F.vzy