The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-13
Journey To Alabama Indust-
 rial School

Journey To Alabama Indust-
 rial School
 1 I wonder how many of Alabama's oiti- ] zens appreciate the splendid work which i is being carried on at the Industrial School for Boys, just outside of our gates, 1 in the pretty village of East Lake? i While We all know that the school eX- 1 ists, and that dozens of little fellows are ! being educated and cared for, I dare say that many have only a small conception of what the school really is.
 With a pleasant party of people, whose interest in the welfare of the school Is manifold. I was fortunate enough recent ly to have an opportunity of visiting the scene of action, and personally witnessing one of the grandest and noblest pieces of philanthrophy this state has ever known.
 To women belong the credit. One of Alabama's sweetest, gentlest, most cul- tured and charming women, Mrs. R. D. Johnston, whose love of children and whose deep interest In the welfare of the little tots, whose lot in life has been be- low the plane of their fellow beings insti- gated and accomplished this wonderful work To Mrs. Johnston and her able assistants, Mrs Thomas Greene Bush, Mrs. Algernon w. Nelson, Mrs. W. T.. Woodson, Mrs. Edwin Craighead of Mo- bie Mrs. Milton Humes of Huntsville and Mrs. Thomas M. Owens of Montgom- cry, has this noble ambition expressed itself, and right royal is their reward
 It is not my intention to go into de- tailed description of the various indus trial conditions surrounding the institution but to emphasize the aim. object and work of the school and what 1t means to a vast number of children, whose lives may be rescued and whose ideas may be transformed through the influ- ence of the kindly, gentle people who are employed to direct their course dur ing their school days.
 A little journey to the home from Birmingham is a delightful one, through an interesting part of Jefferson county Well-kept roads, attractive homes in ad- jacent districts, and the cosmopolitan air of the pretty village of East Lake, whose summer appearance savors largely of a miniature Coney Island, on through a messy lane and shady dell, brings one to a most charming destination.
 Beautiful natural surroundings have been chosen for the site of the Alabama Boys Industrial school. Tall, massive oaks, a broad expanse of grass-covered land and a little hillside commanding a splendid view, mark the location of the Johnston home, the first-the Birmingham home being the second-of the several buildings now completed. For the for mer Mrs. Johnston and her co-workers personally solicited the lumber for it's erection.
 Upon our arrival we were cordially well comed by MT. and Mrs. w. D. Weakley whom the board has been most fortunate in securing to take charge of the school It was just time in the late afternoon for battalion drill, and the sight of 164 boys in uniform, splendid, manly looking little fellows, soldierly in their bearing and showing the excellent training they have received, made a creditable appear ance, and we were enthusiastic in our applause as each company passed us. Everybody looked so happy; the boys, the teachers, the entire surrounding was one of peace, love and happiness. To those whose idea of the school is @ penal in- stitution with cross-barred windows and ominous, frownng walls of detention-a constant reminder that the little fellows within its gates is 'Jailbrd' needs only visit to prove the fallacy of such reason- inb. The much abused much naisunder- stood, so-called "bad boy Is the culprit here, and his appearance would never in- dicate 1t. When MT. Wealkley was asked by one of the strangers in the party if the boys were bad, before he had n op- portunity to answer, one of his associates exclaimed:
 "Oh, MT. weakley won't acknowledge that any of them are bad!'
 And that is just the keynote to his sue cess with these juvenile criminals" as they have been unjustly called. It is his faith in their reformation, his love for their unfortunate birthright, the sympa- thy he possesses for the social conditions into which these little waifs have been thrown, that make him and his faithful co-workers successful in their training and their teaching.
 The best method of fighting crime is to begin where crime begins. Measures should be preventive rather than puni- tive to command successful results. Pres ident Roosevelt has done no greater ser vice to the nation than the stress he has laid upon the problems concerning the child and it's home treatment. When this has been denied, and the little criminal goes forth on his wild career, and some good Samaritan rescues the child from the gutters and launches him in a place like this boys school, what a blessing it is! To have the Christian atmosphere the loving watchfulness of a place of refuge to shelter and care for this poor little piece of degenerate humanity, It makes the stoutest heart ache to see these little fellows-if criminals they are-yet it gladdens one to know that they are being cared for, protected and loved
 In speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Weakley about their daily life with the boys, their ideas were manifested mainly in the statement that 'The school desires to be fathe and moth CT to the unfortunates, supplanting as near as possible the good home left be- hind; and improving on those that are not what they sh ould be. To many, it is the best home they have ever known. It is so different from the street; so much nicer to be able to know where you are going to sleep-so many nice games, a large number of books, and whole lot of boys to play with; all of whom seem to be doing the right thing"
 How do the little fellows take to the idea of remaining in the chool? :? Do they ever try to run away?" was one of the numerous questions asked
 Our methods of keeping the boys are simple" was the answer. I've have no armed guards as some be- lieve; we have no bolts or bars to keep them from running away-not even fence. We work no methods of legerdemain to convert the self-willed boy of the street who perhaps has been 6 menace to society, an enemy to himself. and danger to the public in tempered, smooth Willy Willy boy to the letter and a burning passion to