Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-03-28
STATE HOME FOR BOYS.

when a committing magistrate of
any city. passes such severe criticism
on any state penal institution as was
done by Recorder Kehoe Tuesday, in
speaking of the State Home for
Boys at Jamesburg. The recorder
is quoted as saying that it Is a
shame to send new offenders to
Jamesburg, because OF the oppor-
tunity of learning crime there" He
went on to say that to send such
small boys as those he had before
him at the time he was speaking
would only mean that they would
come out of the institution more
skilled in criminal branches than
when they entered.
1t is understood that Recorder
Kehoe is not alone in this idea and
that police officers of different cities
also claim that when boys are par
oiled from the state home they often
go home with additional knowledge
of how to pick locks and steal in
many new and original ways.
We hardly believe this criticism is
justified. While it is true there may
be occasionally a boy who does not
derive any benefit from the training
he received at the home, yet the
great majority who are turned out
of that institution are we'll equipped
with some kind of a trade educa-
ton, as we'll as common school learn
ing which makes them able to start
in at once to earn a living in an hon
est n
The EVENING NEWS yesterday
published a description of an exhibit
given ny lue 0ldlS f1oluo Luz boys hb
Jamesburg, at the annual meeting
of the State Department of Charities
and Corrections, being held at East
0ranse-this week. The advantage of
such a training as these boys must
receive in order to turn out the work
that is shown at this exhibit cannot
help but mean better citizens when
they are free.
Among the exhibits at the Orange
meeting this year is a large collee-
ton of artistically lettered show
cards, lettering on glass and a fine
lot of illustrated work in brush
painting. Another department con-
tributes many fine specimens of
chairs, cabinets, etc, all made by
the boys, who cut the wood from
the nearby woods and work the logs
down to the finished product. There
are also exhibits In shoemaking,
tailoring and other articles of wear
ing apparel all made by the boys
themselves. One of the finest dis
plays is that of the blacksmith shop
work, showing hammers, wrenches,
tongs, horseshoes and other articles
used in the iron workers trade.
Those who are familiar with the
state home know that the social life
is almost ideal. The boys receive
excellent care in the various cottages
presided over by the competent care
takers. Many of the boys have a
real home for the first time in their
lives. All kinds of sports are in
dulged in and the famous Boys
Band Of the Jamesburg school has
a reputation that extends throughout
1.-THE state. In fact, the Jamesburg
school is held to be n of the mod
else of it's kind in the county. We
believe it is doing great work and
that any boy sent there is greatly
benefited rather than harmed
1t may be true, however, that
some youngsters are not sent there
soon enough. 1t is so easy for the
city magistrate to give them "an-
other chance" Nearly every time
the boy thus trusted, returns to his
old haunts and goes from bad to
worse until, in some instances, he is
past redemption. 1t is this class of
boys who, when finally sent to the
state home, do considerable harm in
teaching the others their ways OF
badness. Perhaps a little care
in this direction on the part Of the
Judges would relieve what cause
there is for complaint at the present
time. We do not believe the COM