The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-31
SAVING GIRLS IS
DIFFICULT TASK
Control of Convicts Easy in
Comparison With Problems
at Bon Air.
SHOULD BE TAUGHT WORK
Report of Charities Board Re-
views Situation and Makes
Recommendations.

views Situation and Makes
Recommendations.
I Control of mature and fairly in
/ telligcnt convicts III the State Peni-
Tertiary is "A simple and easy problem
. compared with the efforts to reclaim
hayward girls such as are being put
forth in the Virginia Home and In
dustrial School for Girls at Bon
Air. This is the opinion expressed in
the fourth annual report of the state
Board of Charities and Corrections,
which is ready TO be made public.
! The board. after careful study of
the school. expresses the conviction
that spiritual influence is the greatest
single factor in the reformation of
this unfortunate class. Not that other
factors can be neglected--sIitaole en-
vironment good food careful medical
attention and ample physical execise
but the basic and fundamental force.
il is said. must be an awakened CON
science and d liberated spirit. AS the
report expresses il, The woman con
vlcted of sin in her own heart is FAR
more apt to reform than the woman
convicted of crime in the courts OF
law
Trying to Solve Problem.
The Virginia Home and Industrial
School for Girls represents a concrete
effort on the part OF the state and of
philanthropic citizens TO solve the
question Of immortality among young
girls. II is authorized under the law
TO receive girls between the ages of
eight and eighteen and to hold them
for terms fixed by the court. subject
to such parole the board OF the
school may authorize. The buildings
were put up by subscriptions from
philanthropists. while the State pays
a per capita sum for maintenance.
Discipline in the institution was found
10 be good. the children well clothed
and cared for, the fare ample and the
health of the school admirable For
this the credit is given in the main TO
the superintendent, Mrs. NJ. NJ. Light.
who is recorded as having accomplished
wonders. "A better choice for super
intendent. says the report. could
not be had We found the children
well drilled. well hammered and modest
in their demeanor. answering promptly
10 the direction of their superintendent
and regarding her with manifest awe
and affection
Consider Environment.
Discussing its study of the situation.
the board says in the report Consul-
tation with the school physician. Dr.
John b. Fisher. and cursOry exami- !
nation of the children leads us to be
admira Bile. DR.. Fisher reports that /
children who come to the csohol neu
rotic. vermin-infectcd and badly nour-
ished. improve rapidly and are quickly
restored to normal health.
"One must remember from whence
these children came and what they are |
Frequently offspring of degenerate or
drunken parents. and in almost every
case denied from birth a decent en-
vironment, they have never had fair
fee ble-ninded and mentally unable 10 /
resist the temptation set in their path. /
We>protest that they are not criminals. I
but the inevitable result OF bad heredity I
bad environment and neglect Practi- |
caliy without exception. they have been I
committed to the school for offenses /
against morality. and have been the /
helpless victims of men to whom mQrai- I
ity and decency are unknown terms. (
more pitiful condition than theirs /
upon admission to the school cannot be +
imagined Diseased in body. feeble in
mind nervousiy broken and physically
depraved their animal nature has com
pletely dwarfed the spiritual side of
their characters Sent from Jails, re- /
deemed from brotbels. taken from cor /
rupt. immoral men. they deserve the /
fullest pity of society. Worst of all. I
when admitted TO the school. they 1
utterly fail to appreciate their unfor- /
tunate condition. The shameful glamor /
of the world from which they were I
taken blinds their eyes, the notoriety /
which they have achieved appears /
romantic to them the shame and pity /
of their condition makes no impression /
on their weak young minds.
Need Room and Work.
One accommodation made by the 4
board to the Governor. through Secre- /
tary J. T. Mastin. Is for enlargement 1
of the buildings Classification is I
earnestly desired. The rooms are greatly /
overcrowded. creating a condition men 2
acing to health. Girls striving to 60 /
better are obliged to room with those !
lust entering the school. who are ia I
bad physical and moral condition.
Again. the need of proper manual /
training is declared to be so pressing .
and imperative as to require immediate (
action. The State has no right. II is !
tody of this school. and to return them
to the world without fitting them TO
earn a living Such a course would be
to merely defer the final tragedy of their
lives inevitably and certainly. says
the report. where they have no home
worthy OF the name and no vocation
in life. these girls will revert TO the
easiest way.
Funds are needed for manual train
ing but the board feels that begin
ming could be made now. such a. in
struction in millinery and dressmaking-
on the question of parole. the board
doubts II any should be allowed under
the age Of twcn:y-onc. except in very
unusual cases Some should never be
released until the chiid-bcaring age has
passed and should be cared for in the
new institution for the feeble minded
A similar Institution to that at Bon