The Washington times., 1915-04-18
NEVER HAD A CHANCE.

Remember many of them have never
had a chance. they are in prison he
cause they didn't think-didn't know
how to think. Impulse. not mind, has
dictated PHI sica! action. They have
never before been governed by
thought Standn nr.ls-Just emotion stan
dards.
Out Of eighty now men--total litter
ates-brouSht into the class room last
September. citizens of the sovereign
State of Maryland. not one could say
whether George Washington was an
American or Il steamboat!
Think OF 150 men in a room, between
twenty and sixty years of age, SprunS
from one of the most imaginative of
races, who had never heard of Jack
and the Bcanstalk," "Cindcrella" OF
Aladdin Aad when they were told
the story Of "Jacl," and later the rlrst
Presidents life was sketched they WED
with each other for days outside the
school IN repeating the fancied and his
toriCal incidents presented.
Think Of the possibilities Of school
in which thirty-year-old man defined
poetry" as "chickcn," tho first night
he entered. and smiled in bewldarment
when show h's bWn name written. send
ing a wen -pChhcu leltcr nome III tniC'
months carrying this thought:
"Ivcry line | write you tonight is
stroke from tn" heart.
For a hundred Years in Maryland :
penal institutions. total illiterates haC
been spoken li:;htly of AS 'abnormals.
these men who Wur" only undeN"loped.
Now with civilizations letters and sym
bolE, they ar" NOiCing thought--rcal
thought for III" ;rst time. Crude it is
in expression. often, but therein lies its
reality. Their sentences are true pho
togra aphS of inner consciousness. l.On@
acuuantanrc with an old thought may
suggest euuiv0ratiOn, but one handles
Gingerly tho new.
Great Moral Change.
1t Is maintained that a great mora
change has cOlMN over such men as have
entered the school and applied them
selves to It's WORK. Hopeful uttcranccs
initiative effort liShtencd spirit, are
the visible cVlCci. "$.
One whose rcnHlks are not l!ghtl.
made. has characterized the lntra
mural as 'Thr 8trangest school in tn
world" 1t has brought lights into
pkce where formerly there were onl
Shadows. 1t Is rcmoving the shutter
from mems souls.
Warden John f.. Leonard is the cXccu
tive head. NJ Wardcn in the Unite
states has such intimate knowledg
of his nen, and they average thous
and with ever rrcUrring changes in tn
personnel. Tie knows their very minds
not lust their record numbers. TN
writer speaks from the vantage point q
the school superintendent, inmate super
intendCnt.
When Linc"lu wished to illustrate
point he told . story. Here 1t is &c
signed to let ;hc mon exhibit, uncor
sC!ously, their attitude toward know
edge In "A series of spontaneous utter
ances. AS a man speaks, 80 is he"
The fntra-murai cannot educate
man. Its chief aim Is TO take help
less entrants and iucuicate such rudi
mebts as will enable them Ia hei
themselves. II must he conceded thn
when men understand. lives will me-
be disStpa ted-meR Will seek the bet
ter things. aud know them whc
they're found.
Not long ago when the word 'r'
straint' was enc Juntered i'll the reaC
ing leSsion it was defined by the t"aC!
er, and its moral value commento
upon. \ few nights later one OF Il
East n sho' bOIs-thcy are all Calle
boys appeared in class with a leatht
hand abOut his wrist.
"WhY do Nou wear that he Ws
asked.
We'll yo soc, I wears it to hoI' m,
SET down, wa his answer, 1t kCC'
me from runnin away with myself \
t=iin wheel 80 know has a guy M