The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-06-26
STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Seems to Be Good Place for Girls
Who Want to Grow Up Into
Useful Women


town
We like to take Captain Tom"
with us anywhere we go; particular
ly if it is into a dangerous place.
Long acquaintance with criminals has
made him wise to their ways, but has
not hardened his heart toward them.
He is much inclined to consider them
bad children and always treats them
as well as he can with safety. He
trusted a couple of them too far on
an occasion something over twenty
years ago, and they gave him scars
he will carry the balance of his life.
This experience made him more eau
tious but it did not embitter him.
This was no place of danger he ac-
companied US to Monday morning,
however. The old Moody home is
located in one of the most pleasant
parts of the city. 1t is a roomy and
comfortable old mansion, surrounded
by a spacious lawn and shaded by
many fine trees.
Captain Tom stopped his auto at
the gate and led the way across the
lawn to the side door of the house. At
the piazza we met about dozen of
the inmates, all girls from twelve to
sixteen or seventeen. They were
neatly dressed and obviously well fed.
Inl h.
bunch and most of them were pretty.
Captain Tom pointed out one as an
occasional runaway. There was a
fash in her eyes that might have
been due to cussedness, and it might
have been due to life and mischief.
They are qualities that go together
They all seemed fond of Captain Tom.
The girls generally are.
Entering the home, we found that
the matron, Mrs. Range, was absent,
but we were greeted by the assistant,
Mrs. Partridge, most pleasant
faced lady. She took us thru the
house. The girls sleep in dormitor-
| les, each of which is well lighted
and airy room. The rooms are plain
lily but comfortably furnished. They
are as neat as a pin. Each girl has
her own little bed, and it is as good
as she could obtain in any hotel.
We visited the kitchen where din
ner was cooking on the big stove. It
was obviously good and plentiful
meal and we hoped Captain Tom
would invite himself and us, but he
always was bashful. Next to the
kitchen was the pantry, which in ad-
dition to the regular supplies was be-
ing stocked with fruits and vegeta>
bles put up by the girls. The big
dining room was as tidy place as
you could find.
/ The parlor is big room scantily
furnished. The girls have a grama-
phone and some books. The Star rec
ommends that our people buy piano
for them, and that all who have books
to spare send them to the school
Books and music would help the girls
Igreatly. Some of them are already
musicians and all could be trained.
We met the new teacher, Miss Lois
Pedrick, who had just arrived. She
will instruct the girls in studies as
high as the seventh grade; also phys
Iical culture.
| We acked to see the detention
rooms, and Mrs. Partridge showed us
a room on the third floor. 1t was a
comfortable room and was furnished
with beds similar to those in other
Iparts of the house. It's only resem-
blance to a prison was in the lock or
the door and the stout wire MEETINGS
lover the windows. There was no one
in the room. On the arrival of girls
at the school, they are asked to give
their word of honor not to try to es-
cape. AS long as they keep their
word, they have the freedom of the
house and grounds. If one runs away,
when she is recaptured she is put in
the detention room until she prom
ises to be good The same rule is
observed in regard to other offenses
There is nothing unduly severe about
i that.
We knew, however, that couple of
"incorrigibles" had just been brought
back from an escapade, and asked to
see them. Mrs. Partridge unlocked
the door of a room across the hall
from the detention room. 1t was a
little attic room, and almost as hot
as an oven. In the center OF it was a
cage of wire and stout boards and in
the cage were the two girls. They
were lying on mattresses on the floor,
and were evidently clothed in natures
garb until they heard the door open,
when they jerked sheets over them
selves. 1t was too hot in there for a
girl to wear anything but her ear
rings.
We don't suppose the matron can
be blamed for putting the two girls
in that ROOM, It's the testimony of
Mr.. Bridges, Sheriff Galloway and
others that it is impossible to do any
thing with them. They had the same
chance as the others. They have not
only given the matron a lot of trou-
bic but have nagged and even attack
ed the other girls. They have run
away several times. When they were
put in the detention room, they