Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-12-13
WOMEN PR|SONERS
TAUGHT BABY CARE
BEING INSTRUCTED IN THE BEAU
TIES OF MOTHERHOOD BY
PSYCHOLOGIST
# IS A redemption MEASURE
Influence Being Brought to Bear on
Women to Care for Their
Children 81
IT IS A redemption MEASURE

Chicago. nl.-The mother spirilv
hovers over the bridewell. For the
women inmates of the House OF Cor
rection are being instructed In the
beauty of motherhood nowadays. Misc
Mary r. Campbell. formerly with
Chef Justice Harry Olsen in the psy.
chopathic laboratory in the City Hall.
has been appointed as psychologist
for the women's department.
Miss Campbell is at her task OF fos-
tering the mother instinct TO lead
young women and old repeaters in
the footsteps of the Madonna instead
of the Magdalen. For the redemption
OF erring women can come through
baby hands-not refOrmers-she con-
tends.
AS psychologist 1t Is Miss Camp
bells duty TO lift the gray atmosphere
that hangs over the House of Correc
ton. And this is to be accomplished
by baby hands. AS an illustration OF
her theory Miss Campbell pointed to
Is year old Marie crocheting desper
ately about table. A dozen friends
were busy plying their needles also
for her. Among them was Buster"
who was given six months at the
Brldwell for wearing boys clothes and
Tipping freight cars in the North
western yards. Buster" was indus
triously embroidering for-get-me nots
on towel for Marie's new baby.
About the table on which stood the
psychological tests were gathered the
drab-clad women inmates. They were
trying to understand that what
brought disaster to them could be
turned to good account. The young
girls were making an attempt to ov-
ercome the repulsion they felt for
their future, and with determined face
were preparing for the stork. The old
timers stood by and offered sugges-
lions in the fashioning of the small
garments. And there came far off 4
look in their hardened faces and a
softness from memories of long ago.
They had performed the tasks thatv
since had been forgotten until then.
"The same impulse fundamentally
makes one woman good and another
bad" says the psychologist. THE
idea Is to foster the mother spirit to
keep the bad women good. This Is
done by psychologically suggesting
to an unfortunate mother that she
should keep her baby-never give il
up. This is the influence which will
keep her from -.raying into the broad
path again.
1.-The mothers will be trained scien-
tifical'J in the care of their babies
during their Imprisonment. From
the care of their own experimental
babies they will become excellent
nursery maids, for they will have
learned everything about babys
care. The new line of work. as nur-
sery maids will give them chance
for employment when they leave the
Bridewell.
A baby is an advantage to a mother
in securing employment in country
places, according to Supt. John l..
Whitman. Many prefer a mother with
baby to woman unattached in the
country, he declares.
Besides this reform, there will be
more handicraft work at the House
of Correction-rug weaving, pottery,
glovemaking and toy industries. The
advantage to the women of educa-
tional training for two or three diff
ferent trades is considered in order
to insure their independence in othccA
lines, than as servants, it is said. Bu1s
the psychological tests will be they
ability of doing. And more than any
thing else will the women be taught
the care of their babies.
A school of mothercraft for women
under 25 years old is one of Miss
Campbell's hopes. The course in moth
er training will cover from one TO
two years. After the women leave the
Bridewell they will continue their
training in mothercraft in some home
provided by the generosity of club