The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-12
70 RICHMOND GIRLS
At INDUSTRIAL HOME
II Public Gives $50 900, Federal Gov
ernment VIII Contribute Amount
Of 100000.
as PER CENT COME FROM CITIES
Ninety Per Cent or More of Children
In Chesterfield School During
Period of 'Incorrigibiilfy'' Have
Violated Moral Law.

OF the ffty-five pupils now at the
Virginia Home and Industrial School
for Girls In Chesterfield county. about
sixty-five per cent han from the cities
and towns, while the remaining thirty
FIVE per cent come from the country
Richmond now Is represented at the
institution by twenty girls. and the
number from Norfolk is little smaller
These figures show that the institu-
ton. which has for its aim the refor
nation of erring girls. finds It's wards
In all sections Of the state, though the
cities in the future, as well as in the
past, will continue to lead in the num-
Der of pupils committed. Particular
ly will this be the case during the
period of the war. for girls of loose
morals find the attractions of military
camps and naval stations almost ir-
resistible and flock to these neighhor
hoods by the score. Those who are
now studying the social problems of
Virginia estimate that even today. de-
spite the vigilance of the authorities,
there are at least 500 girls of more
than questionable character In and
about Norfolk. while the number in
the vicinity of Newport News is
scarcely less.
Unless these misguided unfortu-
mates are placed under proper super
vision and restraint. the jails with all
their demoralizing influences. will get
them. On the other hand. II the In
dustrial school could take them in
charge. practically all could be set
straight in the course of time In
fortunately the Chesterfield institu-
ton already is crowded and in order
10 enlarge its sphere Of usefulness 1t
must have more funds.
Its good work already has been
recognized by the federal government,
which through the war department.
has offered the school $4,000 for ad-
ditional buildings and equipment. pro
vided the state puts up like amount.
The last legislature appropriated $40
600, so II only remains to procure S20 -
600 more. To get this money II will
be necessary TO call on the general
public and a campaign to that end is
now afoot
1t is lamentable fact-yet one
which has 10 be faced sympathetically
by all persons who have the welfare of
humankind at heart-that ninety per
cent or more of all the girls at the
school at some time or other during
the period of their '1ncor. igibilitv'
ality. Yet the average age of those
committed TO the institution is only
about fifteen and half years
The younger the girls received the
more hopeful are the officers of the
school Is to their complete regenera-
ton under the influence of proper
training During the year ending
September 30. 1917. the institution
took charge of several offenders who
were mere children--one girl Of
eight, two of twelve and two of thir-
teen years Five of the newcomers
were only fourteen and ten only If
teen. Eighteen of the misdemeants
had reached the age Of sixteen. and
fifteen had reached the age of seven
teen. None older than this were re-
Ceived
II Will be observed from these feures
that vice ofttimes raids even the in
nocent realm OF Lilliputia. though the
work of the school has long since
proved that those who have slipped in
early youth are seldom bevond the
pale of moral reclamation