The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-18
what Is Reason?


Let US look into a few possible rea-
sons
Is 1t because maintenance of physical
improvements Is a constant heavy drain
on the institutions finances?
It Is true that numerous improve
fients, such as installation 'of santa
ton and lighting equipment, construc-
tion Of a laundry and manual training
huilding, repairs, ETC., have been made
In the last few years, but for most of
these special leyies were allowed by the
8 saa.. :. stllis can ''lot be
~ ia II because OF provisioning, school
ing and clothing of inmates? All Of
the1yatd en- truck served on the table
during the summer and some Of that
served during the winter are grown on
largely to reducing to a minimum the
cost Of provisions. The expense OF
teaching Is borne by the county, not by
the institution. and as for clothing, the
boys wear, for the most part, overalls
Andsdo their own mending and darntng,
Is 1t because the soil is unproductive?
For years ii has been a boast OF the
county court and Of individuals directly
and Indirectly connected with the
farms management that the farm can
not be excelled from a standpoint of
fertility The soil is rich, the land lies
exceptionally we'll and as for hands,
there are sufficient number of boys
who could, under experienced super
vision, bring the place up to high
state of cultivation, granting, OF course,
that adequate farm equipment Is fur
IN Il because members of the county
court have failed to interest them
selves In the institution g welfareY Here
f a question worthy 81 close consiaeratt ~
the court, II have been voting !appro-
priafions for that Institution, under the
Impression that was voting to SINK
money In a hole in the ground, never
senRS e RSsndsu th%t " aaf III sS'qH H. has
been member OF the. county court forr
years. Also he is farmer, but until
he was made chairman 81 the court ne ne
case, IS likewise true Of many others in
the sCunty's administrative body The
court, as body, has an idea where the
school 10 located, but there It's acquaint-
anee with the institution terminates.
corrective methods as followed at the
school is intended. In justice to the
earnest, capable, enthusiastic women
on the schools board Of trustees, none
could be made. When a boy. OF. his own
voiition, declines acceptance Of an op-
portunity to leave the institution, open
" processing preference for Its hos
pitaiity TO that of his own home, ad-
hitting that he has one, there must be
something Of an exceptional quality, a
that appeals to a boys natural suscepti-
bility TO ''mothering." Hungering for
personal sympathy to boyish. whims,
boyish hopes, boyish. moods he finds
this fact alone certainly bespeaks for
the institution. In this respect, commen-
dation of the highest, most sincere
order.
Prefer to Stick.
It is a matter Of record that in the
eight years of the schools existence
more than 800 boys have passed through
although ordered, under court decree,
to be restored to the care Of their
parents, pleaded to be allowed to re-
main. Further many OF them released
at the end q their period Of proba-
later with personal plea for readmis-
] There are at present mot. than 90
5uveniles-15 Of whom are Iegroes-in
the care ofSthe institution. Apparently
they are in the best Of health, notwith-
standing the report Of the grand Jury
that the place Is filthy and should be
given thorough renovating. They are
divided into two sections, one of which
makes a stab at farming while the
oluuitp AhVy Wv eii~'i
dering, kitchen work, sweeping and
scrubbing, make their beds, do the
milking and churning, look after the
live stock and take great delight in rob-
bing chicken nests when there are any
chickens to rob.
And that brings up another note
worthy point In connection with the In
stitutlon's general management. AL
though several attempts have been
made to raise chickens the ventures
have proven failures Instead OF being
amply provided with its own fresh eggs
the institution has to go into the open
market and purchase them.
As q business proposition, waving all
issues on corrective results, the farm
presents q splendid means of raising, in
paying quantities, pigs and chickens.
The opportunity also for realizing on the
farms agricultural possibilities Is unde-
! niably evident and, under proper, eff
cient, experienced supervision should
produce enough products to greatly off,
set the schools inexcusable annual de-
ficit.
This is Just what the Rotary club
hopes to bring about. The business men
in that sanitation, who have inter-
ested themselves In the institution s
future, hope to not only become big
brothers" to the youngsters under the
institutions care, but to be instru-
mental N putting the farm on a real
business basis.