New-York tribune., 1920-09-22
Kindness Wins
I'm Discip pli1ning
Bedford Girls
Acting Superintendent De-
clares Her Charges Are
Orderly and Cof1tented
Under New Management
Industrial Plant Asked
State Will Be Requested
to Provide for Inmates
ON Leaving Institution
From @ ssag Correspondent

BEDFORD, N. Y, Sept. 21.-With
conditions at the State Reformatory
for Women better than they nave been
in months, the institution is now pre-
pared to make efforts to obtain an ap-
preparation from the state for the erec-
tion Of an industrial plant. This an
nouncement was made to-day by Mrs.
May Christian, acting superintendent.
According to present plans, the plant
will give employment to girls leaving
the institution. Mrs. Marion c. Fiske,
a member of the board of managers,
conferred to-day with Governor Smith
at Albany regarding the future work
of the reformatory.
The new system of management put
into effect by Mrs. Christian, who took
charge Of the institution after the de-
parture Of Miss Florence Jones. is
working smoothly, it was said to-day.
Several innovations have been intro
dhced under Mrs. Christians direction.
The merit card system, by which girls
are graded according to their deport-
ment, is in effect Debates among the
girls, motion picture exhibitions. ten
mis- and croouet have been introduced.
Dances are being held in the cottages
under supervision of matrons and pa
per and pencils for correspondence
purposes are being supplied to ali in
mates.
Mrs. Christian said to-day that the
institution is greatly handicapped be-
cause CT the, shortage OF nnasrons.
There are only seventeen on active
duty and ffty-ive, according to Mrs.
Christian, are needed. Instructors are
needed in the school Of sewing and
cooking.
The announcement made recently by
the reformatory that helpful corre-
spondence for the girl from good
homes would be welcomed has resulted
in scores of letters being received, 1t
was said to-day. One came from Cali
fornia, one from London and another
from South America.
"Thc ban has been lifted on the
visits of relatives and friends. said.
Mrs Christian. I'VE are trying to
let friends of the girls come AS often
as thew like, provided, of course, they
are proper persons to be admitted.
81 believe girl is not TO be made
better by grinding her down and ny
punishment. There are certain types
Of mental and physical deficiency that
and these girls are going to get the
very best science can afford.
The best Of our girls, those who
give most promise. will be segregated
from the worst--if we see fit. 1t is
dangerous to allow too many girls OF
different temperaments and dispositions
10 run together.
"If we are to teach girls reform and
self-control we must go about it in a
sensible. sympathetic spirit. The spirit
of love and kindness will win ten times
to forces one"
She declared that the girls in the
institution were enthusiastic in their
praise of the new methods put in effect
in the last two months, and said that
many of them who heretofore had
sworn they would never try to become
better women, now had decided the
only way to win back their respect
would be 70 rcmake themselves along
the lines she had suggested to them.
Mrs. Christian said that she has been
able to keep order without punish
ments She said that she hasn't used
cell in two months and does not pro-
pose to do so. The girls are living
quietly and we are getting results BY
kind treatment" she declared.
There are 200 inmates at the reform
atory. The institution receives girls
and women ranging in age from sixteen
TO thirty years. Many Of them are
from New York City.