Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-20

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The payroll was examined, and all
positions seem to be filled. 1t would
seem that the matrons are relatively
better paid than the higher officers, |
except perhaps the nurse. One man
is hired for fireman. The furnaces in
the older cottages are hardly ade-
quate to the needs, but in the central
building there are two very large
steam heat furnaces, which provide
abundant heat, but are correspond
iEgly heavy to stoke. The frame
cottage for small girls has no furn-
ace, but uses four or five stoves for
heat.
Ventilation, except in the central
building, is accomplished by natural
means and is excellent. A big fan is
operated in the central building,
which changes the air in the school
rooms every three minutes. 81
The cleanliness Of the institution
is entirely satisfactory, and yet the
residents do not seem to be the
slaves Of cleanliness as occurs in
some institutions. 1t is always dis
tressing to find the pleasures, leisure
and happiness of young children
abridged for the sake of eternal pol
ishing Of floors and securing and
! busting.
Children in an institution Of this
kind must be watched and accounted
for, but they are not imprisoned.
With the exception Of one or two de-
tention rooms the bed room windows
are not guarded. The premises are
not fenced. nor should they be. The
girls go picnicing off the grounds,
and make many trips down town for
shopping, medical attention or what
not. They are allowed to visit each
others rooms, and even have an extra
chair for their guests. This is quite
an innovation in a semi correctional
institution. No sign of hystera or
undue sensitiveness was observed,
nor could it be expected under this
regime, but institutions for women,
where they are greatly restricted al
ways show this tremulous excitement
over so little a thing as the visit of
stranger. These girls seemed quite
unconcerned about the inspection, a
healthful sign.
The equipment is more liberal
and better planned than in many like
institutions. Each girl has q small
closet for her clothing, as we'll as a
chest of drawers. She has her own
broom. dust pan, polishing brush and
dust cloth. At table she eats out of
pretty dishes-so called "hotel ware"
and part Of the cottages have glass
tumblers. The dishes were notably
whole and unchipped. The table
silver is very tolerable, and the salts,
n ~,
condition. White table cloths are
used, also napkins. In several in
stances the girls sit at small tables,
and all have comfortable dining
chairs. The dining room at Flagg-
Drummer cottage, with it's colonial
wall paper in old blue, it's white
enamel paint, small tables, neat
linen, polished silver, and clearly
floor, would compare favorably with
that in almost any hotel in the State,
and this is saying a. good deal, for
the matrons have to deal with girls
with almost no previous training in
housekeeping, girls who are naturally
careless and indifferent to a high
standard of living.
The store rooms when visited show
that very good variety of food is
purchased. The living is plain, but
very wholesome. The raised bread
was sampled in more than one cot
tage, and had the good, sweet, home
made taste. Well baked pies were
seen, and molasses cookies.
The central store room in the new
building is all that could be desired,
being capacious. sanitary, we'll light
ed, classified shelved and equipped.
There is a cold storage plant, which
is not operated this winter. to save
expense. The new meat block oiled
and sturdy, looks very fit. The new
store rooms are big enough to ac-
commodate the institution even if t
doubles in size.
Clothing is always an important
item in institutions, and tends to be
stereotyped. but these children here
have an abundance of garments, all
different in material and pattern.
There is nothing at all to brand them
as institutional inmates. The mend
ing is done in the morning. under
. direction of the school teachers, and
is especially we'll kept up. The cot
tages are intended to have we'll
stocked linen closets, with ample
supplies of sheets, towels, night robes
and pettcoats made up ahead An
annual inventory is taken by the
chief officers. and every garment and
utensil on the place is accounted for
Bedding is of suitable quality and
quantity.
The cottages have pianos and big
recreation rooms where the girls can
play games and dance.
The officers are we'll provided for,
as their rooms are commodious and
tastefully furnished. Sometimes in
an institution there is considerable
increase in elegance the nearer one
approaches to the chief officers
apartments. In this institution the
inspector noted with considerable
satisfaction that the superintendent
private sitting room showed a demo-
cratic tendency to be no more elab-
crate than that of any of her assist
ants. Any girl in the school
has direct access to the superinten-
dent if she asks for it. Thus many
pretty small matters are brought to
her ears which consume time and
energy but she is enabled to smooth
out difficulties while they are still
ircipient, and the good discipline of
the school probably arises from the