Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-03

entertainment committee. "A EieASiIS
vocal selection was 1.-THE Bells Of st.
Mary's," in which the following bell
sang the verses: Charles f.
Bilodeau. Frank Bilodeau, Jack Han
son. William B. Williamson, DR.. o. w.
Turner. Frank Dyer. Crawford Nell
roy. DR.. George A. Coombs, D@lbert W.
Adams. Charles Downing. Charles II.
members joined in the chorus.
The entertainment committee drawn
for the next meeting is composed of
William B. Williamson, chairman.
Henry N. Whitman and Joseph G.
Kicker.
In introducing the speaker Of the
evening. President Newbert referred to
the general improvement that has been
made in the penal institutions during
the past few years. He stated that
the old reform school for boys has
been dropped out. and it is now in
truth a State school for boys. He then
introduced it's superintendent, Charles
Dunn.
Mr.. Dunn stated at the outset that
he felt it was part of his work to at
tend gatherings such as this one and
give the people such information about
the State School for Boys as they
might desire. ut is your school. You
and the other taxpayers Of the State
are supporting it and have the right to
know all about it that may be known
and be of interest to you" he said.
He pointed out that so years ago
there was the idea that such boys who
went wrong were criminal and should
be shut up like the older people. Hap
PLY that idea has long since passed
away. Only. within a few years mat
tiers have been brought to a condition
where boy is held as boy whether
he is in a State institution or living
with his parents in Augusta or some
other city. The boy is at the institu-
ton to be fostered and developed until
he is able to shoulder responsibility.
The question Of heredity was the
briefly discussed by the speaker who
emphasized the point that there are
no criminals born as such, as this is
impossible in the nature of things.
The child is born innocent and the
question Of what he becomes depends
upon two factors: To some extent
upon his ancestry, and to larger ex-
tent upon the kind of training he has
after he is brought into the world.
Mr.. Dunn then spoke Of the typical
case Of a boy coming to the State
school by order of the court for some
misdemeanor he has committed. The
boy comes there not as a prisoner as
the man would go to the county Jail
or State prison. He at once learns
that he must conform. He had not
previously been conforming. but had
been running wild. Therefore, he is
first taught obedience which is an
easy lesson to teach where the boy
sees 100 or more other boys who do
obey. The boy is then taught the
value of personal cleanliness, and the
clothes that he wears. the bed he
sleeps in and the .tablecloth on which
he eats are clean. This outer cleanli-
ness, the speaker believed, has it's eff
feet on the inner man.
The boys are given nourishing food.
There are no restricting as to guam
tity and the quality is looked out for
by those who procure and prepare it.
A problem for the boy is his power
to deny himself anything. especially
the boy who has been in the habit of
using cigarettes excessively. That
may be the boy'hs first lesson in self
denial. Then comes his labor. All
the domestic work Of the school is
done by the boys themselves under
the direction of adult leaders. In this,
they learn the lesson Of thoroughness
and completeness.
All recognize that plenty Of recre-
alton and play is good for the boy and
if it is organized play, so much the
better. This is necessary for his re-
genera ton.
DR. Dunn stated that these are in
f1uences and suggestions brought to
bear in the mass and individual cases
where there are tendencies to wrong
doing in the boys. He then told of
the life history of some of the boys
who through their training in the
State school, made good in after life
and were credit to themselves and to
their communities, and in closing he
asked that the Rotarians watch for
the boy who has been in the State
school. That boy comes out and
needs help. He has been started in
the right way and whether 1t is for
better or worse is in the hands of
the communities which organizations
like the Rotary Club represent.
At the close of his discourse. Mr..
Dunn was given a rising ovation by
the Rotarians and guests.
Committee on Y. M. c. A. Reports
An important matter of business
came before the club in the presen-
tation of the report of the committee
charged with the responsibility of as
pertaining in what way the Rotary
Club may be Of assistance to the Y.
NJ. c. A. The committee reported
that there was unanimous agreement
among it's members and with all
parties interviewed, that work for
boys is urgently needed in the city
and that the Y. M. G. A. is under a
great handicap in not having a Sec
rotary whose work should be exclu-
sively with and for the boys. This
committee consisted OF H. s. Wood
man. chairman, G. B. Paine, G. f.
Bilodeau, p. S. Phalen and N. S.
Weston.
After talking with the secretary
and other officers and after a con-