Year: 1874

The following letter was written to
James Davis, Esq, one of the Trustees
of the Children's Home, by DIR. Howe,
Superintendent Of the Boys Reform
Farm, at Lancaster. Mr.. H. stands at
the head of the largest and best Institu-
ton for the reformation Of boys in the
world. That fact is conceded in Europe
His judgment in the matter of Home
for orphan children is worth much, and
should be accepted as valuable and
weighty.


We trust this letter will be carefully
read, and his suggestions properly con-
sidered.


LANCASTER, o., Dec, 10, IA.


Mr.. JAMES DAvIs-Dear Sir. As
you are about to establish an Institution
for homeless children, | trust you will
not consider me intrusive if | make a
few suggestions, which consider of some
Importance in the establishment of a
new institution. was very much in ia
vor Of MIR. Rukenbrod's Bill and shall
hope that the first home established un-
der its provisions, will be one worthy of
imitation by other districts of the State.
In the first place while would make a
home for these poor children that would
be comfortable in every way, would
have no magnihcence or grandeur about
it. | would make them such home as
any one of them might aspire to, by hon
est prudence and industry in after life.
As many of these children inherit bodily
and mental weakness, it will be well in
my opinion to locate your Institution
where the greatest degree of health can
be expected and where the greatest free
dom can be exercised. In my opinion a
good farm, away from the influences of
town, is the most suitable spot on which
to locate home of the kind. The loca-
ton should be healthy, the land should
be good for hay and pasturage, there
should be an abundant supply Of wa
ter, (soft if possible and if gravel bed
was near it would be of great value. In
my opinion these children should all be
taught to work-how to earn a living;
and nothing furnishes labor so healthful
and so well adapted to children, as gar
dening and the raising of small fruits.
Then the farm should be such as to en-
able you to keep COWS in sufficient num-
Der to furnish plenty of milk. OF the
benefit of this | need not speak. While
| am emphatic on the subject ofphysical
development, | would by no means omit
the intellectual part of their education.


think it the duty Of every Institution
in which youth are detained to look well
to its educational interests. lam certain
however that you will succeed in this de-
Partment only as you keep the matter Of
their instruction entirely under the con-
troll Of your own Board. Your children
should be taught some handiwork half
Of each day-and go to school the other
half; this arrangement would shut you
out Of the. public schools, even if you
were situated so as to patronize them
But in my opinion it would be perfectly
impracticable to send this class of chill
dren to the public schools and maintain
perfect organization at home. There
are many objections which might be pre-
sented on this part Of the subject which
| will not now offer. Your labor, your
education and your general manage
ment must be supervised and managed
entirely by your Board or their Superin-
tendent. Too much Of Outside" influ-
ence is always harmful to any Institution.
This is one reason why consider iso-
lation or location a matter ofimportance.
The object or may say, "The Institution
must be easy Of access-where every-
body can get to it." But let me say to
this, that even if your school or home is
little one side'from the "whirl of bus
mess. there is not a child in the Dis
trict that is entitled to a place in the
home. tn t will not find It. Our Institu-
ton here is very much isolated-still it
could fll in three months If twice as
large.


You will pardon me for making free
to address you, but my experience in
these matters made me feel It duty to
thus write you.


e.s Very Respectfully.


~ a.t G. z. HOWE,
Jsl.-|t w 2.


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