Part 4 (1/2)

”It is to be distinctly understood that the institution is not to be considered a _place of punish refuge, into which the exposed athered to be saved from a course which would inevitably end in penal confineradation

”The in subjects of appropriate culture, and to be instructed and watched over with the care and kindness which their peculiar exposures demand, and with the confidence which youth should ever inspire

”The restraint and the discipline which will be necessary are to be such as would be appropriate in a Christian fa-school; and the 'law of kindness' should be written upon the heart of every officer of the institution The chief end to be obtained, in all the culture and discipline, is the proper development of the faculties and moral affections of the inlected or perverted; and to teach theovernment”

Under the influence of these sentiments, we pass, if possible, in the work of reforor of the prison to the innocent excitement and rivalry of the school, the comfort, confidence and joys of home This institution assumes that crime, to some extent at least, is social, local, or hereditary, in its origin; that the career of hardened crinorance, orphanage, desertion, or intemperance of parents, evil exalect of society It assumes, also, that there is a period of life--childhood and youth--when these, the first indications of moral death, may be eradicated, or their influence for evil controlled In this land of education, of liberty, of law, of labor and religion, we ine how universal the enumerated evils are in many portions of Europe The existence of these evils is in so to institutions which favor a few, and oppress the masses; but it is also in a measure due to the fact that Europe is both old and , is even now multitudinous Hence, both here and there, crime is social and local

The truth of this statement is proportionate to the force of the causes in the respective countries

We are asse a quiet country village Happy hoe is eress, and peace We have here a social life, with natural iious sentiments, all on the side of virtue Criated; and, as the burning taper expires when placed at the centre of the spirit la sheet of flaenial embrace of virtue

Circumstances are here unfavorable to crih not often, it is hereditary A faenerations seems to have a crieneration guilty of great crimes, but often of lesser ones; and are, ive rise to suspicion, neglect, and reproach Here together are associated, and ary, and vagrancy Surely these instances are not coeneration But how is the boy or girl of such a family to rise above these circureat energy of character may do so; but, if the children of more fortunate classes can scarcely escape the influence of tee of poverty, ignorance, and ever-present evil counsel and conduct under the guise of parental authority, pass to the position of intelligent, industrious, respectable members of society? Some external influence must be applied; by some means from without, the spell must be broken; the fatal succession of vicious homes e its duty to itself and to the state; and shall not the state do its duty to itself, by assuuidance of that law of kindness, which we have seen effectual to control the insane, and melt the hardened criminal? But in cities we find vice, not only hereditary in families, but local and social; so that streets and squares are given up, as it were, to the idle and vicious, whose numbers and influence produce and perpetuate a public sentiment in support of their daily practices This phase of life is not due to the fact that cities are wealthy, or that they are engaged in le fact that they are multitudinous, and their inhabitants are, therefore, in daily contact with each other, while, in the country, individuals and families are comparatively isolated Yet some may very well doubt whether such an institution as this, with all the benign influences of home which we hope to see centred and diffusive here, will save a child of either sex, whose first years shall have been so unfavorable to a life of virtue

The answer is plain: as in other reformatory institutions, there will be some successes and some failures The failures will be reckoned as they were; the successes will be a clear gain

But investigation and trial will show a natural aptitude or instinct in children that will aid in their improvement and reformation There has been in one of our public schools a lad, who, at the age of fourteen years, could not recall distinctly the circumstances of his life previous to the tinorant of father, e, he travelled through thepapers and trash literature; and, for a time, he was employed by a showerate the attractions within When he was in his fourteenth year, he accepted the offer of a per, as he said, to obtain an education ”I have found,” said he, ”that a ” This truth, si upon a lo of education, may yet be of infinite value if accepted by those who, even a to adult life without the preparation which our common schools are well fitted to furnish And the case of this ladhow colects in mental and moral relations, as well as in the physical and natural world Though ignorant of books, he was thoroughly and extensively acquainted with things, and consequently ns; for they were immediately applied, and of course reme lads of his age The world had done for this boy what good schools do not always accos before he was troubled with the signs which stand for thenorance under the show of profound learning; an ignorance for which schools, acadenorance that neither schools, acadees, can conceal fros as they are within the sphere of our own observation Fronorance this boy had escaped; and the light of learning illumined his mind, as the sun in his daily return reveals anew those for and early summer, his rays had warress towards perfection

And, ladies and gentlee the hope that the events of this day and the faith of this assembly will declare that it is possible to save the children of orphanage, intenorance, from many of the evils which surround them Let it not be assuirls is less hopeful than similar labors in behalf of the other sex It has been found true in Europe, and it is a prevailing opinion in this country, that, a adults, the reformation of females is more difficult than the refor it to be true, will unfold qualities of female character that render it peculiarly easy to shi+eld and save girls who are exposed to a life of crime; for, be it remembered, this institution deals with mere children, who are exposed, but not yet lost It differs, in this respect, froh many include this class with others And it may be well to remark, that every reforether penal,--as Parkhurst in England, and Mettray in France,--have had sohty-nine per cent of the colons, or convicts, at Mettray, have become respectable and useful; while, of the youth sent to the ordinary jails and prisons, seventy-five per cent are totally lost It is not fair, therefore, to assuree of success will depend upon circureat extent, within human control

There are, however, three elements of success, so distinct that they may well stand as the appropriate divisions of what reovernment; the faithful conduct of superintendent, matrons, and assistants; the sympathy and aid of the people of the state in islative interference

The act of the Legislature, though voluirls between seven and sixteen years of age, who are found ”in circulect, exposure, or abandonary” The first idea of _ho sent here as a punished nor actual criminals, but persons exposed to a vicious life Secondly, the idea of ho the family relation, as circumstances may permit Hence, the members of this institution are to be divided into families; and over each a matron will preside, who is to be a kind, affectionate, discreet mother to the children

And here, for once, in Massachusetts, a public institution has escaped the tyranny of bricks and e the hope, that any future additions will tend to es, quiet rural homes, rather than the seat of a vast edifice, which ht-seer, inflame local or state pride, but can never be an effectual, econoency in the work of reforreat object Architecture should bend itself to that object, and become its servant; and it must ever be deemed a mistake, when utility is sacrificed that art or fancy ht by external influences, is the result of personal kindness Personal kindness can exist only where there is intimate personal acquaintance; this acquaintance is impossible in an institution of two, three, or five hundred inmates But, in a fae will exist, and this kindness abound Warrow up in the fauards of virtue

Nor let the objection prevail that the expense is to be increased It is not the purpose to set up an establishment and maintain it for a specific su for the inh it be linificent failure

The state has wisely provided that the ”trustees shall cause the girls under their charge to be instructed in piety and e as shall be adapted to their age and capacity; they shall also be instructed in so, or horticultural, or a combination of these, and especially in such domestic and household labor and duties as shall be best suited to their age and strength, disposition and capacity; also in such other arts, trades, and employments, as may seem to the trustees best adapted to secure their reformation, amendment, and future benefit”

It is sometimes the bane of the poor that they do not work, and it is often equally the bane of the rich that they have nothing to do The idle, both rich and poor, carry a weight of reproach that not all ought to bear The disposition and the ability to labor are both the result of education; and why should the uneducated be better able to labor than to read Greek and Latin? Surely only that there are ood teacher of labor ood teacher of Latin or Greek There is a false, vicious, unmanly pride, which leads our youth of both sexes to shun labor; and it is the business of the true teacher to extirpate this growth of a diseased civilization And we could have no faith in this school, if it were not a school of industry as well as of morality,--a school in which the divine law of labor is to be observed equally with the laws of men

Industry is near to all the virtues In this era every branch of labor is an art, and sometimes it is necessary for the laborer to be both an artist and a scientific person How great, then, the misfortune of those, whether rich or poor, who are uninstructed in the business of life! We should hardly knohat judglect the education of his children in schools; but the co is not less reprehensible Labor should be systematic; not constant, indeed, but always to be reckoned as the great business of life, never to be avoided, never to cease

Labor gives us a better knowledge of the fulness,of creation This lesson etation; by the artist, in the powers of invention and taste of the human mind and soul; by the man of science, in the beauty of an insect or the order of a universe The vision of the idle is limited The ability to see may be improved by education as much as the ability to read, re is a habit Near-sighted persons are generally those who declined to look at distant objects; and so nature, true to the most perfect rules of econolected The laborer's recooods chiefly; but it is in his increased ability to observe, appreciate, and enjoy the world, with its beauties and blessings Nor is labor, the penalty for sin, a punishment merely, but a divine means of reformation It is, therefore, a moral discipline that all should submit to; and especially is it a means by which the youth here are to be prepared for the duties of life But industry is not only near to all the virtues; it is itself a virtue, as idleness is a vice The word _labor_ is, of course, used in the broadest signification Labor is any honest eood to ourselves, and consequently, though indirectly, brings good to our fellow-men

The state has now furnished a home, reproduced, as far as practicable, the falected and exposed girls the ious culture The plan appears well; but its practical value depends upon the fidelity of its execution by the superintendent, matrons and assistants I venture to predict in advance, that the degree of success is mainly within their control This is a school, they are the teachers; and they ly accept

The teacher must be what he would have his pupils becoreat Teacher; this is the aim of all who desire to make education a ns and forms Here will be needed a spirit and principle of devotion which will be fruitful in huood words and works for all Here must be strictness, possibly sternness of discipline; but this is not incompatible with the qualities mentioned

It is a principle at Mettray to coid exclusion of personal indulgence