just appreciation of the cost. The whole amount paid by the State for the year specified was $13.943.60, which divided as above, gives to each boy $57.87 in the one case and $77.25 in the other. It will be seen that the boys pay with their own labor more than one-half of the expenses of their subsistence, clothing and educa tion, besides the improvements and repairs upon the buildings and farm. The question addresses itself to each individual in the State: Is this money wisely expended? Do the results justify the expenditure? What are the results? More than three-fourths of all the boys who have been connected with the school since it went into operation have become respectable citizens, and are not only a credit to the institution, but an honor to the State. The discipline is of a character to win the boys by love and kindness. Their physical wants receive careful attention. Good nutritious food is bountifully supplied until the appetite is satisfied, but no waste is allowed. Comfortable and desirable clothing is provided, and they are required to care for it, and have it neatly upon their persons. They have comfortable beds, and an abundance of bedding in commodious rooms, and many of the boys show much taste in decorating their apartments. They have games of ball, and various other sports, such as coasting, skating and fishing. We make ourselves their servants during the holidays. The hours of study, labor and recreation are divided with regard to their physical, intellectual and moral advancement. Kind words and pleasant looks always greet them, unless duty requires a different treatment. MARYLAND. The Baltimore House of Refuge is ably and successfully conducted; but the report of its operations is given with a hand so modest and so frugal of details, that it offers little for citation. In the concluding paragraph of their report, the board of managers remark: When the board first accepted, without fee or official reward, its responsible duties, it was with no misgivings as to the ultimate success of this enterprise of humanity and public security. And now, after twenty years' service of some of its original managers, notwithstanding many temporary discouragements, most of their sanguine anticipations have been realized. The promise was encouraging, the cultivation has been grateful to all the better feelings of our nature, and the fruit is now being gathered with reverent thankfulness. We still have exalted faith in our work, and an unwavering trust in the continued smiles of that benign being whose "goodness and loving kindness" have hitherto made plain our path and graciously followed us in the performance of our duty, MASSACHUSETTS. 1. State Reform School. The report before us is the 22d of the reformatory for boys at Westborough. The school has been kept full to repletion by the courts, and is evidently doing a good work, though there is not much in the reports of the several officers for citation. For the first time, we believe, in the history of this institution, it has a resident chaplain, Rev. J. H. Bradford. He appears to be of the right spirit, and a thorough worker. We offer a few short passages from his report. After having sketched his ideal of a juvenile reformatory, he adds: These are our ideas. How have they been carried into practice the past year? By making devotional exercises as pleasant and profitable as possible, both by proper selections of scripture, and by questions and explanations. Our Sabbath instructions have enforced the teachings of the week. Choosing the historical characters of the Bible, we have endeavored to make their virtues appear so attractive as to be imitated; their vices so odious as to be shunned. Choosing elements of character as a subject, we have endeavored to hold up the lovely, beautiful and good as worthy of imitation; the vicious, profane and low as detestable, and to be avoided. Choosing the work of creation as a subject, we have endeavored to surround the boy in his whole life with evidence of a father's kind hand, and teach him to see God in every thing. In the Sabbath school we have taken the life of Paul as a study, bringing in any points of interest in regard to places that he visited and the times in which he lived. We desire to make his journeys as familiar as if they were in America, and from well known towns and cities. We think the boys who have been here the past year have gained in knowledge. We have made use of the black-board in illustrating; of presents of books and papers to induce perfect recitations. In this work we have been assisted by the superintendent and officers of the institution as far as their duties would permit; also by a goodly company of ladies and gentlemen from Westborough, to whom we return sincere thanks. We have endeavored to make use of the interest of relatives and friends as an incentive to a better life, keeping the communication with family by letter, visits and presence as open as possible, yet carefully restraining whatever is injurious in its tendency. 1 We believe some advance has been made the past year in some directions above specified, but the work yet to be done seems almost appalling. It requires the best efforts of the best talents thoroughly harmonious, to make this Reform School what it should be. We believe some of the boys who have left us the past year have been thoroughly benefited. Some, of whom we had high hopes, have yielded to temptation and fallen. What the school designs to do is, to lift the boy over the time of life in which he is thoughtless, cultivate his judgment and thoroughly arouse his moral sensibility, thus enabling him to follow right and resist wrong. He must be taught to govern himself rather than to be governed, for his officers cannot follow him as he goes out into the world. partly The system in this institution is of a mixed character congregate, and partly family- the boys being placed and retained in the congregate department till they earn a transfer to one of the families, and being also returned to the congregate, when they prove themselves unworthy members of a family; which happily is seldom the case. 2. State Industrial School for Girls. The progress made is thus sketched by the trustees: Another year's experience has been added to the history of the Industrial School for Girls, and while we recognize no great or marked change in the institution, still, progress has been made by the inmates, in a better appreciation of the advantages e offered for religious and moral culture; a greater interest in the domestic and industrial duties; the expression of a firmer confidence in the love and kindness of those who have already done so much to render their future brighter, happier and better; and warmer feelings of love and attachment for the institution and those connected with its administration, which will prove a shield of defense in the hour of temptation and trial. Most of the girls look upon the school as their home, where their past misfortunes have been forgotten, their errors pardoned, and where they have been taught, protected and loved; and the holy memories which cluster round the institution will never be forgotten. The superintendent and chaplain Rev. Marcus Ames adds his testimony to that of the trustees, in the following words: The general history of the institution the past year, I feel, has been one of quiet, steady progress in its great work. Marked improvement in general work has been made by most of the girls; good progress also has been exhibited in the schoolroom, particularly in writing, reading, and spelling; an improvement in conduct and spirit, an increase in the knowledge of right and wrong, with many successful efforts in performing the one and resisting the other. We do not forget that self-effort in the work of reformation is indispensable, that aid and sympathy also from friends and teachers is essential, but neither of these alone, or combined, will secure that Christlike character inwrought in the soul, which shall result in a true reform of heart and life which shall be abiding diviner sympathy, a diviner power is needed, and prayer to him who giveth wisdom without upbraiding, power to the weak, humility and purity to the contrite seeker, will bring blessings to the soul immortal, of undying worth and beauty. Prayer, then, we inculcate as a necessity, for each and for all. In its efficacy do we believe, and we rejoice in all encouragements and stimulants, from whatever source, to prompt us to its exercise. And upon every girl while here, and as they leave us, do we seek to impress it as a duty and a priceless privilege- while the sympathy and aid of earthly friends should be sought and cherished—that to one ever-present, infinitely wise, good and powerful, may and should they look, daily and continually, for guidance and counsel, for sympathy and help, for pardon, holiness, and eternal life. 3. Nautical Reform School. This institution is accommodated in two school-ships-one in Boston harbor, under the care of Captain Matthews, superintendent, and the other in the harbor of New Bedford, under the care of the assistant superintendent, Captain Eldridge. The trustees present this general view of "the situation." The trustees, in making their ninth annual report, express their satisfaction with the results of the year, and their unshaken confidence in the working of the institution. The number of boys, who have been inmates of the ships during the year, is 505 of whom 281 remained on the first of this month. The whole number received since the founding of the school is 1,714. And it is believed that a large proportion of these have been reformed. It should be remembered that when a discharged school ship boy is re-arrested for crime, the fact is matter of remark; while ten such boys may grow up to be honest men without being subjects of observation. Our teachers have been successful, during the year, in securing the interest of their pupils, and consequently in advancing them in their studies. The services of Miss Eldridge, in teaching the younger boys in the "Massachusetts," have been of great value. Both our schools are now favored with the influence of woman's teaching. The number of boys sent to sea since the last report is 98, of whom 58 were shipped from the "Massachusetts," chiefly on whaling cruises. We have in a former report pointed out the advantage to the boys who are shipped on these long voyages; and the great success in obtaining such voyages has fully vindicated your ¿ wisdom in placing one of the ships at New Bedford. While in Boston, on his tour of "readings," in this country, Mr. Dickens paid a visit to the "George M. Barnard," and made this speech" only this and nothing more:" "Boys, just do all the good you can, and don't make any fuss about it." This address, as apt as it is curt, "has become (say the trustees) a household word " on board the ship, and is evidently a power for good among its denizens. Of the two following paragraphs, relating to the summer cruises of the boys and their advantages, the first is from the report of the superintendent, the second from that of the assistant superintendent: During the sailing season, the ships have visited most of the harbors and bays of Massachusetts, on both sides of Cape Cod, and given the boys an excellent chance for learning practical seamanship. Four weeks were spent in cruising with the two ships in company; and the pride the boys took in excelling the other ship in getting under way, making, taking in, and furling sail, was truly amusing. Our fine opportunities for cruising have been well employed during the summer. The advantage of this system of cruising has been very apparent in its effect upon the boys. It relieves the monotony of a single location; affords facilities for acquir. ing nautical experience and geographical knowledge; brings the boys in contact with the best people of many communities; gives a wider range to observation and thought, and produces a more genial and contented frame of mind. 4. House of Reformation. We have no report of this institution, and no information for the year under review except the items contained in the statistical tables, which were furnished by the superintendent. MICHIGAN. We gave last year a somewhat extended account of the Reform School of Michigan, in extracts from the report of the superintend ent, the Rev. Charles Johnson. A new feature has been ingrafted upon the system hitherto in force, which is thus referred to in his report now before us: The family house, which was opened February 11 of this year, under the charge of Mr. H. B. Kenyon and lady, has received under its roof fifty boys, who had been deemed worthy of the confidence which it gives. Most of these boys, after remaining a few months, have gone to their homes. It must be that this feature of the institution is calculated to be of great benefit to the boys, and you will find yourselves obliged to enlarge its accommodation for the increasing number of boys who will need its privileges. Every advantage is possessed there that can be reached in a farm-house. The boys during the summer have worked on the farm and in the gar den, and at all the outside work they could do, under the direction of their overseer. Their school hours have been the same as the other boys; Sunday school and chapel services with the other boys. The following statement, made by the board of control, has been to us an occasion of no little surprise, revealing, as it does, a lack of that comprehensive grasp of the question which we should expect [Senate No. 21.] 32 in a legislative body representing the intelligence and humanity of a State so enlightened and liberal as Michigan: It will be remembered that, at the session of the Legislature in 1866, a law was passed precluding from the institution all lads under ten years of age, whereas previously the limit was by law fixed at seven years. In the report of last year, the Board of Control asked the repeal of that law, giving their reasons therefor, predicating their objections thereto mainly on the fact, that the precluding from the institution all under ten years of age, was in fact excluding therefrom a large class of boys, who, without natural protectors, were thrown upon the world to reach manhood, if they reach it at all, devoid of its most essential characteristics, and for want of that protecting hand, always and everywhere regarded as the shield of childhood and youth. The asked for repeal found no favor, at least with a ruling majority of the house of representatives, and the bill calling for the same failed of receiving the attention of the senate. But wherefore? Because, as contended, of the inhumanity of the act of incarcerating lads of so tender an age as seven years. In view of all this, we may ask what was the object in founding the institution? Was it designed to be penal or reformatory? Was it the purpose to take the youthful criminal (if such it is proper to designate him) and punish him, or was it not rather to throw around him the shielding arms of the State, and afford protection where natural protectors had failed, to train, educate and qualify, if possible, for efficient manhood in paths of virtue? And if this latter was the purpose, is it wise to leave the youth of seven three additional years in which to make progress in and evoke a love of crime? "Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined," and if perchance deformity has befallen, the sooner the remedy is applied, the more easily and surely is correction attained. MINNESOTA. A Reform School has been established in this State, but beyond this fact we have no information. MISSOURI. The last report of the St. Louis House of Refuge, by its superintendent, Mr. F. S. W. Gleason, under date of April 1, 1869, is a comprehensive and instructive document. The managers well and truly say of it: It contains a very full and detailed account of all the transactions connected with the institution, and especially of the system adopted with regard to the treatment of the boys and girls-the means resorted to to gain their confidence and affec tion, and command their respect and obedience-to awaken and stimulate their ambition and self-respect-the system of punishments and rewards- of schooling, recreation and labor, and in what manner they may earn for themselves a discharge from the institution by their own merits. As Mr. Gleason's system of discipline is somewhat peculiar (whether it is too complex for general adoption is left to the judg ment of others), we give it in his own words, though requiring more space than we can well spare for the purpose. The inmates are classed under eight grades, viz.: 4, 3, 2, 1, and 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th degrees of honor. Every inmate, at first, is placed in grade 4-the lowest |