POOR RELIEF IN THE UNITED STATES 167 



from the conviction that nep;lected children, even those that 

 come from the famiUes of criminals, can not merely by stem 

 discipline be made into better men, but that education by the 

 action of the children on each other, under the intelligent 

 direction of an adult, will ripen the best fruit. Further, he 

 believes that these children can best be educated to become 

 useful members of civilized society, if they can be placed in 

 relations similar to those of the world at large. Here as there 

 the means of living can be obtained only by labor. No one 

 is required to work, but ''he who will not work shall not eat." 

 The teacher does not use compulsion, but the conditions them- 

 selves, as m real life, are compulsory. Both these thoughts, 

 self government and the compelling might of conditions, 

 training to labor for support, are remarkably well carried out 

 in the George junior republic, and have become so conspicuous, 

 that the institution is imitated in the different parts of the 

 United States. The whole arrangement, which originated in 

 a vacation colony which Mr. George received at his house in the 

 country near Freeville, and began with thirty very poor chil- 

 dren, gradually developed into a permanent settlement with 

 the form of a miniature state, in which the members them- 

 selves exercise police power, hold court, and administer 

 affairs. The republic has the rights of a corporation, and is 

 conducted by a board of trustees at whose head Mr. George 

 stands. The means of support, since the product of the chil- 

 dren's work naturally covers but a small part of the expense, 

 are furnished for the most part by an association called the 

 repubhc association. The territory occupied by the repubUc 

 contains forty acres; it is an elevated plateau in an attractive 

 district of the state of New York, about a half hour from the 

 town of Freeville. On the farm are several buildings, one of 

 which is occupied by Mr. George and his family. All the 

 houses are built by the boys under the direction of adult 

 craftsmen, and it is hoped that after a time all the children will 

 be placed in small separate houses in groups of ten or fifteen 

 under an adult, each group with its own kitchen, table, and 

 recreation room. 



At first Mr. George made himself president of the republic, 

 and distributed the most important offices of the little state 



