EVOLUTION IN REFORMATORY METHODS 263 



tent ion of juvenile offenders. The first institution founded 

 in the United States was the result and consummation of a 

 corporation organized in the city of New York. This was in 

 the year 1824, and the institution above referred to afterward 

 became the House of Refuge now located on Randal's island. 

 In this house of refuge dependents, defectives, and delinquents 

 were alike confined. Cellular confinement seemed to be the 

 one idea; and while there was apparently sufficient philan- 

 thropic zest upon the part of those in authority or control, one 

 can scarcely reflect upon such action without a shudder. 



Massachusetts soon followed with the establishment of an 

 institution which presented conditions somewhat more favor- 

 able to those confined within its walls. Not long afterwards 

 Ohio took up the inspiration and in the year 1855 a commission 

 was appointed with instructions to visit the German institu- 

 tion near Hamburg. Upon a thorough investigation they 

 returned and in their report recommended to the general as- 

 sembly of Ohio the estabhshment of an open or cottage system 

 to be known as a reform farm school for the reformation of 

 refractory youth, with some modifications, however, upon the 

 German idea. We here note the first appearance of the word 

 school attending an institution for the correction of juvenile 

 delinquents. Changes are rapidly taking place, each year 

 adding something of benefit. The idea of cellular confine- 

 ment has given place to that of education and occupation. 

 While there were many things in those institutions that did not 

 reflect upon them a very considerable credit, yet the primitive 

 idea was giving way to methods more advanced and beneficial. 

 Still in this particular thej^ appeared more than a century be- 

 hind the achievements of our modern methods, which have 

 made it possible for over thirty thousand boys and girls to en- 

 joy the benefits of an expenditure of more than twenty five 

 millions of dollars. 



I alluded to the spirit that actuated the establishment of 

 our institutions in earlier days by men of strong intellect, and 

 possessed of such qualities as characterized them as being best 

 fitted for the work undertaken; yet should I narrate incidents 

 which were actual facts connected with institutions under 

 their supervision, you would be disgusted with the very 



