266 LYMAN D. DRAKE 



who are interested in their development, assuring a proper 

 training. The services of our institution boys are being sought 

 after in consequence of the thoroughness of their training. 

 State prisons are not recruiting from the ranks of reformatories 

 to the extent that has been done in the past. The institutions 

 of to-day are engaging the best thought and zeal of the body 

 politic. They are at last awakening to the fact that delin- 

 quency is a factor injurious to the great social fabric, which in 

 consequence of its contaminating influences has caused more or 

 less of decadence. Psychologists, sociologists and anthropol- 

 ogists are using their utmost endeavor to eradicate the evil 

 through research and application. To arrest the cause is now 

 the slogan. They are now engaging in the study of man, and 

 the many influences used in this direction must of necessity 

 result in great good. Reformatory institutions are and will be 

 strong factors in the improvement of the substratum from 

 which comes so much to contaminate. 



The advantages of an up-to-date institution are so many 

 and varied that one scarcely realizes the importance attached 

 thereto. While an institution may never receive the credit of 

 giving to the world men of great renown, yet the foundation 

 for a successful life may be laid ; the individual to be the archi- 

 tect of his own success or failure. So many things come with- 

 in the range of possibility, that we can not with accuracy judge 

 the outcome of close application and attention to duty. A 

 successful institution is measured by its system and method, 

 both of which call for accuracy even in the minutest detail. 

 This becomes more important as the youth is so susceptible of 

 training; and where results are expected to be satisfactory, 

 which is the outgrowth of impression, the necessity of perfect 

 method and system becomes apparent. 



The completion of anything undertaken without making 

 the importance of such an undertaking fully understood is 

 harmful rather than beneficial, as impressions here find a lodg- 

 ment and govern the future life of a boy to a greater or lesser 

 degree. Our institutions of to-day are noting well the signifi- 

 cance of this and each year adds greatly to the success at- 

 tained. 



There is nothing in my opinion so important in the educa- 



