1853, 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



31/ 



VISIT TO THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL. 



No better evidence of the progress of men in vir- 

 tue, and of their gradual approach to the high 

 standard left us by the Saviour, is needed, than 

 the institutions founded for the comfort of the un- 

 fortunate and the reformation of the erring. In 

 this Commonvpealth these are numerous, general- 

 ly managed with ability and good judgment, and 

 are accomplishing the objects desired by their 

 benevolent founders. 



The Reform School at Wcstboro'' is one of the 

 noblest of these charities. In the language of the 

 report of the commissioners, we believe "that of 

 the many and valuable institutions sustained in 

 whole or in part from the public treasury, there is 

 none of more importance, or holds a more intimate 

 connection with the future prosperity and moral 

 integrity of the community, than one which prom- 

 ises to take neglected, wayward, wandering, idle 

 and vicious boys, with perverse minds and cor- 

 rupted hearts, and cleanse, and purify, and reform 

 them, and thus send them fortli, in the erectness 

 of manhood and in the beauty of virtue, educated 

 and prepared to be industrious, useful, and virtu- 

 ous citizens." 



Connected with this school there is a farm con- 

 sisting of 285 aci'es of excellent land. This is di- 

 versified, having fine hill pastures, rich bottoms, 

 broad plains of light, sandy soil, suitable for corn 

 and roots, and the heavier granite formations, ex- 

 cellent for grass fields, apples and other fruits. 



The location of the farm is one of surpassing 

 loveliness. Chawic'ey Pond, a sheet of clear, pure 

 water, about 30 feet in depth, and covering one 

 hundred and seventy-eight acres of land, laves 

 the foot of the pastures and fields, while the ground 

 rises by a gentle acclivity from the shores to a 

 height which overlooks this beautiful gem of a lake, 

 and an extent of country beyond, embracing, in 

 part, the village of Westborough, and, from some 

 portions of the farm, the glittering spires of the 

 churches at Northboro'. The situation is suffi- 

 ciently retired, and yet of easy and convenient ac- 

 cess ; the depot at the village of Westboro' being 

 within two and a half miles, and the road level, or 

 of very gradual ascent. 



The main buildings are of brick, their architec- 

 tural style imposing, and the internal arrange- 

 ment of them commodious, airy and convenient, 

 while some of the accessaries are entirely out of 

 place. T\i& piggery being on one side, and an im- 

 mense reservoir for the collection of the drainage 

 being on another side of the house, the inmates 

 may regale their sense of smell on "an ancient 

 and fish-like" odor, from whatever point of com- 

 pass the winds may come. 



There are now nearly /our hundred hoys at the 

 school, and their time is divided as follows : — for 

 labor, sis hours; for school, four hours ; for sleep. 



eight and one-half hours ; and one-half hour for 

 devotional exercises, incidental duties, and recre- 

 ation. In one apartment, we saw Ijetween GO and 

 70 boys stitching men's shoes ; in another, 70 at 

 work on children's and women's shoes, and in a 

 third, between 80 and 90 sewing on cotton cloth, 

 and on the blue material for jackets and panta- 

 loons, and knitting, or darning. Otliers were en- 

 gaged in various duties about the house, and the 

 remainder occupied on the fiirm. 



During their playtime, after dinner, we went 

 among these boys and had free conversation with 

 them. On inquiring what work they chose to be 

 engaged in, the universal reply was, farming, farm- 

 ing; and their countenances brightened, as they 

 replied, each seeming to infer from the inquiry that 

 they might, perhaps, elect, what business they 

 should pursue. But as it is unnatural that chil- 

 dren should be subjected to so much restraint, 

 shut up within brick walls and close rooms, it is 

 not strange that they all declared for the green 

 fields, the babbling brooks, and the singing birds. 

 Alas ! that so many young hearts should throb in 

 vain for the enjoyments of this beautiful world, 

 open and free to all, whom the seductive influences 

 of error have not rendered unsafe to go at large, 

 amidst its peaceful paths and glowing forms ! On 

 these, the stamp of such influences was plain. — 

 Some countenances there were, meek and sad, 

 expressive of contrition and shame ; but on most, 

 that bold and hardened cast impressed on those 

 early initiated in the school of vice, was particu- 

 larly evident. On remarking that they appeared 

 happy, one of them replied, "aA.' some of us can't 

 help thinking ; those ivho donH think, do well 

 enough.'" 



The institution was founded by munificent do- 

 nations and bequests from the Hon. Theodore Ly- 

 man, of Brookline, in this State, amounting, in all, 

 to the sum of ^72,500. The farm has now cost 

 some twelve or fifteen thousand dollars. 



It is not our intention, however, to speak in de- 

 tail of the founding of the institution, or the man- 

 agement of its inmates ; but briefly to notice it in 

 an agricultural point of view. 



At the last meeting of the State Board of Agri- 

 culture, the following resolution was adopted : — 

 Resolved, That Messrs. Wilder, Page, Proctor, 

 Hitchcock, Smith, Dodge, French, Brown, 

 Spragub, and Lawton, be a committee to confer 

 with the Governor of the Commonwealth, and con- 

 sider and report, whether any, and if so, what aid 

 may conveniently be afforded by the State to this 

 Board, to facilitate experiments in scientific culti- 

 vation of the soil by the use of the lands connect- 

 ed with the State Reform School at Westboro'. 



In accordance with these instructions most of 

 the gentlemen named in the resolution, accom- 

 panied by Mr. Flint, Secretary of the Board, and 

 Gen. Sutton, of the Council, visited the farm and 



