REFORM SCHOOL AND FARM

FOR

JUVENILE CRIMINALS, AT RED HILL, NEAR REIGATE.

THE Reformatory School and Farm, at Red Hill, near Reigate, in the county of Surrey, was established in 1849, by the Philanthropic So ciety, the oldest association in England, and one of the earliest of its class in Europe, having been founded at London in 1788, to provide a refuge, and the means of industrial, moral, and intellectual instruction for juvenile criminals, and the destitute offspring of convicted felons. The first step taken by the society was to collect in a hired house, in the neighborhood of London, known as St. George's Fields, some dozen children, under a master-workman and his wife, whose duty it was to overseer their labor in some simple branch of handicraft industry. Gradually the plan was enlarged so as to embrace three houses, under the charge of a master-workman-one devoted to shoemaking, the second to tailoring, and the third to carpentry, until the whole was merged into one great establishment, surrounded by a high wall, with a chapel, residences for the officers, and workshops for tailors, shoemakers, brushmakers, basket-makers, printers, carpenters, &c. The destitute and criminal youth-at first of both sexes, but afterwards the girls were excluded-were here received and instructed in some useful trade, as well as in the elementary branches of education, and then bound out as apprentices to master-workmen in the city. The institution, by its measure of success, demonstrated the practicability of making a favorable change in the personal, industrial, and moral habits of neglected and criminal children, but it did not adopt from time to time modifications of its system, and especially, did not supply the deficiencies of family discipline and influence, in which the worst habits of this class of children have their origin. As the population of the city spread to and around the premises, its location became unhealthy, and objectionable on other grounds.

In 1846, Mr. Sidney Turner, now the resident chaplain, and manager, came into the active management of the institution, and gradually effected a change in its plan of operation. In company with Mr. Paynter, a police magistrate, and Mr. William Gladstone, the treasurer of the society, he visited the Mettray colony near Tours, as well as other industrial schools on the same general model; and on their return, a plan was devised for a reformatory school, in which farm-labor should be the principal, and the trades and handicrafts the secondary occupations of the inmates. After some difficulty in procuring an eligible situation, an estate of about 140 acres, known as the Red Hill farm, near Reigate, in

the county of Surrey, on the Brighton Railway, was obtained on a lease of 150 years, with the privilege of purchase at any time, on specified terms. Buildings were erected for a dwelling-house for the director, a farm-house and appurtenances, a chapel, school-room, and two lodging houses, each capable of accommodating fifty-six children and their

overseers.

The school at Red Hill was commenced in April, 1849, by the admission of three lads; and in the course of two months of fifteen more, mostly above fourteen years of age, and from,country districts. At the close of the year there had been admitted sixty-five boys, including those which were at the institution in London. The following sketch of a visit to Red Hill within a year after it was opened, which was originally published in Chambers' Journal, will throw light on the organization and practical working of the institution.

On alighting at the Red Hill station, we were received by a neat young groom, who drove us in a small vehicle, very carefully and well, over a mile and a-half of roughish road to the chaplain's residence, into which we were politely ushered by another youth, who announced us to our host. 66

"Surely," I said when that gentleman arrived, " neither of those lads were ever convicts?"

66

"Yes," was the reply; one was convicted once-the other, who is from Parkhurst, twice; but they are both so thoroughly reformed, that we trust them as fully as we do any of our other servants some times with money to pay small bills."

On advancing to a sort of balcony to look around, we found ourselves on the top of one of that low range of eminences known as the Surrey Hills, with, if not an extensive, a cheerful and picturesque landscape to look upon. Immediately to the left stood a pretty group of buildings, comprising the chapel, a school-room, and two houses, each to contain sixty boys; the foundation-stone of the first having been laid by Prince Albert no longer ago than the 30th of April. These unpretending but tasteful Gothic edifices, relieved, as they were, by a back-ground of thick foliage, which stretched away at intervals to the boundaries of the estate, gave a sylvan, old-English character to the scene, which will doubtless be endeared to the memory of many an emigrant when laboring out his mission in the Antipodes. In front, in a dell, beyond a cutting through which the South-Eastern Railway passes, and half-hidden by tall trees, the farm-house in which the boys, now on the farm, are accommodated, partially revealed itself; while beyond, a cottage, in which the bailiff of the estate lives, was more plainly seen.

Dotted about the farm-of which our terraced point of view afforded a perfect supervision—were groups of juvenile laborers steadily plying their tasks. One small party were grubbing a hedge, their captain or monitor constructing a fireheap of the refuse; a detachment of two was setting up a gate, under the direction of a carpenter; a third group was digging a field of what we afterwards found to be extremely hard clay; and a fourth was wheeling manure. We could also see flitting to and fro, immediately about the farm-house and offices, several small figures, employed in those little odd jobs that the "minding" of poultry, the feeding of pigs, the grooming of horses, and the stalling of oxen, entail upon the denizens of a farm-steading. The systematic activity which pervaded the whole estate, and the good order in which every thing appeared, bespoke rather an oldestablished than a recently-entered farm.

Having been gratified with this scene, we descended, under the guidance of our reverend host, to take a nearer view of the operations. On our way, he informed us that the extent of the farm is no more than 140 acres; but that, small as it is, he hoped, with some additions readily obtainable, that as many as 500 boys would be eventually trained upon it. It appears to have been admirably chosen for the purpose. These acres include every variety of soil, from light sand to the stiffest of clay, the generality of it consisting of ferruginous marl, the color of which

doubtless gave the name to the hill over which it is chiefly spread. The more stubborn part of the estate will not only supply what is chiefly required-labor— but will also be the means of instructing the pupils in the proper method of cultivating consolidated soils; while the modes of dealing with lighter land will be exemplified in the more friable sandy earths.

While approaching the nearest knot of young laborers, it happened that the recollection of a visit I had paid some years ago to the town-house of the society arose vividly in my mind. I remembered well, that although generally healthy, some of the boys seemed pale, and when you addressed them, answered furtively, and did not look straight into your face. But the ruddy, smiling countenance which was now turned up to return the pastor's greeting, formed a striking contrast to what I had noticed on the previous occasion. It beamed with health and pleasure: the first due to a free life in the country, changed from a pent-up existence in town; and the latter to the affable kindness of his treatment. The boy was "puddling" (ramming earth round the foundation of) a gate-post, and replied to certain suggestions respecting his mode of doing his task in a frank, fearless, but perfectly respectful manner. We passed on to the hedge-grubbing. This is hard work, and the boys were plying away manfully. Will lent force to every stroke of the pick, and every incision of the ax. The moment the director came in sight, a smile rose to every face. A large, spreading, obstinate root was giving a couple of the young grubbers a vast deal of trouble, and the superior, supposing the boys were not going about their task in the best manner, suggested an alteration in their plan. It was pleasing to see, instead of a servile or a dogged acquiescence in this hint, that the elder lad at once gave his reasons for the mode he had chosen for unearthing the root. A short argument ensued between the master and pupil, which ended in the decision that the latter was right. This showed the terms on which these two individuals-who might be described as antipodes in station, in morals, and in intellect stood towards each other. The law of kindness (the only code practiced here) had brought both into perfect rapport. No restraint existed, except that imposed by propriety and respect. The monitor or captain of this group was also "drawn out" by our cicerone to explain the means by which he kept up ventilation in the burning heap which he was replenishing with refuse. This he did not manage very scientifically, but in a manner which showed he thoroughly understood the principles of combustion, and that his mind, as well as his hands, were engaged in the task.

At Red Hill free intercourse is cultivated and courted. No discipline is enforced which involves punishment so severe as to be much dreaded, and not the slightest restraint upon personal liberty is imposed. Any boy is free to leave the farm if he chooses to make his escape; there is neither wall, nor bolt, nor bar to hinder him. Five instances only of desertion have occurred since the school has been in actual operation. Of these misguided youths, who were all of the youngest class of inmates, three have returned of their own accord, begging to be again admitted; two others were sent back by their friends, the desire of seeing whom was the motive of their elopement. Although the labor is severe, the clerical chief has managed to instill into those under his charge a patient endurance, if not a love of it, and a tolerance of the restraints it imposes, far superior to the temptations of the miserable lawless liberty of their previous career of crime. It should, however, be remarked, that the lads in the Farm School have all suffered for their offenses, by imprisonment, or some other penalty, before their admission to it, and come mostly as volunteers under the impulse of repentance, and a desire to do better for themselves. The "colons" of Mettray, on the contrary, are all "détenus"-are literally convicts still under the sentence and restraint of law. "Those boys whom we have left," I remarked, "are possibly the best-disposed in the school, and never were deeply dyed in crime?"

"On the contrary," was the reply, " among them are youths who have not only been frequently convicted and imprisoned for felonies, but were, before coming here, habitually addicted to faults which the laws do not punish. They seldom spoke without an imprecation, were frequently intoxicated, and were guilty of other vices, which one would imagine their youth precluded them from indulging in. Yet you now find them expressing themselves with propriety, and conducting themselves quite as well as most of the farm-boys in this parish."

At the extremity of the estate, beyond the bailiff's house, was a party of

younger boys digging a field of obstinate clay nearly as hard as unbaked brick. The superintendent, who directed their operations, gave them a good character for perseverance, and added, that he was some times surprised at the aptitude displayed by the boys when farm-tools were first put into their hands. Although their previous mode of life proved they could never before have been used to delving, draining, trimming hedgerows, &c., yet the intelligence many of them displayed when set about such work for the first time caused their instructorwhose former experience had lain among country parish apprentices—to marvel greatly. The truth is, the schemes and contrivances criminal though they were in which these lads were forced to engage to relieve the miseries of their old mode of life, have a tendency to sharpen their wits and brighten their intellects. As the most hardened metal takes the highest polish, so these youths, when thoroughly reformed and trained, are most often the brightest workmen.

To each their benignant pastor gave a kind word, even if it were one expressive of disapprobation for some fault; of which he pointed out the evil consequences with such plain and convincing reasoning, that the delinquent expressed contrition either in words or by a more expressive, because more spontaneous, look. He had manifestly tried to study each character, and adapted his arguments to suit its peculiarities, using such means of cure as were most efficacious for the special moral diseases under which the patient happened to labor.

In this lies the true secret of all reformatory efforts undertaken for the young. As in medicine, so in morals much depends upon adapting the remedies to the character and kind of disease. To bring every sort of mental obliquity under one mode of treatment, or one set of rules, is as irrational as if a physician were to treat his patients in classes, and administer to each class the same physic. Nothing can be more plain, than that, to cure immorality, the moral sentiments must be addressed; and this is impossible, or at most ineffectual, where the peculiarities of each moral ailment is not studied, and where any system of general routine is followed.

Conversing on this topic, we arrived at the farm-house, where we saw the scholars engaged in a variety of home duties-from baking and storing bread to mending stockings, in which useful avocation we detected two juniors in an outhouse.

In the evening, at six, the boys were assembled in the school-room for instruction and prayers. An additional interest was occasioned by the circumstance of the resident chaplain having only the day before returned from a second visit to Mettray. After a prayer, and the reading and exposition of an appropriate chapter from the Testament, he gave the assembly an account of what he had seen, and read the answer to an address he had taken over to the Mettray boys from themselves, which we translate as follows:

"THE BOYS OF THE AGRICULTURAL COLONY AT METTRAY TO THE YOUTHS OF THE PHILANTHROPIC FARM-SCHOOL.

"DEAR FRIENDS AND BROTHers in the LORD: Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Turner, your respected directors, have come to visit our colony, and we can hardly tell you how much pleasure we felt when Mr. Gladstone, after speaking to us about the farm-school, read to us your address.

"Thanks, dear friends, for this generous impulse of your hearts. You have well understood our feelings. Yes, we are we shall always be-your brothers. The same love of what is good animates us both.

"Tears of joy and thankfulness glistened in our eyes as we heard your kind wishes for us; and our honored and excellent directors, the Viscount de Courteilles and M. Demetz, have been equally moved by them. Your sentiments are indeed noble and Christian.

"Dear brothers, we all owe much to God, who has directed the honored friends by whom both we and you are superintended. Do you pray-let us pray-for the founders of both our schools. Let us pray for their happiness, and for the welfare of the asylums which they have opened. When you kneel down each night before God, think of us in France, who, on our part, will add to our petitions a prayer for you in England.

"Like us, you say you have erred-you have known trouble. But like us, too, you have resolved to have done with your past life of disorder. You will succeed

in this, dear friends, for the providence of God has sent you enlightened and Christian friends. You have found in Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Turner what we have found in our worthy founders and directors. Let us follow their lessons. So shall we march among the foremost in the path of honor and virtue in which they lead us.

"Dear friends, we form this day an affectionate alliance with you-one that shall last. The ring which our directors send will be the substantial symbol of this union of our hearts with yours. You will see these words engraved on it, 'God, honor, union, recollection'-words which are our motto. Let them be also yours. Let us be grateful. Let us join together in strife against what is evil. Let us support one another in what is good. Let us love each other to the end. "Dear friends and brothers, health and happiness to you all. (Signed by the elder brothers and monitors,)

LANOS, BELLONET, ANGEY, MAUCHIN, GUY, JOSSET.
MARI, COLLOT, SOUVIGNE, HEBERT, CHEVALIER."

This was, the bearers of it were assured, the veritable composition of the subscribing boys. It was read on this occasion amidst the most profound attention. When the assembly broke up, the lads separated to their play-ground in an orderly manner. The young groom, however, departed for the stable to prepare the vehicle for our departure; for our most interesting visit was nearly over.

In a parting conversation with the resident chaplain, he told us that thirty-six reformed boys had already been sent to Algoa Bay; and that, despite the storm of disaffection raised in Cape Colony against the introduction of convicts, the lads were well received. They had scarcely stepped on shore, before every one of them was engaged, and the accounts since received of them were highly favorable.

Although the important results which will assuredly flow from this experiment can only be carried out by the extension of its plans, yet large numbers of pupils in such establishments would, for the reasons we have given, be an evil. Centralization and generalization would be as inevitable as they are much to be dreaded. To do any good, the mind of each boy must be influenced separately; and in a large school, this would be impossible for one superintendent to accomplish. The Philanthropic School is now within manageable bounds, and the chaplain knows each lad almost as intimately as he does his own children; but when the establishment is extended to 500 pupils, as is contemplated, much of his influence over individuals will cease. To obviate this, it is intended to make each "family" consist of sixty individuals, guided by a master (with an assistant) and his wife. The softening restraint instinctively imposed by the mere presence of a woman-setting aside her higher influences-will be most beneficial. Muchall, we may venture to say-will, however, depend upon the tact, temper, demeanor, and patience of these most important functionaries. It is here, indeed, that the point of difficulty in effecting the reformation of vicious habits and impulses in the young presents itself. Nearly all reformatory systems have failed from the unskilfulness, from the want of long-suffering forbearance, and of prompt but kindly firmness, on the part of those to whom the task of reformation has been confided. It is the possession of these qualities by the reverend principal, in an eminent degree, which has brought about the pleasing state of things we have described at the Red Hill Farm, and we look with some anxiety to the time when, notwithstanding his general supervision, the smallest of his functions will have to be delegated.

As we arrived at the Red Hill railway station for our return journey some time before the train started, we employed the interval in making inquiries as to the character the Philanthropic boys bore among their neighbors, who, we were previously informed, had at first looked upon the new colony with dread.* Every account we received was, we are happy to find, favorable: the ex-criminals had not occasioned a single complaint.

A bargain had nearly been concluded at one time for a farm to the north of the metropolis; but so great was the horror of the contiguous gentry, that one of them actually presented the society with a donation of £1000, on condition that the scene of reformatory operations should be removed; and accordingly it was shifted to Surrey.