1550

At the'base we are almost sure to find bad home govern-
ment, then parental neglect, next truancy from school, then
vagrancy from home, and in the end, actual crime. The in-
dications for the best means of reclamation seem to be plain.
Among these, after religious instruction, we would place the
thorough piscipline of the schools, enforced by persistent sys-
tem, kindness, decision, and when necessary uncompromis-
ing vigor.

Here the healthful restraint, the mental labor, the awak-
ened emulation, the progressive acquisition, will be found to
be the most desirable means in curing the mind perverted
and diseased from mere animal indulgence or criminal pro-
clivities, and thus perfecting the work of a reformatory insti-
tution. In all this, regular and useful bodily labor is by no
means to be overlpok, by it is only to be enforced as an aux-
iliary to the work of the school, and as a curative of previous
idle habits, to which, with very rare exceptions, all have
been addicted. If a sound mind be desired, we must have a
sound body, and this can be best produced by proper physical
employments But if this special object be ignored, and
pecuniary gain be made the chief end of labor, then that
which ought to be merely subsidiary, is made paramount, and
the whole scheme of moral reform is thus most unwisely sub-
verted.

The cultivation of a taste for music, vocal and instrumental,
and the regular professional instruction in the science, still
holds a place in our scheme of education as an element in
juvenile reform.

The Sabbath services too are heightened by the educated
singing of the inmates, and it must be a gratification to their
instructress in this department, to receive the repeated thanks
of those who have left our care, for the knowledge imparted
to them by her teaching. One lad gratefully says,—" often
when at my daily employment, come to my mind those beau-
tiful hymns which were taught me by Mrs. L.;" and this,
doubtlessly is the experience of many others. It has been
well said that "a hymn may find him whom a sermon flies,"
and who can tell how many have carried away with them a
devotional thought, or a convictive admonition, or a word of
truth, thus happily taught that will come unbidden in the
hour of temptation, or of awakened conscience, and be to them
as a word seasonably spoken, and have its enduring and soul-
saving effect.

Instrumental and choral music continue to be taught by
Prof. Deems. Many of his pupils who have gone from us,
are heard from as holding reputable positions in Church
Choirs, as well as in brass bands in different towns in the
States.