REPORT TO BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES, 1884-10-05

BOYS EDUCATIONAL HOME, 49th & Greenway Avenue

1899.45029 p. 118 2 page typewritten report October 5, 1884, Exh. L

A copy of the visitors adverse report on this institution was forwarded for consideration to the Chairman of your committee, Dr. Herbert Howe on October 5th, 1894.

Here is another glaring example of discrepancy between the printed report and the visible fact. An array of good names and self-congratulations and appeal for large contributions in the Report. We found 176 boys [Comment: This number is suspiciously high, MB] from two and a half to almost grown-up men under the charge of two men and two women as officers and three young women teachers. Fifty-six of these boys are Indians, Mohawks, Sioux, and Chippewas. The remainder are “solders’ orphans” and destitutes.

The teaching is a feeble copy of public-school instruction and as yet the pretension of teaching industrial occupations to the Indians is only a pretension. We learned that four are employed in the bakery, four in a shoe shop, where it is doubtful the instruction is above rough cobbling; four in the laundry, and an occasional drudge is employed about the house. These Indian boys, many of whom are grown men, strong and hearty, would learn to speak English more rapidly and learn trades more quickly if out on farms and mingling with the world than they possibly can here where their abounding animal spirits uncurbed by labor or proper exercise, are chiefly occupied in rough play and plagueing the younger ones.

The pretense of everything struck us very unfavorably.

While mottoes concerning order and cleanliness and gentle religious emotions and practices abounded, the house was dirty and disorderly, the children rough and untrained and the care-takers severe in manner and rude in speech.

The dormitories on the second floor were orderly, the beds spread with white, and Bible lying consciously on a table at head of room

But on the third floor, where were ninety beds, the beds were dirty, spreadless and half-made, and no Bible, no attendant. The slatternly servants and the extremely dirty kitchen were a disgrace to a low wharf hotel. The little boys helped wait on the table; went to the kitchen and with their hands plunged into the kettle and brought back piles of potatoes and chucked them to their companions who asked for a second or third helping.

The food served was good and plentiful, but the “report” makes over $21,000 ? ?? last year on house-hold expenses for 151 children.

The Indian boys who have only entered this Fall were fine-looking fellows. Many of them spoke English. They are reported as docile, but why are they her? Poor teaching in the school-room, a sham of industrial training, and most of them getting a training in pauperism by this semi-idle life, with three meals a day and clothes all “found” by the Government, and on their part no return made.

I feel that it is our duty to ask the State Board to thoroughly test the pretensions of this institution.

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• Transcribed by HS 2025-07-27