«. a». George Junior Republic^ 44 DotMng without labor/' " He who helps a child helps humanity with a distinctness, with an immediateness, which no other help given to human creatures in any other stage of their human life can possibly give again." — Phillips Brooks. " I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fel- low-creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." — Edward Courtnay \ Earl of Devonshire. THE GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC ASSOCIATION ^TRotbing witbout labor." JULY, 1899, PRESS OF JAS. W. Durrouqhs, AUSCJRN, N. Y. C1K ftum 3tmfor Republic Association* President, Thomas M. Osborne, Auburn, N. Y. Vice-President, Jacob F. Miller, 120 Broad- way, New York City. Treastcrer, A. G. Agnew, 7 Nassau St., New York City. Secretary, John F. George, Tribune Building, New York City. Terms expiring November, iSgg. A. G. Agnew, New York. E. M. Foote, M. D., New York. Gerritt S. Miller, Peterboro, N. Y. Terms expiring November, iqoo. Jacob F. Miller, New York. Thomas M. Osborne, Auburn, N. Y. R. Montgomery Schell, New York. Terms expiring November, iqoi. John F. George, New York. V. Everit Macy, New York. F. W. Richardson, Auburn, N. Y. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. T. M. Osborne, Auburn. W. R. George, Freeville. Prof. J. W. Jenks, Ithaca. G. S. Miller, Peterboro. F. W. Richardson, Auburn. EMPLOYEES OF THE ASSOCIATION AT FREEVILLE. Superintendent, - W. R. George. Ass't Superintendent, W. E. Hotchkiss. Housekeeper, - Mrs. S. E. Thompson. OFFICERS. TRUSTEES. Farmers, Teachers, - F. M. Cockburn.. H. J. Couper. W. C. Rogers. Miss Virginia Schmelz,. Carpenter, E. F. George. TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. Location of the Republic, - 5 II. The Association, Trustees, etc., 5 III. Aim of the Republic, - - 6 IV. What Classes of Children go to the Republic? 6 V. Age of Children, - - -7 VI. Applications for Admission, - 7 VII. Length of Stay, - - - a VIII. Accommodations, 8 IX. Runaways, - - 9 X. Work Done, - - - 10 XI. Lessons Taught, - - 12 XII. System of Government, - 12 XIII. Religion, - - - - 14 XIV. What Becomes of the Citizens? 14 XV. Visitors, - - - 16 XVI. Brief History of the Republic, - 16 XVII. Finances of the Association. - 18 XVIII. Woman's Aid, - - - i 9 XIX. Appeal for Funds, - - iq XX. The Store, - - - 20 XXI. The Citizen, - - - 20 XXII. New Republics, - - - 20 XXIII. Treasurer's Report, - - 23 XXIV. Work on the Farm, - - 25 XXV. Some Opinions of the Republic, 27 Ok George junior Republic. I. Location of the Republic. The George Junior Republic is situated near Freeville, Tompkins Co., N. Y. Freeville is the junction of the Auburn-Sayre and the Elmira-Cortland branches of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It can he reached from the line of the New York Central Railroad by changing at Auburn or Canastota. II, The Association, Trustees, Etc. The George Junior Republic Association, which supports and carries on the Republic, is duly incorporated under the Membership Cor- poration Law of New York State. It owns the buildings and a farm of fifty acres. At present it leases, also, another farm of about the same area, just across the high road from the Republic. Any one who pays $5 can become a member of the Association for a year. There are also sustaining memberships at $25 a year, and life memberships at $250. The Board of Trustees, one-third of which is elected each year by the Association, meets quarterly ; and delegates its authority in the intervals to an Executive Committee, which meets monthly at the Republic. The full Board of Trustees meets once a year at the Republic. There is no support of the Republic by the state. Except for tuition fees paid by such parents or friends of the citizens as can afford it, the whole expense is borne by voluntary 5 contributions. The Treasurer's report for the year 1897-8 will be found upon page 23. HI. Aim of the Republic. The Junior Republic is an attempt to dimin- ish pauperism and crime, by instilling into neg- lected children lessons of morality, responsibil- ity and self-control. These lessons are taught in such a way that the children see or learn by experience the inevitable results of laziness, dis- order and disobedience of moral laws. That they may learn these lessons as naturally as possible, and in a way to make them most use- ful in after life, the children are allowed to form a system of society of their own, modeled so far as possible upon the great Republic in which they will ultimately become citizens, and the largest practicable measure of self-govern- ment is allowed them. The result is not by any means an ideal state ; yet it is believed that under this system each child receives just the treatment which its case demands, and that the lessons learned are ex- actly in line with the experiences which it will meetin mature life.* It is in this that the Junior Republic is so radically different from any re- form school or other institution. IV. What classes of children go to the Republic ? It is not intended to make of the Republic a penal institution ; and at present the courts can not commit a child there except under suspend- ed sentence. There may be said to be three *See the remarks of Pres. C. W. Eliot, of Harvard University, on page 27. 6 classes of children for whom the Republic is especially intended : 1. Those who have already started, through inheritance, environment, or a mere desire for mischief, upon a criminal career. 2. Those who, from force of circumstances, or character, show a tendency to become crim- inals. 3. Those who are without friends or caretak- ers to see that they have proper training and education. It is not intended to confine the citizenship of the Junior Republic to children of New York State. At present it has citizens from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois. It has had citizens from other states, and had at one time three from Cuba. V. Age of Children. The regular limits of citizenship in the Jun- ior Republic are twelve to eighteen years. The Trustees do not care to receive new children after they have passed the age of sixteen. On the other hand, children under twelve may be received, when it seems advisable, under a sys- tem of guardianship by the elder children. It is important to send a child to the Republic while it is young and its nature still plastic. Both boys and girls are received as citizens. VI. Applications for Admission. Applications for admission of children to the Republic should be addressed to the George Junior Republic, Freeville, N. Y. All details 7 of fees charged and conditions of admission can be learned by application there. Residence at the Republic includes schooling, as under the law of the state every child under sixteen must attend school, except that children above four- teen may remain out of school if they have reg- ular work. It is desired that nothing in the way of clothes or other property should be sent directly to the citizens, as according to the sys- tem of the Republic every one should do some work for everything he receives. Gifts may be sent to the Republic, and will be placed on sale at the store. VII. Length of Stay. It is extremely desirable that no limit to the child's stay shall be fixed by parents or friends. It is impossible to tell how soon the lessons taught at the Republic will be thoroughly learned. The time varies with different na- tures, and no child should be removed until its moral nature has been strengthened and devel- oped to the point where it can be safely trusted to face the world. Detention at the Junior Re- public is not a penalty, — it is a privilege ; for there the child can be taught the essential les- sons of life. VIII. Accommodations at the Republic. At present (July, i8gg) there are nine build- ings at the Republic, besides the bath house and laundry building in the course of erection. These are as follows : i. The house in which Mr. George has been living, and which is soon to be turned into the 8 business office and rooms for the use of the Association. 2. The "Republic" building, containing on the first floor, kitchen, two restaurants and the Wm. F. Miller Library ; on the second floor, the Re- public Hotel (first-class); and on the third floor the " Garoot" Lodging House (third class). 3. The School house, upon the first floor of which are the bank and the store. 4. The court house, jail, prison, Capitol room and post office, with the "Waldorf" Hotel (second class) upon the upper floor. 5. The new Carter Cottage, in which are the pleasantest and highest priced rooms for boys. 6. The Rockefeller Cottage for the girls. 7. The Hospital. 8. The Barn. 9. Tool house, carpenter and machine shop. The accommodations are of the simplest des- cription, and it is intended to keep them so. What is desired is to accustom the citizens to a clean, healthy and simple mode of living. IX. Runaways. It is often asked how children are kept at the Republic. The children are citizens only inside the boundaries of the little state. Outside of that the Superintendent stands in loco par- entis, with the same power of enforcing rules as is held by the Master of a boarding school. The children are allowed out of bounds under suitable restrictions, a citizen in good standing readily obtaining the privilege. Runaways oc- cur, but are confined to two classes : new ar- rivals who are homesick, and those who break 9 the laws of the Republic and run away in the endeavor to escape punishment. As the citizens see the "deserters" found, brought back, and sentenced to prision by the Republic courts, the outlook for those who wish to leave "by the back door" is not encouraging. The great majority of the citizens are happy and content- ed, and enjoy life with a zest very stimulating to witness. Ex-citizens, when in trouble, turn to the Republic as a home, and those who are working eslewhere take every opportunity of re- turning to Freeville for a day, with " Daddy" and the boys. X. "Work Done. The motto of the Republic is " Nothing with- out labor " and it is intended to be fully carried out. The Republic has a tin currency of its own and the citizens are paid for all work done. Nothing is gratuitous. " 'Tis heaven alone that is given away." For board and lodgings the citizens must pay ; and only for money the clothes and lux- uries in the store can be had. If a citizen will not work he must go hungry until he does. He is not deprived of food; but if by idleness he deprives himself of food he has only himself to blame. There are various kinds of work. i. School. This is obligatory for all but the elder children. In order to carry out the idea of self-support, wages are paid the scholars in accordance with the grade and excellence of their work. 10 2. Farming. At present the most efficient work at the Republic is done on the farm : and it is well this is so, for it is especially desirable to draw the interest of the citizens away from the cities. Under the guidance of an experien- ced and educated farmer the citizens have trans- formed the land of the Republic until it is re- cognized as the best-looking farm in the vicini- ty of Freeville. The farmers' report will be found on page 25. j. Carpentering, painting, etc. In the con- struction and finishing of new buildings as much use as practicable is made of the labor of the larger boys. The necessity for immediate use, however, has made it desirable to press the building work forward at all possible speed, and prevented the use of much of the boys' labor that could otherwise have been utilized. 4. Shoemaking. This industry has been tried very successfully in the past and is to be re-es- tablished in the near future. 3. Domestic Service. The care of the hotels and cottages, the running of the restaurants and kitchen, the ordinary housekeeping of the Republic, occupy much time and labor, espec- ially of the girls. 6. Care of the place. In addition to the work within doors there is always much outside work, the care of the grounds, the shovelling of snow, the digging of ditches in spring and the extra farm work in summer furnish always work enough to do. 1 1 XI. Lessons Taught. < i. The necessity and dignity of work. Ev- ery citizen of the Republic must work, for upon work depends his ability to feed, lodge and clothe himself. As has already been said, nothing is given away. He will soon find also that upon his work depends his standing in the community. 2. Obedience to Law. As every citizen helps to make the laws, every citizen has a pride in maintaining and enforcing them. As every citizen is guarding his own possessions and his own government, the breaker of law offends him personally. As every citizen is taxed for the support of government, he finds that paup- erism and crime are expensive. Much is learned of the essential nature and reason of law. 3. Self-government; Responsibilities of Cit~ zzanship. Every citizen learns something of the value of self-government. He learns to love liberty, but not to abuse it. He gains an idea of the responsibilities of the suffrage. By actual experience he learns the public trust in- volved in public office. The learning of these three important lessons is accompanied by a development of the moral nature no less important. Honesty, frankness, self-reliance, cleanness of speeeh, — these, as is shown by actual experience, are developed to a remarkable extent. XII. System of Government. The form of government at the Republic has varied from time to time according to the needs and circumstances of the state. The main idea 12 is that upon the citizens shall be placed, as far* as possible, the responsibility of carrying out the whole system of society. The community must be self-governing. Nothing shall save tine" children from paying the natural penalties for their own foolishness or misconduct. It is be- lieved that children are made ready for adult life, neither by being shielded from the conse- quences of folly or crime, nor yet through pun- ishment by imprisonment in a place where the essential elements of natural human society are wanting. Mr. George, as Superintendent of the Repub- lic, stands ready to use his authority if neces- sary, but the success of the Republic depends upon his using that authority as little as possi- ble ; sometimes, for instance, letting a bad of foolish law go into operation, rather than inter- fering to stop the lesson of experience. At present Mr. George acts as President of the Republic. There is no Senate nor House of Representatives, legislation being done in town-meeting. This arose from the fact that the community was so small that a system of delegated authority became cumbersome, and at the suggestion of one of the citizens the town-meeting was adopted. Cabinet officers are elected by the citizens. Judges, Board of Health and Police Commis- sioners are appointed by the President. Guard- ians for minors, — all children under twelve, — are appointed by the Court. The adult employees of the Association are not expected to exert any authority, except such as belongs to their positions as employers of 13 iabor. The farmer, for instance, employs some of the citizens on the farm, and can hire or dis- charge at his will. His remedy for any offense lies, like that of any other citizen, in an appeal to the Courts. The Executive Committee of the Trustees forms the Supreme Court of the Republic. To this Court any case may be appealed from the Courts of the Republic ; and it also has original jurisdiction in any suit brought against an em- ployee of the Association. XIII. Religion. There is a Methodist church at Freeville at which the citizens are welcomed. Religious services are also held at the Republic on Sun- day, and prayer meetings frequently on Thurs- day evenings. While the aim is to hold the Republic strictly non-sectarian, effort is made to arouse in the citizens a deep and true relig- ious feeling. It is the intention of the Trustees to invite min- isters of different denominations to preach to the citizens, and to have in time a more fully de- veloped and organized religious life ; but to do this, some suitable place of public worship is practically a necessity. A simple, but artistic, chapel is one of the most urgent needs of the Republic. XIV. What Becomes of the Citizens? This question is frequently asked, but it is as yet rather early to give a full and complete an- swer. The Republic as a permanent institution & still young, and but few of its graduates are 14 grown to manhood and womanhood. Enough has been done, however, to justify the belief in the great efficiency of its work. Many children who were growing up to a life of idleness, vi- ciousness and crime have been reclaimed, and are earning an honest livelihood. Of perma- nent citizens who have left the Republic, not one has as yet been arrested, and the major- ity are doing more than well. Of the "summer citizens " it can safely be said that much good resulted ; but as they were, upon their return to the city, absorbed in their old environment, it is not possible to give full and accurate statistics. The future of the citizens resolves itself quite naturally into five possible courses. 1. Domestic service for the girls. 2. Farm work, — for which the excellent work done on the Republic farm is an admir- able preparation. 3. Factory work. One of the Trustees is head of a large manufacturing concern in a neighboring city, and here a number of the boys are already working. 4. College. Three of the boys are preparing for college, and will enter within a year. These are exceptional cases, however. How far it is well to encourage a desire for higher education cannot be determined in advance. It depends entirely upon the individual cases. 5. There is a fifth division of future work which is interesting to consider. Many of the citizens take a strong personal interest in the success of the Republic, and are anxious to de- vote their future life to work of a similar char- acter. Surely no greater proof of the effect of 15 the Republic upon the hearts and minds of the children could be desired. XV. Visitors. Visitors are always welcome at the Republic. There are no rules as to hours, and there are no barriers about the grounds. Shaver's Hotel in Freeville gives excellent accomodations to those who wish to stay more than the day ; while Auburn, Cortland or Ithaca can be comfortably made the base of operations. XVI. A Brief History of the Republic. The idea of the Republic did not spring full blown into being. Like most great mechanical inventions it came into existence by a process of evolution and elimination, each step being put into practice to meet actual conditions, — not evolved theoretically from the imagination of its founder. In 1890 W. R. George, who had spent his boyhood on a farm at West Dryden, a small hamlet near Freeville, and who was then inter- ested in charitable and reform work in New York City, determined to take some of the neg- lected children of the slums to the country for a summer's outing. The plan was in the nature of the Tribune fresh air work. Some of the children were taken by the various farmers' families, — friends and relatives of Mr. George \ while nearly half were assembled in one house under the direct care of Mr. George himself. The next year tents were provided, and 211 children roamed the^country^for four weeks. An obvious difficulty.arose : The farmers de- 16 manded protection against the lawless little- visitors from the city. There was a necessity for control. Moreover a strong tendency to pauper- ism showed itself ; the children were receiving food and gifts of clothing, which they soon de- manded as a right. So these things led, firsts to a system of punishment (the gang), and second, to the cardinal doctrine of the Republic- (" Nothing without labor "). Finding by actual experience the existence of a keen sense of jus- tice, and seeing the advantage of retiring from his self-appointed position of arbitrary dispens- er of punishment, Mr. George established a jury. Then it was discovered that the boys made bet- ter policemen and keepers than the elders. Finally, late in the fall of 1894, when focuss- ing the results of that and previous years' ex- perience, Mr. George was suddenly struck with the plan toward which he had long been uncon- sciously groping, — a Junior Republic. So m the summer of 1895 the experiment was- put into practice with 144 citizens, who remain- ed for the summer only. When this large com- pany returned to New York the 1st of Septem- ber, Mr. George and five boys remained at Freeville with the direct idea of being pioneers of a permanent Junior Republic, — no longer a- Republic for summer alone. The numbers have increased normally from that time to the present. During the summer months of '96 and '97 companies of boys and girls were brought to the Junior Republic for the months of July and August. Since that time the summer feature has been abandoned, partly through lack of funds and partly through* the grewth of a belief that the temporary camp work was far less satisfactory and much more expensive than the permanent work ; and the Republic is now a permanent all-the-year-round home for children, an institution founded on belief in the healthfulness of the child's nature and trust in the human supplement of that di- vine love which inspired the great Teacher. ' ' Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." XVII. Finances. As has been already stated, the Junior Repub- lic receives no financial help from the state. Except for the small amount received for the care of such children as parents or friends can afford to pay for, the cost of running the Re- public is borne entirely by voluntary subscrip- tions. The plan of the trustees is to enlarge the As- sociation until the fees of the members are suf- ficient to pay the running expenses of the Re- public. Then all special gifts of money could be put into an endowment fund, or utilized in enlarging and improving the plant. A new Court House and Prison is badly needed ; a Chapel is greatly desired ; while a number of cottages and workshops should be added as fast as the finances permit. At present (July, 1S99 ) the finishing touches are being put to the Car- ter Cottage and the Hospital, while the long- desired Bath-house and Laundry building is well under way, and the plans for the summer's building operations include a Barn, Dairy and Shoeshop. i3 XVIH. Woman's Aid. There has recently been started in New York City, a " Woman's Aid." the general object of which is to enlarge the membership of the As- sociation, to spread the interest in the Repub- lic and to aid in every way its growth and development. It is desirable to have branches of the Woman's Aid in various cities where sufficient interest in the Republic can be stimu- lated. The officers of the New York Woman's Aid are as follows : President, Mrs. Charles S. Fairchild. Vice- Presidents: Mrs. L. P. Morton, Mrs. John Markoe, Mrs. L. D. Bulkley, Mrs. John Wells, Mrs. Henry Burden, Mrs. Edward Oothout, Miss Damon, Miss C. H. Patterson, Miss Van Santvoord. Secretary and Treasurer: Miss Edith Hamilton White, 210 West 59th Street. The fees are $2 a year. XIX. Appeal for Funds. The Republic is in need of every dollar that generous believers in Mr. George's system can spare for its support. New buildings, especi- ally cottages, are needed. Old buildings must be rebuilt. Cash for running expenses is an imperative necessity. It is hoped that an en- dowment fund may eventually be secured. It is especially desired that the number of regular and sustaining members be increased. 19 XX, The Store. Contributions aie asked of materials, cloth- ing, or any household articles of use or orna- ment. All goods are put on sale at the Repub- lic store, payment being made in the tin money of the Republic, and become the property of those citizens who can afford to buy them. XXI. The " Citizen." An especial appeal is made for subscribers to T/te Citizen, — the little monthly paper edited and largely written by the citizens. At present it is published, but not printed, at the Republic. In its columns will be found a complete record of cases in court, a monthly census, various articles contributed by the citizens, and other matters of interest to those who care for the Junior Republic. Subscriptions, fifty cents a year. Advertisements are also solicited. Anyone who sends in a six months advertisement will receive the paper free for that length of time. XXII. New Republics. So much interest has been aroused in various communities that new Republics are frequently suggested, and in some instances have taken tangible form. It seems advisable, therefore, to say a few frank words about the starting of new Republics. The Trustees and Mr. George are at present strongly opposed thereto for the following reasons : I. There do not as yet seem to be enough people who are sufficiently interested in this plan of children's reformation to make even one 20 fully equipped institution. The George Junior Republic has barely succeeded in keeping alive during the brief years of its existence : it has suffered and still suffers from lack of funds. There has never been a time in its history when there was enough money in its treasury to car- ry it beyond the current month, and frequently not even that. Only the most enthusiastic be- lief in his experiment and supreme faith in its ultimate success have ever carried its founder through his many seasons of sacrifice and dis- couragement. It seems, therefore, hardly fair to divert the support needed at the original Re- public into other channels. 2. Especially does this policy seem short- sighted when it is considered that there is still much uncertainty among those who may be called experts in charitable and reformatory work, as to the wisdom of the Republic's methods. Many of those whose lives have been spent in attempting to solve the problems of youthful vice and crime are still unconvinced by the Republic. That this arises usually from lack of knowledge of its basic principles, does not alter the facts. Moreover, it is true that the present Republic is but a very crude and imperfect embodiment of Mr. George's ideas. The wonder often is that such surprising results are gained with such incomplete macnin- ery. It is thus very essential that the George Junior Republic should be sustained and set upon a sound basis, in order that its principles can be given a thorough and complete test to prove their value. 3. To establish Republics before those prin- 21 ciples have been thoroughly studied and the results followed out to the end might lead to very grave disaster. A failure would inevitably react upon the original Junior Republic and the whole system be endangered. Very much depends upon the one in charge. There should be at the head of every Republic a man of singular self-control, faith in the essential healthiness of a child's nature, endless patience, capacity for attracting children, and a keen sense of humor ; a combination not easily found ■ Morever, even such a man ought not to attempt to manage a Republic without first making a long and careful study of the George Republic ; a study of its weak as well as of its strong points. For these reasons the Trustees venture to suggest that before starting new Junior Re- publics, the friends and believers in Mr. George's methods should see to it that we have one Re- public fully equipped and, so far as possible, perfected, not only as an end in itself but as a model for future Republics. For a very small proportion of the investment incurred in start- ing a new Republic a cottage could be built and filled with citizens. These latter might some day form valuable aids in starting new Repub- lics in the state from which they come, when the proper time arrives. The Trustees feel that ultimately there can hardly be too many Junior Republics ; but in so radical a departure from old methods it is wise to make haste slow- ly, and not invite failure by hasty and rash ex- periments. 22 XXIII. Treasurer's Report* Report to State Board of Charities up to September 30TH, 1898. Value of the real estate, including buildings, fixtures, furniture and all appurtenances $7,000.00 Indebtedness of the institution (Loan), 750.00 Receipts and expenditures of the institution for the fiscal year ending September joth, i8q8. Cash on hand October 1st, 1897, $ 1,958.65 From individuals for the support of inmates 891.36 From membership fees 810.00 From entertainments, benefits, etc., 1,615.89 From donations and voluntary con- tributions 5,338.35 From loans 750.00 From all other sources 99-59 Total receipts, including cash on hand Oct. 1, 1897, $11,463.82 Expended during the year ending September jo, /SgS. For indebtedness existing Oct.i, 1897, $ 1,500.00 For rent 45.00 For salaries of officers 1,180.00* For wages and labor on improvem'ts, 1 ,198.95 For services of collectors in soliciting funds 737.42- For provisions and supplies 2,846.24 For printing, stationery and postage, 159-73 For clothing 36.99- For fuel and lights 135.29 For medicines and medical supplies 10.40 For furniture, beds and bedding 99.46 For ordinary repairs 38.43 For insurance and taxes 108.03. For buildings and improvements 2,306.03. For interest on loans 57.76- For all other purposes 497.90 Total expenditures, $10,957.90 23 Cash on hand September 30th, 1898, $506.19 Indebtedness of the institution Oct. 1st, 1898 $750.00 Number, of Inmates in the Institution October ist, 1898. Boys. Girls. Totals Rec'd from parents or guardians, 21 3 24 Rec'd on their own application, 1 1 Otherwise received, 18 3 21 JL OtdlS, 40 A u 40 Received during the year ending September 30th, 1898. From Darpnts or cniarrHan^ 18 Q 27 Rec'd on their own application, 8 8 Otherwise received, 7 1 8 Totals, 33 10 43 Discharged during the year ending September 30th, 1898. Returned to parents or guardians, 23 7 30 Otherwise discharged, 12 12 Totals, 35 7 42 Number of inmates remaining in the institution Oct. ist, 1898. Rec'd from parents or guardians, 21 6 27 Otherwise received, 17 3 20 Totals, 38 9 47 The average number of inmates during the year was 47. A. G. AGNEW, Treas. New York, Sept. 30, 1898. Examined and audited to October ist, 1898, and I certify that the same was found correct. (Signed) D. Porter Lord, Accountant, New York City. 24 XXTV. Work on the Farm. Report made by F. M. Cockburn,— Farmer, "We began as usual by putting in underdrains- By the time we had put in about 2,000 feet the weather had become settled, and we were obliged to abandon our draining for general farm work. "Our farm crops consist of nine acres of oats,, fifteen of corn, six of potatoes, one and one-half of beans, one-half of pop corn, one and one-half of cabbage, and one of onions, besides a large garden. These crops look well for the most part, though the corn and potatoes on the Bak- er farm are not as good as could be desired. The soil on that farm is in very poor condition, and it will require some years of careful man- agement to restore it. "Besides the putting in and caring for these crops, we have done considerable other outside- work, such as hauling stone, sand, lumber, brick and other building material, digging cel- lars and drains, and grading around buildings, the teams and one man having spent nearly fifty days in this way. This, of course, eats, quite a hole in the showing that we might have made on the farm. "We have now increased our dairy to eight cows, which number should be doubled by another year. As to the work to be done dur- ing the balance of the season, there are, of" course, the crops to be looked after and harvest- ed. The basement is to be dug for the barn, and stone, sand and lumber are to be hauled for it, and for the dairy building and. shoe shop- 25 I should also like to do considerable fall plow- ing and put in as many under drains as possible. "As to the boys, I would say that their inter- est in farm work is even greater than it was last year, and the boys who were broken in on the farm at that time are worth double what they were then. The farm seems to be a most •excellent place to tame them and to teach them what responsibility is. "In summing up, I would say that while many things on the farm are not as they should be, and we have many obstacles to encounter in working so many irresponsible boys, yet, on the whole, things are much better than they were, and perhaps show as much progress as •could be expected under the circumstances. As I look back I can see always an improvement." 26 XXV. Some Opinions of the Republic. President Charles W. Eliot of Harvard Un- iversity. The George Junior Republic is a very inter- esting attempt to work a real reform in boys whose characters have been m arred or lost in the unfavorable environments of our large cities. The reformatory method employed conforms to three of the most fundamental principals in ed- ucation, — principles too often neglected even by persons whose lives are devoted to educa- tional service. The first of these fundamental principles is that the real object in education, so far as the development of character is concerned, is to cultivate in the child a capacity for self-control or self-government, not a habit of submission to an overwhelming, arbitrary, external power, but a habit of obeying the dictates of honor and duty as enforced by active will-power within the child. The second fundamental principle to which the George Junior Republic seems to me to con- form is that in childhood and youth it is of the utmost importance to appeal steadily, and al- most exclusively, to motives which will be oper- ative in after life. In too much of our system- atic education we appeal to motives which we are sure cannot last, to motives which may answer for little children of six, ten, or twelve, but which are entirely inapplicable to boys and girls of fourteen, sixteen, or eighteen. Thus the motive of fear is one of these transitory motives on which organized education in the past has almost exclusively relied ; yet it is well determined by the history of the race that the fear of punishment, whether in this world or the next, is a very ineffective motive with adults. The third fundamental principle in education is Froebel's doctrine that children are best devel- oped through productive activities, — that is, 27 through positive, visible achievement in doing-, making, or producing something. The George Junior Republic enforces produc- tive activity : it appeals steadily to motives in the boys which will serve them when they be- come men ; and it is constantly trying to de- velop in the boyish community the capacity of self-government. Therefore I say it is based on sound educational principles. Prof. Wm. T. B tacksman of Yale University. " It must be said that this is a social experi- ment of extraordinary interest. The pedagog- ical and industrial principles on which it is founded are in the main correct. The scheme is not socialistic or otherwise Utopian ; it rests on a frank acceptance of present conditions. It is an attempt to develop in boys and girls who are gathered from the slums of New York the sense of individual responsibility, industrial in- dependence, thrift, business sagacity, respect for law, acquaintance with the forms and value of civil government, sympathy and patriotism. The attempt seems already to have been made with surprising success. . . . It is likely to prove the most notable effort to prevent vice and crime, and to fashion good citizens out of the most unpromising materials, yet tried among us." Rev. Wm. R. Huntington, Rector of Grace Church, New York city. " Although I have never had the pleasure of personally inspecting the George Junior Re- public, I have for some years past, in fact ever since I first heard of its existence, felt a warm interest in the success of what appears to me a most important venture in the line of the pol- itical education of young Americans." 28 Hon. Charles S. Fairchild, Ex-Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. " I consider the George Junior Republic something which ought to have a most thorough trial. I think it promises very great usefulness in addition to the work that it has already done. It is a method of education in self-support and responsibility towards others which I believe to be of great value." Jacob A. Rizs. "It is an old observation, based upon hard ex- perience, that no effort to better the lot of the poor amounts to much in the long run unless in some way it takes the form of education. The experience in camp that enables a young tough to " figger out " that it " costs more to be bad den good " and starts him off on the other tack, reaches down through all theories and good in- tentions to hard pan, and heads off the jail and the workhouse. It solves the problem of soci- ety as embodied in that tough. Only so will that problem ever be solved — by individual effort, one tough at a time. I believe thoroughly in the plan of the Junior Republic as applied to the slum. I believe in it as a practical effort to fit the boy to the things that are, rather than to such as might be in a millennium neither he nor we will live to see. I believe in it above all as a means of teach- ing the boys what boys most need to-day in our country : respect for law. If our plan of gov- ernment is to endure, that must be the next great issue. It is the contempt for law, which the fellowship of politics and legislation has brought upon us, that makes toughs and, large- ly, slums. Contempt for law is the beginning of barbarism. In the issue with the forces of barbarism the Junior Republic has taken its stand on the side of patriotism and good citi- zenship." 29 Albert Shaw. {Review of Reviews?) Mr George's experience had prepared him for the evolution of the complete idea of his miniature Republic ; and his young common- wealth — destined, as I believe, to take its hon- orable place in the history of education — was duly launched in the summer of 1895. The keynote of the plan introduced by Mr. George is perfect liberty, under a reign of self-imposed law. Of course Mr. George has provided at the outset a certain general framework for the guidance of his little community. The consti- tution of the United States, and our familiar everyday institutions, supply the model upon which the miniature Republic at Freeville pro- ceeds to work out its destinies. * * * The effect of the Republic as regards training in habits of industry and in habits of thrift was truly remarkable. The training in citizenship and political meth- eds was only less valuable than the training in practical thrift and industrial economics. # # * The police methods and the correctional and penal system of the Republic have been worked out in laws enacted by the young people them- selves ; and these laws are literally and ade- quately enforced. One of the most valuable services rendered by the camp has been its demonstration of the fact that its methods are peculiarly adapted to the class of boys that are commonly considered incorrigible, many of whom become the most industrious and influ- ential citizens of the little commonwealth. Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler {The Evangelist.) A most novel and admirable institution. Its benefits are manifold. In the first place, every boy and girl is trained to habits of industry and self-support. The sick are cared for, but no paupers are allowed. In the next place, they 30 are taught the nature and authority of law; and it is a capital training-school in practical citizenship. Best of all, a thorough religious, instruction is imparted, and last winter several of the older boys who spent the winter there- were received into membership with the church at Freeville. If his enterprise continues to succeed and ex- pand, Mr. George will be ranked among the- benefactors of his race and the truly consecrat- ed servants of his Lord and Saviour. Rev. Washington Gladden. {The Outlook.) Self-support as well as self-government is re- quired of these citizens. The moment a boy arrives on the scene he is made aware of the- fact that he must live by his industry. Work is ready for him in the industrial classes, for which he will be paid in the coin of the realm — his wages varying with his fidelity and efficiency, and out of these wages he must pay for his own food and lodging. No one is com- pelled to work except by the compulsion of hia own necessities. If he choose to play ball or to lie upon the grass, that is his privilege ; but. when dinner time comes he must have in his hand the price of his dinner or he will not be- admitted to the restaurant. Possiblv he may borrow of his industrious and thrifty neighbor, but this soon becomes difficult. The govern- ment does not support a pauper class in idleness. One does not wisely pronounce upon the pro- bable outcome of a social experiment as new and as bold as this ; but it is safe to say that Mr. George has seized upon a great idea. I cannot doubt that strong and salutary impres- sions are made upon most of these boys and girls. The great majority of them come from homes in which the habit of dependence is forming, and the sentiment of the submerged tenth, that the world owes them a living, is apt. to prevail. Here they find themselves in a so- ciety which stoutly repvidiates that sentiment*. 31 maintaining that it owes to no citizen anything -more than a fair chance to earn an honest living, and which proposes to deal summarily with him if he refuses to accept that chance. And the •order of things is such that the lazy and extrav- agant must eat the fruit of their own doings ; there is nobody to step in here, as our public ;and private charities are constantly doing, to protect them from the .consequence of their own folly. What they sow they must reap. Those who are diligent and frugal live well, enjoy the respect of their fellow-citizens, accumulate the money of the realm, exchange it for real values, and go home with decent clothes and with food and raiment purchased with their savings for their friends. Those who will not work, or who waste their earnings, sleep much of their time in paupers' beds, are forced to work for their keeping while the rest are at play, and go home at last as ragged as they came, with no recompense in their hands. 32 THE JUNIOR REPUBLIC "YELL". COMPOSED BY THE CITIZENS. Hear ye this ! Down with the boss, Down with the tramp, Down with the pauper, Down with the scamp ; Up with the freeman, Up with the wise, Up with the thrifty, On to the prize ! Who are we ? Why ! we are The citizens of the G. J. R.