Reading Matter For The Boys

Ann Arbor, Oct. 18, 1902.

Editor Argus - During the past year I have been sending reading matter to the Reformatory at Ionia. There are several hundred men and boys in this institution, the youngest 15 and the oldest 78, but the great bulk are between 15 and 20 years of age.

This reading matter has been greatly appreciated as letters from the inmates very clearly indicate. But a plea has been made to me for more reading matter suitable for boys of this age. These boys, many of them, have had no instruction, no parental care and in this institution are having the first opportunity of their lives for education.

One of the inmates says in a letter, "I was pleased a few days since when one of my 'boys' (he is 32 years old) after writing his spelling lesson, handed me his slate saying, 'Look at that, twenty words and every one of them spelled right.' The boys in my class are hard at work now writing their first essays. We have just finished the History of the Revolutionary War and I have assigned them different subjects connected with that history. Their efforts would be amusing if they were not so pathetic. They are trying very hard and I would be glad if more reading matter could be sent them to interest them in better things."

I am preparing to send another box of reading matter and if there are any who have back numbers of the Youth's Companion or other books and magazines suited to the needs of this class of readers I would be very glad to include them with my donation. Such literature can be brought to my residence any time within the next two weeks.

Dr. Mary Wood-Allen,

1317 Washtenaw avenue, Ann Arbor, Mich.