When I visited Bielefeld, in December, 1894, the colony was a flourishing institution. There were about 1,400 epileptics. In the Massachusetts colony, and I think in the Craig colony also, they do not take the violent insane, nor the criminal, nor the inebriate; but my recollection is that, at Bielefeld, they took all persons who were epileptic. Unfortunately, the wife of Pastor von Bodelschwing had died a few days before I arrived, and I was unable to see him, but I met Pastor Stürmer, who had charge of the epileptic colony proper, and from him I received all the information necessary. From what I saw of the work and from the contact I had with that remarkable man I received inspiration enough to last me as long as I live.

At Bielefeld they have also a large community of tramps and alcoholics. The scope of the colony is much greater than simply the care of epileptics. All the various trades are represented, those of each trade being grouped together in a cottage. There are carpenters, masons, tailors, brickmakers, bricklayers and bakers. The bakers' cottage is called the "House of Bethlehem," certainly a very appropriate name. In those homes there is what is called a "house father," and he with his wife oversees the residents or the patients living in his particular cottage. He is also called a deacon, and there are subdeacons who sleep in the dormitories and act as foremen in the workshops. It is most interesting, in passing through these buildings, to see the earnestness and the kindly spirit which is manifested everywhere. Of course, many of these cottages do not pay; but some of them do. The stamp industry attracted my attention, and much pleased me. They told me that they realized about a thousand dollars a year from it.

The epileptic colony at Bielefeld has taken a strong hold in Germany. It has touched the great German heart. The people, from peasant to nobility, give their pennies and their pounds to help forward this work. This instance was related: One poor German woman could give no money, but she saved all the corks she found. After a while she had her attic full of corks, and wrote to the pastor: "I can't give anything, I haven't anything to give, but I have an attic full of corks." The corks were used in the large linoleum factory there, and a considerable sum of money was realized. Everything that can possibly be transformed into money is sent, taken care of, and finally sold.

Life in Bielefeld is very simple. The church is one of the strong features of the town. Twice on Sabbath they have their meetings, to which the patients love to go.

If a patient has an epileptic attack during service, he is taken by attendants and other patients to one of the two little rooms on either side of the church, where he remains until the fit passes. The kindness of one patient to another, as has been referred to in the report, is perfectly beautiful. They exhibit to one another the same care and attention that a sister has for a younger brother.

There are patients at Bielefeld from all parts of the world. There were some from Minnesota, and I think from almost every state of the Union. There is no reason why Minnesota should not have a colony of this sort, where patients might go for treatment and care; not only those who from necessity must be the wards of the state, but those who can afford to pay for care, and who want freedom from the anxiety and strain of life.

Up among the trees, where it can hardly be seen there is an insane asylum, there is also an imbecile asylum, imbecility due to epilepsy. I shall never forget the impression this asylum made upon my mind. It was one of the most pitiable sights I have ever seen.

Now, as to their care of epileptics. I am not a therapeutic nihilist. I fully believe in medicine, but I also believe in using all the constructive and reconstructive forces of nature, and that is the theory upon which they do their work at Bielefeld. They bring everything pleasant possible into the life of the individual. They surround him with kindly influences; they keep him out of doors as much as possible; he has something to take up his mind. so that it does not corrode itself and react and interact upon itself. The food is simple, milk entering largely into their diet. The only medicine given is

bromide of potash of a very pure quality. The percentage of adulteration in the bromide of potash made at Bielefeld is one-fourth of one per cent. An immense quantity of the pure drug is sent out without cost all over Germany and all over the world. One-half ton is made every month, of which three hundredweight is used in the colony itself.

Now, from this colony at Bielefeld, which was really the offspring of a divine altruism,-from this one focus has arisen the different colonies found in various quarters of the world. There is one a short distance from London, and you have already been told of those in this country. You cannot conceive of the value of this kind of care for this class of individuals, and I certainly hope that as the result of the work of your.committee this matter may be brought so forcibly before the legislature, that these poor sufferers may receive the care and attention they so sadly need. Were you in my position, were you to receive the letters I receive asking if there is some place to which they could go; were you in Dr. Rogers' position, receiving letters asking what to do, or if he could not receive them, you would feel deeply interested in this matter. These people themselves have learned that there is a better way, that there is a chance for them to enjoy a fairly com fortable life,

PRESIDEST FOLWELL: I felt sure in saying to you that this was one of the most interesting institutions in the world. There is, of course, not time to discuss this paper to-night, but we will wait a moment if there is any lady or gentleman that wishes to be heard. If there be no discussion the chair desires to allow Dr. Rogers an opportunity for explaining a chart or a map which you may have seen on the wall on the left of the stage. This subject of care for epileptics is perhaps the most important matter which has come before this conference, and if the doctor can take a few minutes and explain that map to us and make other remarks, I think our time will be well spent. DR. ROGERS, Faribault, then exhibited to the conference a large map of the grounds of the Craig Colony, and said: This is a hasty sketch which was gotten up yesterday to illustrate the arrangement of the buildings. One of the features is that the men are on this side of a deep ravine, with this greek flowing through. The banks are stony and precipitous. The women are on the other side. The only means of communication is by this little pathway and bridge. The farmstead group are all arranged over here, so as to bring all the barns and everything pertaining to the farm life entirely away from the center. The railway communication is very good. Here is one railroad running through the grounds and another over here (pointing on the map), with men stationed at this point here. The station agent gives his time particularly to the interests of this colony. Here is the administration building, and here is the hospital building, and here are the other buildings. The whole tract comprises 968 acres of land, of which about 600 acres are primeval forest. Up here is a clay territory that is used now for brickmaking. Here is the lake which furnishes a portion of the water supply. The water tower occupies the highest point of ground, which is here. At the time I visited the colony there were about 575 inmates. One of the pretty things, to my taste, is the nomenclature. Each of the buildings is named after a flower, that is, the buildings in this group; this is the Villa Flora group. The plan is to extend the rows of cottages as shown here. These will be more especially for private patients. Over here the buildings are all named after the Indian tribes and nations. This group here was named after Mr. Letchworth, who was one of the active men in the organization of the colony. A great many things I would like to tell you about, but I think under the circumstances we had not better take any more time now. This colony is in the town of Sparta, Livingstone county, New York,-38 miles from Rochester. There are some disadvantages even in the possession of some very good things. This railroad, while convenient for transportation, has resulted in the death of four boys who were run over by the cars, although the trains run very slowly through the grounds.

PRESIDENT FOLWELL: It would be a misfortune if the next legislature should not make a beginning of these things for these unfortunate people.

THE PROBATION LAW IN MINNESOTA.

PRESIDENT FOLWELL: The conference will come to order. It was announced that a short time would be given to the matter of the probation system, which was established by the last legislature. The subject was before the conference at its last annual meeting-last but one-and received the endorsement of the conference in a general way. The last legislature passed a law establishing a probation system for the three large cities of the State, and it has been on trial a little over a year in one of the cities. I presume it is understood by all who are present what is the intention of the operation of this law. It is to arrest first offenders and put them cn probation-give them an opportunity of straightening things up without going to prison. I have here a sheet showing statistics under the operation of the probation law in Hennepin, Ramsey and St. Louis counties for the twelve months ending Sept. 1, 1900. The information was kindly furnished by the probation officers of the three cities, and Mr. Cowie has consolidated it. Very briefly, the number of cases brought up in Hennepin county was 349, of which 67 were placed on probation; discharged from probation, 31; revoked, 7; otherwise disposed of 4, and remaining in care of probation officer, 25. There is a table showing the nationality of the persons charged, which is quite interesting. The Americans are in the majority-38; next come the Irish, 27; the Scandinavians, 24; the Germans, 19, and the rest are scattering; 12 Russians, however, among them. Little sneak thieves, I suppose, most of these boys. So far as the State Board of Corrections and Charities is informed, this probation system is working very well, indeed, and promises excellent results. Mr. Holt of Minneapolis wrote me that he finds little difficulty in getting the parents on his side; almost always the parents are delighted to have that law in operation, and they coöperate with him; and he is generally successful, as I presume the other officers also are, in securing the friendship of the boys, and very little trouble has been had in getting reports from the young fellows themselves. They are obliged to report periodically to the probation officers. I see Mr. Withrow of St. Louis county is present. He is the probation officer of that city. Perhaps he can enlighten us a little more, particularly in regard to the operation of the law in that county. Mr. Bingham has not yet come in; he was to be here this morning.

MR. WITHROW, Duluth: I am the executive agent of the Duluth Humane Society, the truant officer for the Duluth public schools, and the probation officer for St. Louis county-the largest county in the great State of Minnesota. I am pretty well acquainted with the juveniles of our city, As probation officer I now have 22 children on probation, 21 boys and 1 girl. Twenty-one are from the city of Duluth, and one from Tower. They have all been paroled for a period of one year. These children are interesting characters, and are among the brightest children of our fair city. If adults can be kept at work on the farm through the day, juveniles ought to be kept night and day without running away, and entirely separate from the paupers. As Gov. Lind stated last night, one of the best preventatives against crime is the compulsory education law when it is strictly enforced.

In my truant work I use a pamphlet with extracts from three statutes, namely, "An act requiring the education of children," Chap. 226, Laws of 1899; "Cruelty toward children," Chap. 96, Laws of 1893; and "An act to

prohibit the use of tobacco by minors in public schools," Chap. 116, Laws of 1897. I do not believe in corporal punishment of criminals, and much less of children in the home or in the school. My experience has shown me that the more a child is punished the more cruel and criminal it becomes. And I also believe that the sooner children are removed from the evil influences of bad homes and placed in the State School at Owatonna or in the Industrial School at Red Wing, the better for the child and the State. I am convinced that the probation law and system as carried out in our county is a success. And if it is a good thing for the mothers and fathers and the girls and boys of St. Louis county, it is a good thing for the children of Winona county and of every county in the State of Minnesota. It is true juveniles may be taken up and prosecuted for petty offenses in our crowded cities that would not be thought of in our villages and farming communities, such as trespassing upon private property, the taking of water melons, fruits and vegetables, but when they are convicted of crime the probation system should be extended to give them the same chance and opportunity to do better, if they will, as is given our boys and girls in St. Louis, Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

I was very much interested in Mr. Randall's paper on the reformation of first offenders. I do not believe in placing children under eighteen years of age in our county jails, a thing seldom done by the district or municipal judges in our city; and yet only last week a bright boy, charged with petty larceny, was committed to our county jail until yesterday. This boy was only fourteen years of age. Owing to the crowded condition of the cells in the male department, this boy was placed with two white women and one colored woman, and, to cap the climax, later an eighteen-year-old insane girl was placed in the same department for thirty-six hours. No one can estimate the injury done this boy in thus placing him in our county jail, which, however, is one of the very best equipped and managed jails in our State. The law says children shall not be kept in our poorhouses, but it seems to me there might be a place of detention at our poor farms where juvenile criminals could be safely kept until disposed of by the courts, leaving no evil effects upon the mind of the child. We are now working our city prisoners at our county poor farm. The system has been in operation less than a month, and yet in that short time several acres have been grubbed and cleared by these

men.

One of my boys is the best in mathematics of any child of his age in the school he attends. The method I pursue is in some way to gain the child's confidence. Last year I gave a supper at our Bethel, about Thanksgiving time, for the truants and children then on probation-not because they were criminals, not with a view of rewarding crime or wrong-doing, but for the purpose of getting them together, having our ministers, judges and business men there to give these children the kind of advice they needed, and at the same time making them feel that someone had an interest in them and their welfare. The best record made by my probationers has been made by the Jews. In my judgment they are a wonderful people.

MR. J. O. BINGHAM, Probation Officer, St. Paul-Mr. President: The law establishing a probation system for juvenile delinquents makes it the duty of the probation officer to represent the interests of all children taken into the courts, either for correction or for protection, and to take an oversight of each

case till it is disposed of by the court. When a child is found guilty of any offense in any county having a probation officer, he may be regularly sentenced, and if the circumstances warrant a reasonable hope for his reformation without removal from home and natural surroundings and without the imposition of punishment, the court may, under the probation law, stay execution of the sentence for a probationary period not exceeding one year, remanding the child during such stay to the supervision of the probation officer. Final disposition will then depend upon the conduct of the child while on probation.

For the purpose of complete cooperation and the fullest opportunity for the probation officer to do the best work, the law should require that the prosecuting officers report to the probation officer all complaints made or pending against children; that the clerks of courts report the issuance of all warrants and citations in juvenile cases; that the police report every juvenile arrest as early as practicable, and always within twenty-four hours after the arrest is made and before the child is taken into court; that the age of each juvenile arrested and taken into court be entered on the court's calendar and made part of the record of the case, and that the Board of County Commissioners report to the probation officer each case of juvenile dependency certified by them to the probate court. Both the criminal and probate judges should also counsel with the probation officer before passing upon any juvenile case. If all this were required by the statute the probation officer would have an advantage and aid to successful work not to be had through voluntary recognition and coöperation.

The work of the probation officer is both preventive and corrective. It looks to the enlargement of opportunity for the weak and reformation of character in the wayward. He must be a specialist on the needs of delinquent and dependent children as they stand in relation to public and legal measures for their care and betterment. He is to make investigations for the county commissioners and the judge of probate in cases involving State care of children, and when any child is brought into the probate court to be examined for admission to a State institution, he is to be there to represent the interests both of the child and of the State.

When a juvenile is arrested and tried for an offense, the probation officer should be able to advise the court as to the character, habits and surroundings of the child, so that the court may rule with wise discretion for the best interests of the child and of society.

One element of success in the work of the probation office of Ramsey county seems to be general rather than special, namely, a lessening of the number of juvenile arrests. Old police officers in St. Paul frequently say that not nearly so many children are arrested now as before the probation office was established. This improvement is accomplished partly through the weeding out of vagrant and vicious children from the community, while the wholesome object lesson is shown in some cases, that "The way of the transgressor is hard."

In the past ten months I have returned eight vagrant boys to their homes in other cities and four to institutions of which they were wards, one of these institutions being the government school at Morris, Minn.; the other three were State reform schools in other States. Two vagrant boys from remote States and one from Canada were on my recommendation committed to