TILE METTRAY EONS IN ACTION.
_London, 19th June 1856.
Sia—At this moment, when so much of public attention is directed to the subject of Reformatory Schools for young offenders, it seems to me that in- terest will be felt in the following narrative of the services rendered to the inhabitants of Tours, during the recent inundations, by a detachment of boys from the colony of Mettray, the principal establishment of the kind in France, founded sixteen years ago by M. De Metz. It is an extract from a private letter, received a few days ago from M. Verdier, well known for his zealous cooperation in the objects of the colony, evinced in the patronage of the boys after they have quitted it for the active duties of life.
" I will not endeavour to give you a description of the disasters caused by the inundations under -which France is now suffering, or of the touching scenes to which they have given rise. These have been already fully de- scribed in the newspapers. Our colonists of Mettray have earned their page in this history of desolation and of devotedness. You would hardly believe with what ardour, with what courage, these boys encountered the dangers to which they have been exposed. One of the most perilous posts was as- signed to them, and they maintained themselves in it with undaunted reso- lution. They had to defend what is called r the head of the town'—that is to say, they had to sustain the dikes which protect Tours against the threatened invasion of the Loire and the Cher. For forty-eight hours they were at their post to the number of three hundred, having no other shelter than the canopy of heaven, and all working with a degree of vigour which would have done honour to men. From the example of their excellent chiefs they derived strength to put in practice the principles which edu- cation has implanted, and which increase in their hearts from day to day. Their youth and agility enabled them to do wonders. The waters of the Loire having 'burst their banks, united themselves to those of the Cher, pro- ducing a frightful gulf which threatened the destruction of a part of the town.. Our boys, with unparalleled alacrity, filled with earth the bags de- signed to arrest the raging waters, ran off with them to the most dangerous places ; sometimes forming embankments, sometimes filling- in the holes which were being hollowed out in the dikes by the liberated flood. In short, it was due to their effiirts that the prin- cipal dike was not broken through. They were more fortunate in es- caping injury than a poor man (Fri re de la Doctrine Chretienne) who was working with them. This man, after giving an example of devotion and courage almost superhuman, was all at once over- balanced by the weight of a bag of earth which he was throwing into the impetuous torrent, and perished a victim of his heroism ! Happily we had no similar calamity to deplore. All our boys returned punctually to the call of the trumpet ; not a single individual thought of availing himself of the opportunity of escape afforded by the general confusion. Every one of them felt that he had been brought to work, and executed nobly what he had undertaken. Meat and wine had been prepared to sustain the strength of the workmen. Our colonists refused all food but what came to them from the colony, with the single exception of wine at the rate of a bottle to every eight boys The colony has now resumed its normal condition and its ordinary labour, and has had the satisfaction of rendering services of other kinds to the victims of the inundation. A reserve of vegetables and grain has been presented to the sufferers for recropping the land left by thnretiring water. Besides this, there have been received at the colony more than a hundred horses, chiefly belonging to the garrison of Tours ; it has been the place Of refuge for the soldiers and officers of the garrison, as well as for the pupils and professors of the college. It has also been the asylum of many unfortunates possessing no longer any place to call their own. All our masters have distinguished themselves on the occasion ; their wives too have devoted themselves to rendering assistance to the unfortunate. You know our teacher of 'navigation, a sailor, the chief of one of the families : he was appointed to organize the service of the life-boat in the flooded parts of the town ; in short, every one has laboured in the cause heartily and disin- teiestedly. Monsieur De Metz was overjoyed to Bee so much good effected by his =boys. You know well his devotedness to them. It was indeed a great joy, a gratifying reward to him, to see these poor boys, who had been looked upon with -despa.despairby others, redeeming themselves so brilliantly, and regaining that position in society which ought to be enjoyed by all who imbibe good principles and know how to profit by them. At this moment more than -at any previous time our boys are accepted by public opinion. For my own part, I find the utmost consolation in the reflection that these boys, who have deserved so well of their country, have not been branded by its-laws. You- are well- aware that they have never undergone condemna- tion. The Courts, in consideration of their youth have declared their of- fences committed without discernment, and have accordingly acquitted them ordering, however, that they should be detained in the Manion de Correction, which you call the Reformatory School. Thus, the services rendered ,to us in the midst of our calamities have not been received from a condemned criminal. We can bless our benefactor without regret and without mental reservation. We are not obliged to say, ' What a pity he should have commenced life by a condemnation !' It is the condemnation that brands the individual. I can assure you that it was with anguish of heart that I learned that your young offenders must inevitably undergo condemnation before they can be admitted into Reformatory schools."