They know perfectly well the disaster that attends the needless imprisonment of boys, and it worries them.

They treat the boys very kindly, all honour to them! But even kindness to young prisoners has its dangers, and every governor is able to tell of the constant return of youthful prisoners.
I do not like the "birch" or corporal punishment at all.

I do not advocate it, but I am certain that the demoralising effect of a few' days' imprisonment is far in excess of the demoralisation that follows a reasonable application of the birch.
But the birch cannot be applied to lads over fourteen years of age, so it would be well to abolish it altogether, except in special cases, and for these the age might with advantage be extended.

And, after all, imprisonment itself is physical punishment and a continued assault upon the body.

But why imprison at all for such cases?
We talk about imprisonment for debt; this is imprisonment for debt with a vengeance.
Look! two lads are charged with one offence or two similar offences; one boy is from the upperworld, the other from below the line.