Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-01-24
A PRISON SCENE.


As ono Of our citizens was recently jour
neyng homeward from the commercial me
tropolis, he stopped, for an hour or two, q
Auburn. Impeled by motives OF curiosity
he repaired to the State Prison, and went th'
usual rounds, with the view of contcmplatln.
IN his slow estate" one whom he had knowl
and moved with in palmy days Of proud anC
golden prosperity, but who was now within
these gloomy walls,a convict ielon,condemn-
cd TO years of slleIt toll, side by side, with
villains ofe every hue Of crime. I'm secluded
part of the immense building, he found the
object of his search attred in the coarse
partcolored convict dress, s,soied and dirty, his
hair cropped closely to his head, and his
small, yet digni6ed form. bent painfully over
his task. Ills couEte nance was deadly pale,
save where, upon each cheek, small deep
hectic spot told the troubled workings in his
unquiet mind, while his unshaven chin, with
n beard of weeks growth, contrasted
stangely with his high marble-!ike forehead,
and altered features, lmpartlng wildness TO
his appearance, which bettted the gloomy
scene around. 1t was Benjamin Rathbun,
the torger. lie was occupied in shaping the
bcechen blocks Of which joiners' planes are
made, and steadily wrought at his new en-
ploymcnt, his delicate hands, unused 10 man
ual labor, plying busily and dexterously the
tools Of his workbench. AS the vlster ga
zed upon the sad spectacle, through the mar
row OPENINGS of the dark passage from which
the convlcts are watched by the guards OF
the prison, unseen by the prisoners, another
visiter stood by, similarly occupied, who liad
been employed by the man they were con
templating, as one Of the superinte ndents oi
lis fxyp fhopcanl luhnrorc uhan in
carrying on his gigantic operations. The
latter stood silently intent on the scene, until
he burst into tears, and turned away. The
irrepressble sympathes which arise in the
human bosom, often in defiance Of the stern
decisions Of justice, and often lavished upon
unworthy objects, whom some redeeming
traits have cndcared TO US, overpowered his
feelings, and he left the prisoner to the
"peopled solitude" of that populous dun
geon.
Nor is il to be wondered at, that the hu-
initiation Of this sometime "Girard Of the
West" should produce in the public mind
feeling Of regret mingled with the conviction
that the wholesome though harsh correctiy es
OF Justice must be visited as well upon the
luitiest as upon the lowliest heads, that are
alike sheltered under the o'ercanopying ages
Of our laws. The conviction which had set
tied uDon almost every mind, that through
the influence Of friends, the ingenuity of able
counsel, and the qnlbblng technlcalitles OF
law, he would, at the close of his protracted
trials, ultimately escape conviction, had pre-
pared the community 10 expect such result;
and when the verdict which has linked his
name with lDfamy was finally recorded, the
public, as well as prisoner and friends, were
taken by surprise, aud scarcely believed it
real. IL was staggering blow at the high
hopes he had evidently cherished from the
close OF the former trial, in this city, which
had resulted in his acquttal upon the indict.
ments on which it was founded. Placed
again at liberty, after his long incarceration
Tor want OF bail, he was once more actively
ranging the scenes of his former enterprises,
and planning busily for the future. The am
bilious schemes which once more swelled his
restless bosom, and gilded the hitherto dark
encd prospect of existence-none but himself
and confidential friends can know. But these
budding hopes aud bright anticipations were
suddenly blasted, and sterner visions throng.
ed eoniusedly before him. His ignominious
doom, with its abject toll, its lonely hours of
pain, and loneler of remorscful thought, its
cureless scatheiDg shame-lay with sick
ening, deadly weight upon his heart
Next came the prison scene, where amid
the clank Of fctters, and the rattle of chains,
aud The harsh grating Of dungeon doors, he
commenced the routine of his monotonous
task. And what maddening reflections have
been his. in the few weeks which have since
succeeded What bitter. unavuling regrets
have dwclt, with constant and mournful
presence in his oguated breast! What lovely
warnings for the forfeited delights Of social
life once more, the forfeited esteem and con.
iidence Of the wrongcd community in which
hc had strivcn to build up his fame And
conscience, like reproving angel, pointing
with her movelcss finger 10 the past, has.
through his waking hours, been silent yet
haunting monitor, whose mental scourgngs
have been more terrible than The physical ills
which have borne upon his frame.
], isa sad lesson--ihc fate OF BENJAMIN
RArnnuS Il Begaio Com .adv.