New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-20
THE TRIBUNE.
kindness to criminais-The Pri,on Assoc
citation.
BY L. MARIA GILL IL

s,e:ations. Their FIRST object is to introduce into
| cur prisons such mode of discipline as is best
4 calculated 10 reform the inmates, by stimulating
md encouraging what remains of good within
hem, while they are at tho same time kept under
srct regulations, and guided by firm hand
/ Their next object is to render discharged con.
yicls such assistance as will be most likely to
suide them i3to the paths of sober and SUCCESS
hl industry.
II is not easy TO introduce public changes of
any kind, without exciting in some individuals
the feeling that they are personally slandered by
any remarks on the old system. But such feel
ing is neither wise II just. Change and progress
be.ong 10 the destiny of man. The wise and
good Of past times, and some OF the present also
have sincerely believed that extreme harshncss
aud severity toward criminals was absolutely me-
eessary and unavoidable. There was time
when the best and most intelligent men in New
England verify thought that the public safety
required them to punish witchcraft by death
Fighting has been deemed not only excusable
bet honorable; and thousands Of carth's choicest
soas have died in battle, from the highest and
most sefeacrihcing motives. Yet it is now
slowly dawning upon the moral sense, and the
common sensc, of mankind, that War is wrong
Irrational, and Improbable. Louis Philippe, look
u d
l1sng game, and asserts that it always costs
much more than it brings, even 10 The victorious
nat on. However wise we may seem, on some
points, in comparison with those who have pre-.
cedcd US, the clesrest-sighted among US will seem
stupid enough to those who follow. The social
gro 9Th is SO slow, that relative superiority in
ferioriy, at any given point oftime, is no! worth
arguing about.
Thus far, the omeliorations at Sing-Sing have
been productive of the most beneficial Effects
Limited and imper1ectas the experiment has hith-
eto been, it has proved highly conducive to or.
der and cheerful obedience. The nature of these
changes il the administration, perhaps, could not
be more concisely indicated, than by the follow.
ing anecdote: Two ministers in the Society of
Friends Travelled together, and one was much mo c
successful in his labors than the other. How
dost thou manage to take so much more hold of
the hearts Of the people, than do 2" said theleast
efficient preacher. " / can tell thee in few words"
replied the other: :" tell people that if they do
night they shall not be whipped. You tell them
tina, il they don't do right, they shall be whip
ped.'
In other words the system now begun at Sing
Sing is TO punish sparipg'y as possible, and
10 give cordial praise aud increase of privileges
for every Indication Of improvement. The WIS
dem of such course was suggested to my mind
several years ago by an intelligent, well educated
woman, who had, by intemperance, become an
inmate of the aims house at South Boston -
"Oh!" said she, " if they would only give US
more encouragement and less driving if they
would grant increased privileges for doieg well,
instead of threatening punishment Tor dong
wrong; could perform my taskswith cheerful
hear, if they would only say to me, DO your
L IL, hol, nd s.
music one evening in the week, or you may have
enc day of the week TO read entertaining books
Bat instead of that, it always is, If your task
is not done well, you will be punished Oh:
scbody that has never tried it knows how hard
this makes work go off"
thought of this woman when l read Barry
Ccrnwall's lines, called The Poor HOUSE
''Ente. and look In the high walled yard,
Fierce pacing the barren grouho.
Enter the long, bare chambers! Girls
Sewing from morn Til the dismal eve.
And not n hugh or u song goes rou'"'
'.No communion--no kind thought
D,.ells In the paupers breast OF care
NshEs sq Ps me b ,se S S5s sseE despair
OF bread in PRISON. 5ercii of friends.
Or hungry, outin the open air.
Acting upon the principle 10 which l have
alluded, Mr.. Edmonds, President of the lnspec-
tors at Sing Sing, last Fourth OF July, sent each
OF the seventy three women PRISONERS beautiful
bououet. with note, asking them to receive the
flowers as testimonial of his appreciation Tor
tbe, good conduct. When the natrons passed
through the galleries. every woman came to the
doc, Of her cell, with the flowers in her hand,
and earnest thanks, and the whispered God
bless you" met them at every step. BENG a,tei-
ward assembled in tho chapel, they brought the't
ho~ ers, and while the matron talked WIN thci''
like mother, about the necessity OF forming
habits of sell government, and oil tie eilect VI
,h,ir present conduct their future prospectus III
hfc the tears flowed p'ennfuly, ana conVa.Ei'e
sobs were audible. One of the matrons writes
'.rhe effect of this little experiment mas peen
manifest in the more quiet and gentle movements OF
the prisoners in their soitened ana suouueu 'ohe'
OF voice and i'm their ready and cheeIfol Obedience.
II hiss deepened my conviction that, however ue-
graded by sin or hardened by outrage ana wrong
while Reason maintains its empire over 'ne VIM .
there il no heart so calious or ooVnta'e uia' VIC
voice OF sympathy aud Kindness may 30. q, 81
or 30 ebssed AZ to give no response To 'e onss "
Christian Love-"
Las, week was Thanksgiving IN New I ON
On that occasion, one OF the matroLs, as re-
ward for the good behaviour OF Inc PiiSpnsi o,
caused her piano 10 be removed 70 'ho onat rSS
and tunes of praise and worship were nirslSu
with friendly exhoitaiions. we, Wpo ave noe,y
amid the fair sights and sounds OF our Father =
creation, can hardly imagine how soo'hlng and me,
refreshing is the voice Of music to the prs0ns.s
weary and Gesola,e soul. And then lns AinoE ln
bringing music and flowers to them Of oiis,1
ing 10 Inc ontcast and degraded those graceful
eoarsses usually appropriated to the happy Ts,
refined and line this ,Gacne ,hs sI hInssod
RIOS, hearts, even mere deeply .hah , ths o snd
ro;ce If music. They wept like children, eno
.ns Of .vs s3em an sa TO- do wrong again"
- r.,l aware that this will sound very sen,
,. on, s, many readers Very likely some wag
ue' as,; N describe these suggestions, as
ns iFansesndentsl mode Of curing crime BY n hs
new .rs' aowersn If 50, he is welcome TO his
% mG anu For my own part. cannot jest e sSou'
, ,as Misery or the errors of any OF my icho%.
Inc nl Not unfrequenlly, when urge Warmly
some principle founded deep IN inc 1--WE % am