The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-26

S w 0"S'e X<>|'1Ss .etcntion, tnorc In cacb
cells, the do -
glmblet hole bored throughit These coils
are each occupied by ono prisoner, We did
not know what to make of these holes, and
thus expressed oursefto our companion, his
was peep through" and so we did. In
'he cell we saw man weaving, but before
we had time to examine his features, .we
were told by the keeper that it was against
the rule ofthe prison to look at tho occrpants
through these holes. We apolorized for
our rashness, stating at the same time tbot
we did so through ignorance. He then OK
planned to us their object for adopting such
plan. at is not our object" said he @to
bring offenders here merely to punish them.
and to exact OF them so much SOLITARY con-
fincmons and hard labor, as the penalty for
Crime, this is in part the object, but while Of
tenders are here we cndeavor also to reform
them, and as mode conducive to this pur-
pose, we allow no one to sec their faces
Were ovey ono who visited the Pcnitentiiarv
to sec the faces Of the prisoners, when thcfr
eme OF imprisonment expired, and they were
at liberty to go again into the world they
would bc at once recognized, and thus no con-
hdcncc would be placed in them again. But
by adopting this plan, when prisoner In n.
gain thrown into the bnsy scenes of life. be
enters itasa new man, and We hope from
past experience he may be induced to lead n
more useful and happy life" He then went
into the cell, closing, the door after him. and
in few minutes reopcncd the door and inyi.
ted us in. There was the prisoner apparent.
iya young man, but We could not see bis
iace' Tor it was covered. This we believe II
The only Pcnitcntiary in the United States
where this plan iS adopted, but IL is cufIainiy
good one, this any ono will admit. AZ
forwards we visited other coils one of these
particularly, we will speak of. Atthis timo
1t was unocrupied, but for the space of five
years the occupant was young man, Ger.
man. We forget what was his offence, but
his punishment was five years solitary con-
inement in prison. In that time bc had
really made his cell n beautiful chamber. Bv
extracting the colors from the fabrics he was
employed to weave, he had painted in n mas
terly manner most beautiful landscapes OH
the walls, and also written poetry (some
twelve or fourteen verses in German text)
winch would have done credit to tho genius
of Byron or Cowper. What task These
colors could only be obtained little by lit
tie, but still he worked on---timc was no
object to him, and probably it was four or five
years before this was completed.
We saw no females aud the cells occupied
by the murdcrers we were not permitted 70
enter. Dickens in his notes of America re-
lates curious circumstance which occurred
at this Pcnitcntiary: A man wao could mot
restrain himself from the too excessive use
OF ardent spirits, petitioned ths commission
crs of the Penitentiary to take him, and con.
line him he promised faithfully to dc any
work which ho was ordered to do, and abide
by tho rules of the prison. They reasoned
with him, and told him his folly, advised
him to 60 homo and drink no more. But
all persuasions were ofno avail, he said bs
could not control his appetite for ardent spir-
its' and if they would not permit him to stay
in the Pcnctcntiary, he would soon All a
drunkard's grave. Finally they agreed TO
take hin but he was not put into a cell.
he was allowed the free use of the ward.
(and it wouia be a useless attempt to try 10
scale thatfwall, for II ,2ust bc at lcast aseu.
ty-fve or thirty feet high anu built Of rock.)
He was aprisoncr there five recollcct right.
ly, some two or three years. His liberty
was frequently offered him, but no, he slways
said he preferred TO remain. II happened
one day the gate was LEFT opened. Tho
temptation was too strong. there the street
was inviting him to her pavement. onr In
ebriatc took to his heels and thSt &as, the,
last heard ef him. u
How know we our readers are pIeasetB
with all this jargonl We set out for ar.oth--
er motive We wish to put tho intcrogsso-.
ry, why do we not have Pene tentiary IN
cur Statei Why place man In jail, TO he
there Idle for one, two. three or Ave years a.
the case may be, at an expense 70 tho State
when, II we had Pcnetcntiary this expense
may be avoided, and probably the State Isal.
ize n revenue We never ccasd understand
why this has not been done? We may pro-
bably resume this subject aa