Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-23

In the settled routine Of prison life, at Charles
town, the convicts are mustered out out oftheiI
rooms in the morning, at hours varying with
the season of the year, but as general rule, at
the earliest period of broad daylight. 1t is not
considered safe to allow them to be atllarge
except when there is ample natural light TO
observe and control heir motions. After be-
ing short period engaged in washing up =
and in summer, at work, they return to their
cells with their breakfast, and Immediately after
attend prayers in the chapel, and then go to
their workshops to labor. They there remain
associated together in strict silence, unless,
when, by permission Of the officer in charge,
they are allowed to make such inquiries or re-
marks as the exigencies Of their work may re-
quire. 49sa
The inspectors state that the most frequent
cause of complaint and punishment is the in
fraction of this rule as TO silence, and that the
rule appears to be very effectively and strictly
enforced. AT IL o'clock the men return with
their dinners to their cells and are required to
remain there for an hour. They then return
to their workshops and continue laboring until
six o'clock in the long days Of summer, and in
the shorter days until just before the sunlight
begins to fail. They then take the supper ra-
tons and return to their cells for the night
On their way to their cells in the evening,
the conyicts al approach certain point where
the warden and overseers of the workshops
take their stand. Such of the men as have
committed any offence during the day are or
dered to remain at this point, while the others
file off to their rooms. The offence Of each Is
then stated by his overseer TO the warden or de-
putty, who examines the case, and in his discre-
ton reprimands the offender; or sends him into
punishment--which consists of the deprivation
Of supper and bed; instead Of the latter, q
board and a blanket being allowed. 1t is stated
that the number Of punishments per day does
not greatly vary from one half Of one per cent.
on the number of convicts. t sfsF
On Sunday morning, those Of the convicts
who wish to take part in the exercises Of Sun
day school, assemble in the chapel an hour be-
fore divine service. This exercise is entirely
voluntary, and is the only stated teaching which
is given in this institution. The teachers. are
the officers of the prison and such of the con-
victs as are able and willing to undertake the
duty, and whose character and good conduct
will Justify the warden in allowing them to act
in that relation. Formerly teachers were al
lowed from the outside, but it was discovered
that some unfaithful persons had thus found
their way in, and had made the pretext of
teaching the convicts the means Of holding i'm
proper communication with them. Divine
service follows Immediately after the morning
hour Of the Sunday school, and the prisoners
then return to their cells for the day. The
convicts have been allowed toiform choir of
vocal and instrumental music, which offciates
at the Sunday service, and is allowed an hour
for practice on Saturday afternoon and usually
an hour on Sunday morning, under the direc-
ton of the chaplain.
{ Out Of the 49l convicts in the prison last
year, SO were unable to read and write, and of
this number 65 do not avail themselves of the
opportunity Of attending school, but remain
voluntarily in the same state of ignorance as
they were in when they entered the prison. No
convict however young or ignorant, is Obliged
to attend the Sunday school. The large pro-
portion of uneducated is o striking illustration
Of the effect of ignorance on crime.