The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-03-07

Letters from the west.-No. 25

iHihAlt hhN iulil-ASN ium Tor uea
mutcs-Literal copy of mute's compost
tion-lDfcrcnce.
CoLunBvs. Ohio, Feb, 1865.
During our stay in this city, we paic
visit to the States Prison, or, as it i,
termed here, tho Ohio Penitentiary. :
The grounds in front of the buildings OF
: prison, are laid out with much taste. and
ornomouted with roro shrubbcry and
gravelled walks. We were introduced
to the warden by Mr.. Wm. II. Sladc, as
friend of his from Verm ont. The Gus
tomary fee was rendered by Mr.. S., and
politely refused by the officer. We were
asked to be seated. Soon a guide came,
aud invited us to the largo yard or en-.
closure, containing somo two or three
acres Ten or twelve deer,as many pea
cocks and other rare fowls, were the on.
ly tenants Of this fine yard, carpetcd with
living green and studded with SHADE
. trees
1t was near the dinner hour for the
convicts, and very soon they were or
dcred from their workshops to the yard
where the Whole number (six hundred
and eisht) were packed in companies of
thirty five, as close as they could stand.
In single file, one behind another. An
officer attended each company. They
were then made TO march to a large
dining hall, with what is termed the lock.
|eP This step consists in each one Of
the thiriy-fve showing forward the right
foot all at once, some ten or twelve
inches. and then the left foot in the same
manner, then again the right. followed
up 10y the left. and so on until they en-.
ter the hail. This wiggling, wrigglinr
motion caused us to laugh heartily. not
wlihStahding VIC sincerely pitied them
lbe convex pavement stones are worn
down flat and smooth, by this lock.stcp
IN Its movement the foot is not allowed
to leave the ground. BY this system
they can be more easily controlled, and
made to feel, also, that they arc fixtures
OF the spot and place
As they enter the ball door. they i'm.
mcdiately disbanG, and take seats at the
tables. They sit upon benches; before
them is an elevated stationary board or
table, about one foot in width and run.
ums the entire length Of the Lal. The
tables number six or eight. The dinner
consisted Of a cup Of soup, cold corn
bread, anl warm boiled beef Care is
taken to see that each has all lie needs
They were hot hurried in their meal. Suf
dcient time was given them After din
uer, they Gnded together, took the lock
step, and wigslcd their way back to the
work shops.
We proceeded to The work shops The
LFst room we euiered was devoted to the
weaving Of coach lace; the next to the
manufacture of saddle trees the third
to the manufacture Of plane woods; an.
other 20 that Of hoes; another to boots
and shoes another to grain cradles, an
other to aXohe,ve turning; and another
to the manufacture Of large roodcn tine.
These types are cut by an eccentric lathe,
and are becoming of high reputc among
publishers They find ready sale for
all they choose to make. They arc used
mainly where large type is required.
To the credit of the sex, be it said.
that Of the whole number of conyicts
tCO9> only eight are females OF the
males, forty are colored and the remain
der white. We noticed few quite
young from fifteen to eighteen appa,
ronily) There were very few old men
in the number. The average age we
Judged to be about thirty. Had these
all had christian parents, and the advan-
taaes Of the sabbath school, very few,
doubtless would have broken from those
yirtuous restraints. aud found their way
through crime to this prison. Let pa
rents feel thcir responsibility and act
wisely
We next visited the Luna,ic Asylum,
which is situated at The extreme north
end of the city. Tho grounds arc fpe
aud extensive. The buildings are Of
stone, and upon an enlarged scale. They
are warmed by steam This is an ex-
penaive mode. but considered much the
safest. II requires 40 bushels of coal
every twenly-four hours. The halls and
rooms are kept in a mild aud uniform
temperature, night and day. 1t is in-
tended, during tho year, to have the
buildings lighted with gas, The number
of patients at present is 260-oue hun.
dred and twenty of which are males.
The salaries of officers amount to s 600
per onuum. The contingent expenses
arc $4,000 more-iu all s39,01O wear
ly, with the above rumber of patients
From this place, we directed our stops
TO the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.
We were received just MS they had all
assembled for prayer by the teacher,
which was to close the school for the
day. The number of mutes in tho in
stitution is 80. A. wo ontorod tho