Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-10-30
An Hour IN tho State Prison.

THE Trenton, N. J. Gazette says -
"We paid visite lest week 10 the State
Prison. Among the female prisoners is
young woman, 90 yeats OF nge, Mar.
garel Devine, convicted about four years
since OF poisoning her mistress and sen.
fenced to twenty years OF imprisonment.
She has served less than a quarter Of il,
yet, when asked how much longer she
was 10 stay there, replied cheerfully,
"nearly sixteen years" She is good
looking girl, and judging from her coun.
tenance it would be difficult to imagine
her guilty Of SO dreadful crime.
In another Gel! we found on intelligent
looking. German girl, whose term Of
twelve months has almos, expired. AS
an evidence Of the improvement to be
derived from presovering application,
even when surrounded by the most unto.
ward associations, we may mention that
when she entered she could not speak u
syllable Of English now she speaks,
reads and writes with wonderful pro.
heiency. II is interesting 10 notice, in
passing from cell to cell, the evidence.
Of genius displayed by many of the
convicts. In some instances the walls
are covered with original sketches, por.
traits, &C., many Of which would do
credit to larger opportunity and better
materials. Here and there an ingenious
original machine is to be found which
must have cost months Of patient ex.
pertinent.
In one we were shown an intricate ar.
rngement of wheels, cogs and pullys. in.
cluding figures Of little men and women,
spinning wheels, &c., made Of the home.
liest materials, of course, being such as
the keeper would supply occasionally
as a reward for orderly conduct; at one
end is cylinder, made to revolve hori.
zontally, into which the prisoner had in.
troduced some mice, caugh. in his cell,
and, by careful training, had succeeded
in training them. They knew his voice,
and on hearing him whistle, Immediately
sprang into the cylinder, and caused it
to revolve after the manner Of squirrel.
This set the whole machine in motion,
the spinning wheel, the dancing figures,
and all, moving with the incest precision.
The tanning Of these tiny creatures, cap.
tives like himself, shows how in herenl
in the breast of man is tho desire for
companiomshi p-since pleasure can be
derived from the society Of one Of the
meanest Of the animal kingdom.
The specimens Of workmanship in the
various trades of weaving, chair seating,
boot and shoe making, &c., are very
creditable to the institution, and those
who may have been led 10 the com.
mission Of crime, from ignorance Of a
trade, are sent forth, at the expiration Of
their terms, we'll instructed in good, re.
liable trades, and trained to habits Of
productive industry.
One thing, however, was forcibly
impressed upon our mind-the necessity
Of House Of Refuge in this S.ote. 1t
is dreadful OF contemplate the amount
Of evil which young boys may learn
from the society Of those who are old in
vice. We notice occasionally boy
Of tender age in the cell with one whose
deep crimes deserve the darkest dungeon.
A refuge is crying want in New Jersey.
We trust the day is not far distant which
shall see the, juvenile delinquen.s as
carefully and properly provided for in
refuge, as the older ones arc in the