New-York tribune., 1869-03-30

consists of mush made OF lnulan-inehi, I'd "nloH
is added moasses diluted with water, all placed
in a tin cup, and o cup of water. breakfast
and dinner are taken on tables 10 inches wlde,
in large hall, foul with q sickly smell derived
from the huge kitchen which is near, and thiS'
combined with the exhalaton from human
bodies. which have been crowded for years
into this hall. forms the true prison talnt wiich
attaches to the skin, hair, clothing, ana much
of the adjoining premises, the cells lncludeu.
The food consists of good bread. hash. ana
coffee, and there are days when beans, onions
and soup are served but from year to year
the officers urge that vegetables should DC
supplied. Opportunity is given for the men 10
battle once a week. in a large tank, in companies,
on which occasion they change garments, Dut
this they do by selecting from pile OF various
sizes. by which means these clothes are inter-
changeable like the parts of the lock OF
Springfield musket. On Sunday there is preach
ing in the chapel. A library belongs to the
prison, and the books are covered with patches
They are used so much that one man at least
| is required to make repairs.
| Mr.. Forrest, the Superintendent for several
years, states that as a general thing those who
are disposed to do well are made worse, be-
| cause they come in contact with those who are
hardened, and the result is that fully 1000
who could be trusted, allowed privileges, and
reformed, are, by the association with 300 har-
dened villains who delight in making others as
| bad as themselves, treated with severity
| which, under other circumstances, would be un-
necessary case is related of young soldier
boy, who was tempted to commit crime, re-
| ceiyed much sympathy, and, being sentenced
| to the Clinton prison. was conducted thither
| by the Sheriff as if he were q passenger,
| and though he might have escaped, he had
| given his word and made no attempt; but
after years residence in that institution he
became utterly depraved.
When close observer goes through these
prisons he will see two classes one, as he passes
| by, will laugh with sneer-these are bold in
crime, and they are shameless; the other class,
and forming the great majority, are quiet and
respectful, they have hearts that can be
touched, and would, if they were taught how,
willingly enter upon the preparation for lead
ing better lives, for they are not bold in crime.
| 1t is these, when dissocated from the depraved,
whom attempts should be made to reform. Nor
need we, when proper means are tried, despair
| even Of those whom we now think are hopeless.
The Prison Association of this city has, In
work recently published, suggested the proper
| measures to be taken, and among them Is a plan
for employing portion of the convicts in agr1-
| cultural labor We have before referred to the
low diet of the prisoners as being decidedly
unfavorable to sustaining the moral powers,
but there is no reason why the prisoners might
not, by their own labor, supply whatever may
| be required in this respect Ii is fatal error
| 10 assume that n limited diet gives strength,
and least of all moral strength, and it is time
| to realize that prison reform is impossible un-
| less the life is ASSOCIATED from the poverty in
which crime originates.
The Irish system rs adopted at Dublin is
| entitled to all praise, and, as our State Legls-
| lature contemplates its adoption, we give
| brief review of its leading features. There are
| three distinct stages. First, the convict is
taken to the Mountjoy Prison, where he en-
dures solitary imprisonment in cell for eight
months This cell is s feet wide, ~ feet
| high, and IA feet long, provided with wash
basin, towel, soap watcr-coset, and gas-burner.
! He is to learn what imprisonment is as a basis
| for future treatment The diet is low, no meat
being supplied he works at picking oakum, and
| he sleeps on a plank, with box for pillow.
| After four months bed is brought n and the
food is better The only interruption to this
seclusion is the devotion of part of each day
| 10 education, under an accomplished teacher,
! and religious exercises on the part of a Jealous
chaplain The first lenity shown is in leaving
| the cell door open part way, part of the day,
then wholly all day; but this privilege is with
| held on the exhibition Of the slightest ingTati-
| tude. Progress in mental culture is often con-
siderable, and this and whatever has reference
| to his condition and behavior are minutely re-
corded, particularly 10y marks of merit or of
| demerit, by which his fitness for the enjoyment
of greater privileges is indicated. Whatever
NAV have been the state Of his mind on first
being imprisoned, he begins to learn, and it is
continually impressed upon him, that his future
condition is to depend wholly upon his con-
duct and that he himself is to decide his own
| fate.
When. by good behavior, he is fitted for the
second stage, he is transferred to another
| pr,son and employed i'm some trade III
| company with Others while he is con-
fined in cell by night Rigid
watchfulness is required in this new rela-
ton to prevent insubordination for the temp
tations are strong, but the convict understands
well that for the least willful misbehavior he is
remanded to the solitary cell and oil its rigors.
In this second stage are five classes, and GER
tain number of merit-marks must be obtained
| TO entitle him to enter an advanced class. The
time required to pass through these classes de-
| pends OH the number of marks obtained and
on the time of his sentence and 1t is to be
noted that by good conduct the whole term