Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-26

In the Penitentiary-An ex.Distin
guished Politician interviewed.

Rutshed Politician Interviewed.
Albany Cor. of the Brooklyn Eagle
a. My card was sent up, and while the
messenger was absent, General Pillsbury
(Superintendent of the Penitentiary) took
occasion to speak of Callicot liz very
kindly terms. He obeys our rules with
alacriiy and cheerfulness. have been
able to do him some kindness, and in a
way to make use of his attainments, which
! are very great, sir. He is student here,
/ TOO, and he will leave US in more ways
than one wiser than when he came. Be-
tween you and I" said the General, with
a roguish twinkle of his eye, II think be
deserves to be punished for selling us out,
but / have not been able to settle upon
the enormity of the crime for which he is
here"
While he was talking, Callicot entered.
He was attired in prison suit-coarse,
gray pants, made to fit man of almost
any size--that is, of no particular make
at ALA vest of the same material and q
short, round jacket. His hair was cut
short, but not as close as the other con-
victs, as / noticed afterward. The mus
tache, the only hair he wore on his face,
was missing Calicot hsbitually dressed
with neatness and always as a gentle
man. 1t was very painful to see him
glance at the clothes which indicated his
position. He advanced and shook hands
with NE, but he paused moment as if
he desired to know the wishes of the
gentlemen who accompanied me--old
ecquaintances of his, too-before he ven-
tured on like familiarity.
The manners of gentleman will not
be hidden, evea by conyict's suit OF
clothes, and in a short time Calicot
turned the conversation to matters apart
altogether from his own concerns, and
without shadow of snythin resembling
bravado in his air, he was himself at his
ease, as we were.
All that is going on 10 the outside
world, save that which concerns each
prisoner individually and privately, is
kept from the convict inmates OF the
Albeny Penitentiary. In other words,
newspapers are not allowed to be re-
ceived by the prisoners. Letters written
by the prisoners, or intended for them
must be submitted to the supervision of
the authorities of the prison, and the
rule is that such epistles must be brief,
and refer to matters strictly personal.
After stepping apart with me, Callicot
referred to the old time, and asked about
old friends in Brooklyn. | have talked
with prisoners before and since, but
never met q man but Callicot in o Jail
who could talk about anything but him.
self-his trials, his wrongs and the harsh
way the world in general had dealt with
him Not so this man.
"You know" he said. II have been
an cid newspaper man, and | miss the
newspapers more than everything else.
l know little or nothing of what is going
on in the world. Among the blind, how
ever" he added, ''the ne-eyed man is
king, and am wiser than anybody else
in there-(pointing to the prison yard). l
am not bad French scholar, you may
remember, and friend in Paris sends
me weekly Paris paper. Eac,. number
contains about half column of sum-
mary of American news. The more im-
portant events are dismissed in three or
four lines. The news is about q month
old when it reaches me. l knew, for in
stance, who the Democrats nominated for
President in New York about q month
after the event. know from line and
a half who is now Governor of the State.
So YOU see / am like the man Bulwer
tells of--isn't it Bulwer who was in the
habit of reading copy of the London
Times daily. Failing in health, the read
ing of the paper was forbidden him, and
he had his copy of the paper put away
carefully every day. When be recovered.
be took up his paper where be
left off. and read one of the papers daily
as before, 90 that his newspaper was al
ways q year old, and he was year as |
am A month behind the times" Ia an-
swer to o question he said he spent most
Of his leisure--!or he was engaged In the
bosnital. and had spare momenis-in
s,Tdving German. II was" he added,
!" yery Indifferent German scholar when
/ came here, bat it looks as though viii
be a proficient in the language before
leave" Csllicot spoke in the kindest
tsrms Of the "o.d gentleman meaning
PilIsbury); "but,J be added, u desired
most earnestly to be permitted to serve
NV lime in the Kings County Peniten-
Iisry. Ny two girls are all ] have lef',
save nv mother, who is old and living in
another State. The girls go to school in
New York. At the time they needed a
parents eye most they have been ds-
priged Of both parents. Mrs Callicot
died since these troubles, sEd nov they
are alone. This is the hardest lot OF sil
this and the fact that letters to and
fren them must not be sealed.
The tine passed pleasantly enough IN
Ill the usual half hour vas NJ, ena sew
eral minutes 10 addition. AZ let g,
The hand Of this mAn vhese ilie opened
so promisingIy, the old political srudgss
/ bore him vanished forever would
gladly serve CsllicOi, and l learn that
when ekorts FcFe made for his pardon,
his old enemies generally aided him
xben asked, while the friends be sss
served were too well inclined 70 leave
hiu ts hio fate. Il was mean thing ~
Senator Norepn' friends TO have tempted
th;s nan, brf il vas Infinitely Hssner in
them % Is0Fs bin naked 20 his sns,
mics"