Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-12
Letter from the Rutland County
Jail.
RUTLAND JAIL, Jan. 9th, 1871.

RUTLAND JAIL, Jan. 9th, 1871.
Editor Rutland Herald :--Prisoners as
general thing are unwilling that their
various delinquencies shenld be made
pu clio, and hence have wholesome dread
of newspaper notoriety.
It ia not often, therefore, they manifest
desire to appear in print. But, when
the depths of their sluggish natures, that
transgression has formed, and confine-
ment assisted to complete, has been reach
ed by acts of charity and kindness, they
wish, in the awakening of their inner
manhood, the broadcast possible expression
of their gratitude. The well-being of So
ciety demands that proper restraint
should be placed upon those regardless OF
the peace and property of their neighbor
We are so restrained. The Press in con-
demning what is wrong and approving
what is right, leaving our sequestration
from the world matter to be argued
with our own oonsciences, will not, we
think, refuse us the right, in common
with freer and better members of the
community, of calling public attention tc
what we deem an act of truly christian
charity.
Life in Jail is a sad and curious study
Light, mecurial, stemperaments take it az
part of existence. Others chafe and fret
like Gagged animals others, again, brood
aud eat their hearts in silence some &C
out, sadder and wiser men many with
Curse on their lips as they look on the spot
Where for months they have fingered unknown
and forgot
There is one feeling, however, in which
we are quite unanimous, that is the
pleasure we experience,l in being kindly
spoken to, and gently reasoned with by
the good men and women who in their
Heaven born sympathy for our fallen
state, visit US every Sunday. We like to
receive them, if we have nothing in COM
mon, we have that. OF different religious
denominations, with little, God help us
evangelical in our dispositions. We are
all too happy to meet them, coming as
they do on the broad platform of Charity
and Love-cheering us with hopeful
counsel, and setting our fears aside with
earnest talk. We are moved to acknow'
ledge this, because one of their number
sorrowfully expressed himself doubtful,
whether, their visits were productive Of
any benefit whatever. They are bene.
fetal, more so than any language of ours
can describe, especially in filling void
supplying want we have long felt. We
refer to the establishment of small Ii.
brary of instructive and entertaining
books. Although the jailer and his good
natured family, are unwearied in their
efforts to relieve the monotomy of con.
fnement by distributing the daily and
weekly papers and whatever reading mat
ter may be in hand. We have been sadly
in need of books to vile away the weary
hours. To the noble woman who has de-
voted herself to the task of forming 8
library, for our instruction aud amuse'
ment, are inscribed our sincere thanks
and heartfelt gratitude.
Nowords of ours can tell you how
deeply we feel on this point Hearts
never before stirred by womanly sympathy
and lips unused to SAY "God bless you
have felt one, and said the other in con.
nection with her, whose appreciation Of
our greatest want, will be repaid where
there is, "Neither moth nor rust. Neither
do thieves break in and steal"
Very respectfully yours,
THE PRISONERS IN THE JAIL