The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-03-16
ITALIAN PRIsONs-No. 3.
Correspondence Indianapolis Journal.


ROME, February 10, 1872.
We have now spent week in this
ancient city. It's old ruins are full of
historic interest; its collections Of paint-
ings and statusry are not excelled, and
there is an intense excitement in much
that one sees and hears. The old por-
ton Of the city, with its narrow streets
and ancient houses built SO high as to
prevent the free circulation Of light and
air from the streets. dingy with age,
musty and damp, the abodes in many
instances Of poverty and wretchedness.
are very uninvitiug, but some of the
newer parts are much more pleasart. 1t
is springing into new life under the pres>
ent liberal government. Every house
is occupied, rents are high, aud many
new buildings have been CO ommenced, and
every thing gives evidence of renewed
prosperity.
had letters to NJ. Be.trani-Scalla.
Inspector General of Prisons. very in
te!ligent and enlightened Ian, familiar
vi h all that relates to Prisons and their
reform, and to their condition in other
Countries. lie has recently visited Eng
land and Ireland and is an ardent ad>
mifer Of the Irish orCro!ton system. lie
kindly accom- anied US in visit to the
prisons in Rome, informing us at the
same time that they were not in de.
irable condition, but that since the over
throw Of the Papal Government. re-
! fo,ms are in progress as rapidly as they
can be conveniently brought about. We
first went to the "Terra Disc!eziano," or
Baths of Diocle,ian-so called because
built on the foundation Of these old ruins.
Its walls are very thick, and the mason
~ and arches in the basement are Of the
most enduring ard substantial kind. 1t
/ was used for many years as grain de-
. pository, but was converted several years
since into prison. OF course it is not
constructed a. it should be-, but makes 9
good institute. The prison is for both
those who are awaiting trial and for the
condemned-the latter only for short
sentences, not over one year. The two
classes are kept separate. The condem-
ned are dressed in striped uniform. and
are employed in weaving. shoemaking
etc., by the government. The labor
pays but a small portion Of the expense,
They work in companies and are lodged
at night in large rooms together-an cx-
cceding bad arrangement which will be
changed as soon As practicable. They
are fed twice day on bread and soul
made OF beans, ma1aroni and olive oil
with meat twice o week. The punish
men. is confinement in solitary cell OF
bread and water. No corporal punish.
ments are administered, the cat being
as the Inspector informed US, an Eng
Iish institution. Two priests are EN-
p'oted to attend to the spiri,usl inter
ests Of the prisoners. The infirmsry j
good. but there were many OF tho pris
cners in it who seemed TO be !aborin
under disease of the lungs.
1t was peasant to observe that the de
fects in the prison were fully known an
appreciated, and that it is the intentio
10 remove them as soon SIS possible.
the different governments which we,
uli ed to constitute the present King
dom Of Italy, different methods of man
agement Of prisons have prevailed l
some the separate celluar system,
others the sys.em Of lod;,ng in separal
cells ard working together, nj in 9th
eTs the constant intermhg,ing OF II
prisoners. both by day and night. A
able b ard HIS been constituted whic
is cnaeavoring as rapidly a. possible
bring sh.ut III orm and improved sys
tenn. but, like such reforms in our ow
country, there are many obstacles to
removed before the most perfect syste
can be adopted and carried cut.
tbs woMEN's PRISON,
III the same building, is the only e.
ciGsive;y wonen's prison in the Kingdo
II Is under ,he control at present Of Il
same Director as the mems, but Il
internal mansgement is wholly und
the Sisters Of Charity, o. whom there a
twelve for he ninety-seven prisoners
present confined there. Ths women q
employed in the manufacture o! fine la,
, and Of very beautiful work for ladie
wear, under the direction Of the Sister
Every thing was in beautiful order, ne
and clean, and the building, althoul
: badly adapted, is made quite comfortabl
: Arrangements are being made for ne
r separate prison for women, out of Il
{ city. The whole institution bears mo
The appearance Of . reiormatory than
prison. and we were greatly pleased wi
It. We are informed that many of d
prisoners are returned to society reform
: ed and changed characters, through 4
faithful labors of those baving them
charge. They are said to be more easi
1 managed than the men. Three of {
female prisoners were the wives of b,
gands, and had themselves been active
:, engaged in robbery and murder, one e
), pecially was the terror of the commul
u ty where she lived. The active exec
: tions Of the present Government ha
It put stop to brigandsge, and these "
L men were among those arrested. Sin