The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-01
"A Few Aids to Reflection for the
Prison Association.

SING SING, June %, 1872.
Twas sitting on two chairs, smoking a cigar, on
the stoop of the Phoenix Hotel, on one of the morn
ings of this week, when the thermometer was bub-
bling among the nlnetes, and congrstulating my
self that was In the shade handy to ''bar," and
that had soft place for my feet when, glancing
away from the silvery sheen of the noble Hud-
son to the railroad depot. I saw 1.-THE young
Agure, attired in a new suit OF male clothing
and pair of new boots, step from the shadows Of
the depot buildings into the dusty road. The sun
was in its meridian splendor. In O moment the
figure was out Of the fierce glitter and under
the shadow of the awning, which protected
lazy loungers like myself from sunstroke.
had scarcely taken nv legs from a
vacant chair when saw before me young man,
In the flush of manhood, of attractive personal ap
pearance, and Of manly figure. made the obvious
remark by way of in PRODUCTION, that the weather
was very warm, and, in deferential, courteous
ner he agreed with me that it was. l knew very
well where he had come from that morning, and l
was casting about mentally for a mode by which
could make him conscious OF that knowledge on my
part without offending his susceptibities. The
bright and happy thought OF "a drink" occurred to
me, and invited the Young stranger to Join me.
He drank sherry and drank claret noticed that
ne poured his sherry into the glass with as much
f0rmality and steadness as q DUKES butler. We
had emptied our glasses and had told the bar
tender to I'LL them again before had quite decided
~ to the mode in which should refer to the bar
sinister in the record Of his young life, when he
relieved me from any further specuations In that
direction, and somewhat startled me by addressing
me In this remarkable phraseology live seen you
about the prison, have not p"
y1QA On I hot fha ica nf
broken, was not quite prepared for such cold
plunge as this and 30 fenced with the reply, and
sald:-
''Sing Sing Prison do you mean ~
"Yes," he answered. "the prison down here,'
pointing with his finger along the railroad track
At once replied, with great show OF candor,
that was there about this time last year, and that
Invent through the prison several times.
"YOu were there with a party OF ladies, remem-
ber"
Astonishej at the accuracy OF his memory, and
his power for the remembrance OF faces said that
! had accompanied party Of ladies through both
the female and male prisons.
al remembered your face again very well, and
was certain 1t was you the moment saw you.''
Despite his commissioners and his apparent
candor he had not yet told me whether he was
convict or prison OH cial, and was very much
AFRAID should be obliged to ask him in which
capacity had had the honor Of making his &C.
quaintance. Before did this compmented him
on his faculty for recognition, and had not finished
my sentence when he said,
81 was quite innocent Of the charge I was there
for.n
Greatly pleased at this unexpected relief I asked
him II he would take a smoke,n and put before
him the box OF cigars. He respectfully but firmly
declined to smoke; and lighting another cigar my
u<.lf cot I'm gtnA
got into the shade and into a talk. | noticed
throughout our previous talk that his prison man.
ners and the restraint OF the convict life were st
upon him. Freedom was new emotion to him.
and, like his new suit OF clothes, did not yet sit
easily. When he took the CHAIR to sit beside me
he took 1t with an affectaion OF ease and FAMILIAR
tty that was long way from the manner Of q man
who was free TO go and free to choose.
"You were discharged, this morning, I pre-.
sumo ~
BROWN, THE ENGLrsHMAN's, STORY.
al was there under the name OF Brown he re-
like my friends to know was there. I was born in
England ] come from Bradford. in Yorkshire.
have have been In this country some years 1t was all
about NY wife's cousin gave me check for
$500, and it was found to be forged: They arrested
me- and got two years up here for IT,
'What work did they assign you to in the
prisonYn inquired
al in the shoe shop, and have kept the agents
was clerk in England; had very respectable
position. My friends are highly respectable people;
1Or money since l have been here. I received
quite an amount this morning, draft OF $780, from
nv friends in England"
Thinking that this was quite inconsistent with
the first part OF his statement that he did not wish
his friends 10 know where he was, asked him II
This draft had been paid him az the prison.
ayes; received II this morning." he answered
>just before ] came out SO you see I'm worth
some thing when I'm al home. The fact is, sir this
country can't appreciate men like me- It's very
well for laborers mechanics, men who can he used
o. animals; but intelligence, ability, mind, you
vrh af a IN mn a1a I.ott q.
kind Of thing they not ready for yet here AS
far as can see 1t will be a damned long while be-
books did ali the Writing for that shoe shop contract
for two years: the boss told me this very morning
the books had never been kept go well before, and
that he was quite proud OF their appearance;
and then lie put q $40 bill before me. Ten
dollars was mighty big pay Tor two years work
told him to keep it; Thought could do without IT,
You should have seen him stare at me when / said
~you can keep that" suppose was the first con.
vict with the instincts OF a gentleman he had ever
seen. He Is pork-and-beans, bloodless narrow
checked, long, lanky, diied-up Yankee, and II was
beyond his comprehension that man should refuse
doing two years work, that would have cost him
90, 600 outside the prison.
81 can quite understand his astonishment,"
! said, getting up from my chair and invit-
Ing Mr.. Brown to take another glass of sherry;
We went 10 the bar After we had our
drinks thought II likely that Mr.. Brown was be.
coming rather more familiar with the "smal vices,
Of the outside world and again presented the cigar
box for his inspection. he made his selection, and
we AGAIN occupied the chairs on the stoop.
As soon as we had got our cigars fairly lighted ]
aid "Mr. Brown, you're au Intelligent man and
lutte above the company you've lately been keep
ny. May ask you what your opinion OF the con
ract system is, Judging from what you've seen OF
In the PRISON."
"Well as far as I'm concerned he answered,
I'VE nothing TO complain OF They treated me very
velL The discipline OF the prison IL very good 1913
great deal better now under Nelson than IL was
ntIer Russell You know what 10 was under Rus.
eli. Well, all that is stopped now. don't think
ou ire going TO have any more escapes. The pris
ners are properly cared for, and the discipline IL
retty rood, La the shoe shop, where was, there