The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-01-20
ALL THE ENDS THOU AM'sT AT, BE THY GODS I'll


Christmas II the state Prison.
A correspondent Of the Indiana.
polls Journal. thus gives an ac-
count of the way Christmas was
passed in tie Southern Indiana
prison: ~
"As has been customary at the
Southern Prison ol this State,
since, Col. L S Shuler has been it's
w Warden, the inmates were given
the entire day as q holiday. After
which was ut later
hour than usual, and to which
longer time was allowed than on
ordinary occasions. the men were
permitted the privilege of the
yard in which to enjoy themselves
in such manner a. they chose for
about an hour. They filled up
the time in leaping, racing, march,
ing and counter-marching, two
abreast, to tho tap Of the drum.
They we're then brought into the
chapel, which haA been comfort
ably warmed, and there they en-
joyed themselves to the full, in
exercises conducted solely by
them, with the exception of the
opening prayer. First, the female
prisoners, in the compartment par
titioned off for their stated occu-
pancy at chapel services, sang very
beautifully that well-known Christ
mas piece, Merry Chris tmas to
ALL This was followed by q brief,
but highly appropriate prayer Of
fered by Rev. j w Sullivan, D. D.,
the Chaplain. Then. music by the
prison band. John White, an eld.
erly man, and convict from De-
catur county, delivered a temper
ance address full Of telling points,
which was warmly applauded q
number of times. More music,
followed by A L Hunt, another
convict, and tavorite speaker
among the inmates. His address
was an earnest and we'll timed ex-
hortation to his fellow convicts as
to the duty they owed themselves,
their. families and the outside
world, to heartily cooperate with
the officers of the institution in
their efforts to so elevate them
that they may secure, in some
measure, the respect and confidence
of their fellow-m en- when discharg.
ed More music, after which the
men returned to the yard, where
they exercised again in marching
around for about half an hour
They then entered the dining
room and sat down to a most ex-
celfent dinner, which was served
up in good style. There are no
tin plates or cups used on the ia
bles here at any time. Col Shu-
CIR banished them several months
ago. Each man has q white stone
plate, soup plate and coffee cup to
match, together with large spoon,
and q knife and fork. The dining
room men appointed to take care
Of these articles are required to
keep then perfectly clean and
bright-and they do, and although
there are more than three hundred
and fifty men who sit down to
these tables three times each day,
l am told the breakaee in the ag-
! gregate would compare favorably
with that Of careful family house
hold.
But the dinner. About four
hundred pounds of turkey had
been provided. OF this each mar
had = pien:yful supply, together
with baked potatoes, loaf o.
fresh. white bread, butter enough
and to spare, hot coffee, with su
gar to sweeten it, [ assed round ir
large buckets by walters, apples
and good-sized pound cake. AT
ter all chad eaten and we're full,
an extra plug Of tobacco and Z
cigar were given to each man, tn,
Warden himself aiding in the dis
tribu'ion. All this being ended
the men adjourned to an eEpt,
shop, where seats we're provide,
for all, at ono end Of which was
stage with its curtain and all til
necessary paraphernalia for trick
of slight of hand; walking on
slack wire, fcats of dextrous tumb
ling. negro minstrelsy, and othe
amusing performances. The Who'll
exhibition in its several parts wa
very creditably executed, and wa
enjoyed equally we'll by larg
number of citizens, as we'll as b,
the inmates. During these per
formances, Col. Shuler called for
cessation Of a few minutes. for th
distribution Of more cigars. whicl
} had been sent in by Mr.. Millard
: General Superintendent Of the ne,
Car works contract
Nothing occurred during th
entire day to mar for a momer
the pleasure of the occasion.
was day that will long be re
msmbered with gratitude TO Col
Shuler by the men. It is by sue
means, properly timed, and man
other acts of noble generosit,
which mske up the every day en-
! joyment of their lives, that til
prisoners a'e attached to thei
Warden, and which causes q bee
Of his finger to be to them . la
2 of love. ..s.z
:, A dentist was recently ssve
|, from drowning by q laborer, an
from tha dentha nf his r.aAaf,