The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-01-06

arnon OF their own food. such car
pcnter and blacksmith work as ia
needed. These things give en-
Noyment to q considerable num-
Der OF men and are used M rewards
TOT those who Gro faithful Tho
buildings having all been design
cd Notifications and barracks. ara
low none of them having moro
than two tiers Of cells, one above
another. but they arc admirably
ventilated and kept scrupulously
neat anal Clean. We could not de
tcct the leas, unpleasant smell 60
common IN prisons In the whole
institution. The thick stone walls
OF the fertilization surround il.
mounted with immense cannon.
These outer walls are surrounded
with deep ditch. and outside all
The ground regularly descends to
tue water, ard is covered will, a
thick coat Of beautiful green grass.
1t would be difficult to conceive q
more beautiful place. to onward
appearance, commanding view of
miles Of lend and water. The
prisoners are worked together, and
at night ire locked in sepaI ate
coils, protected in front and over
the top by heavy wire grating
through which they can, and do
to limited extent communicate
with each other, by permission
guards always being ct hand 10
prevent any improper liberty
When We were there, the prison
contained. about 100 convicts-600
OF whom were classed as Catholics
and loo Protestants. TLcir re-
Hgious instruction is committed to
the Chaplains, who preach to :hcm
on the Sabbath, visit them in their
cells. and teach them In Sabbath
Schools. Their cells are oil light
as we'll as properly ventilated.
They sleep on hammocks, which
are rolled up in the day and leave
the room clear Of obstruction.
Their food consists OF porridse Of
oatmeal and rice. and bread and
milk for breakfast, mea t,sonp and
bread and milk three times week
anil meat, bread and milk four
times q week, with the addition of
potatoes on the Sabbath for dinner
and bread and milk for supper.
The b cad is made of wheat flour
and is very good, as We can testify
from trial. School is taught two
hours in each day, for oil the
earlier branches Of education
reading, writing. arithmetic. etc
to which the convicts oil have
the opportunity of going under
proper regulations. There is a
system Of degrees. very similar to
that used in Reform Schools in our
c untry. When a prisoner first
enters, he is put in the third class.
uniformed in plain. gray clothes
no stripes Or other degrading mark
being used. If his conauc. i'd
mits, heis in time, promoted to
second class, with colors on coat,
and cuffs on sleeves, and from
this to lrst class, with red collar
and cuff. From this he passes into
tho advance class, with plain
clothes marked with the letter A
Aud the convlcts enjoying special
privileges arc taken from this
| class.
They are allowed o small sum
from their earnings, which is in
creased as they advance in grade.
and enables them when discharged
to have some money, as we'll as q
suit of new clothes, with which
they arc furnished. A portion oil
their earnings is also withheld to
be paid to them by instalm ents
after discharge. A system of re-
ductiOn OF time. conditioned on q
good conduct, such as Is adopted
in some of our States, is also il
use, SO that by uniform good con.
duct prisoner may lessen his
Imprisonment thirteen months il
five years. Thus every motiv,
to good conduct is held out, ant
that great element in reformation
hope. is used. No back step is used
but the prisoners march in good
order, under their guards or ma !
tiers. Insane convicts are at once
removed to an asylum. and q Gel
is provided, carefully padded al
around its walls, for any showing
suicidal tendencies. Imbaciles ar,
KEEP. in separate apartment
Punishment is administered only
after evidence, as to the offence
has been taken, in mild ceses BY
order of the Governor, and in NOR
severe cases by order of tho Di
rectors-to whom all cases Of pun
ishment mnst be reported with tn
| evidence. Time for reflection i
always given prisoner bcfor
punishment is administered.
/ consists in confinement in a sepal
.~gte cell, on restricted food, tn
. dark cell, and only occasionally
! severe cases, the use Of the cat
, When prisoner has by good con
! duct rendered himself worthy b
8 may be transferred by the director
Q to the farm prison at Sart. while
{ we hopo to visit and descTib
b When discharged previous to clio!
q of term of sentence, it is alway
/. on ticket Of leave by which I
4 may be promptly returned if |
e gives evidence of o lapse inl
j. crime. Much pains is take
II throughout the Island, as l sht
- have occasion moro fully 10 ref
n TO hereafter, 10 learn whether 4
Aa>nao for mn biola xariaonor !. Il