The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-11-04
Hereditary Bondmen

There is seldom much attraction for the
healthy mind in current record Of prison
life since what of sentimental character
may be found therein is not apt to suggest
great refinement of instinct, and the moral
fruits Of penal servitude very rarely ripen
into permanently exemplary subjects for
contemplation. Here however, is a recent
leaf FROM such discouraging calendar, which
seems to present n useful study for the
philanthropist, and is dramatic enough for
the taste Of the average story reader. a
man named Dunlap, sixty years old, and Of
VIGOROUSLY bad character, was placed in
Jail al Fonda, n. Y, about year ago. for
burning barn, and by the circumlocutions
Of law, had his trial delayed for many
months. In June of the same year a
young man known As Henry Thomas was
taken to the same prison for horse stealing
and thus the incendary had seemingly con
genial companionship in his ignoble con
tnement IL appears however that these
birds Of n feather did not harmonize idylG
eally for no sooner did the young rogue
enjoy the pleasure of acquaintance with
the older one than he began system Of
small brigandage against him. stealing. one
by one, every article Of property or com
fort that he possessed. Thercupou arose
a feeling Of positive hatred for his immoral
young friend in the inilammatory mind of
the venerable barnburuer, who would taiu
NJ last have added homicide to his other
transgressiou, but for the INTERPRETATION
friendly iailers Finally few days ago
both captives were tried for their respec
tive offences in the same judicial term
the older being sentenced 10 FIVE and the
younger Ia four years in the peniten-
tiary nc DanucmOra. Last week. writes
correspondent Of the Troy 7dnes, THE
Sheriff started with the two conyicts for
their penal destination by way of Water
town. and. IL being necessary to remain at
the latter place for change of cars. they
were committed temporarily 10 the local
lookup, During this delay police official
ct WATERFOWL recognized Young Thomas
~ formerly a boy who had escaped from
the Rochester House Of Refuge, where he
had placed him, aud whose mother vet
lived in WatertOwn Motives OF human
ity induced a notification Of the poor wo-
man that her sun was in the place. and
upon hex arrival in the Jail the sad greet
ing was supplemented by her recognition
were, ia fact, father, mother. and child .
though the old man desertion of his wife,
many years before, had made him unaware
that the thieying companion Of his pri- n
lite at Fonda aud fellow convict Tor the re-
tributvc years at Dannemura was his own
son. The spectacle ct the two felons, WIZ
after years OF separation nearly a. many
a. the ypuuger's whole life, should thus
meet at last ia a common degradation, was
terrible illustration OF natures law of
hereditary punishment, and struck both
men dumb with shame and remorse. I,
each it must have seemed like the closing
Of hope against any good thing in their re.
naming lives, since each saw in the othel
perpetuation Of degraded character to
wards both the cradle and the grave The
wife aud mother is not mentioned with dis
respect, and thence it seems that the mi
quitics Of the father visited upon the sol
have had no maternal deterioration to fos
ter them independently Of their develop
ment byprimary hereditary instinct, Sure
~ there is u suggestive study here for hu
manitarians and moral critics.