The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-03-07

<licHxox March 2. ls7f
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dianapolis, that we thought it might
Also be of interest to your many read
ers. sf3HTJHT uEt ptYaTy'
The large and commodious building
was so far finished as TO be opened for
the reception of inmates, on the 18th
Of September, 1873-with Mrs. Sarah
neutrality-suspicious.; M. zsass.
Smith, S1gwasa; 1dsssE mirAJ ohnsou,s
formerly Of Richmond, Matron; Miss
Matte Pray, Teacher. And on the
eighth Of Ostober the female irison-
en- were transferred from Jeffarson.l
xiNe 70 the W oman 4 Prison, connect
90 With the Reformatory. There are,
/ Il present time twenty-one coayietsw'
three for life, one ofiwhich hssal-l
Ready served nineteen years. slg1 81
+ We found them al neatly and tidily.
dressed; some washing and ironing,
others saving knitting or reading.
One great need Of the institution is .
library Of good instructive books
TKissyant isl ,keenly, felt, and il i, o.
most excellent plase ferso onswho
has an abundance Of money, "to put It
where It viii az the most good. ' -, 4 :
|iI1No oneswe think !, unless previously
Informed, would suspect that theIwo-s
men before them were criminals. One
Iofitlle first and greatest trials Of the
present officers was the suppression Of
the use of tobacco. This Was a,great
trouble, for they both smoked and
cheFed to- excess; but 6rmness land
Kindness prevailed, and they have all
complied more willingly and cheerful
" than could be. expected. Notlonly
have they given up the habit, but, I'M
der the care and influence Of the law
Of kindness, some who have been CON
sidered past hope and dangerously
wicked, have been hopefully conv
ed, and lead in the prayer and speak
ing meetings. 1t is truly wonderful,
that from being vicious and revenge
full, they are tractable and gentle as
children. M -. ~ = - r..
There is, but. one dark cell, with
anironldoer, in the prison. The Super
lsintendent told as they had never had
ioeeasion to use it, for generally. order
ling them to their rooms proved suf6ci-
I ent punishment. We found most of
them sitting in the wide, cheerful cor
ridor and sewing rooms; but their
separate apartments, arc also furnish
lea with o nice bed aud pillows, clean
and white as SNOW, a. stand and chair,
each room lighted and made cheerful
BY large Window. It is true the
| windows were crossed by iron bars,
!. but painted whites 50 that there was
no prison gloom Of darkness; sun
! shine and brightness. Eli the apart
i ments-the doors Of, which stood open
50 that the prisoners might 60 in and
out at their pleasure, Il 5he ne Z ,siie4
There is every convenience for wash
/ ing, bathing, and cleanhness-indeed,
the whole house is u model of neat
ness apu order. aneHn 5gsgrai sd5 {
In the Building thers is q large and
|icommodious chapel, which, as yet, hss
not been occupied for worship. | tits
surely . noble charity-an honor to
our State, and one which We mayjust,
" feel proud Mrs. Elmira johnson,
formerly superintendent Of the Home
for Friendless Women, Of this city
has almost entire charge of the prison
department. The inmates are greatly
attached to hAf, and fear nothing more
than to dispease her. The prisoners
are being pro6tsbly employei--haxine
already eatned over two hundred dol.
lars by washing, and the facilities; are
being increased for laundry work,
/ They have also taken contract fo1
knitting Eve hundred pairs Of socks
for the boys Reform School 1t Plain.
field. We could but contrast the CON,
Iditson of these unfortunate criminals
] underlthe kind, christian rule which
pervades the whole house and all it
surroundings, to their situation at tht
Jacksonville priseaywheret they were
1 the victims Of the most base and crue
abuses. ~, - :.
! The Rsformatory Department, un,
der the immediate charge of Sarah
Smith, a minister among the Friends
and formerly Superintendent Of tn
!. Home for Friendless Women, of In
dianapolis, has at this time forty -ont
girls. There are eight from Rich!
mond. 1t is filling up every day
! showing the great need Of just sucl
4 an institutions. Here girls are taker
up to fifteen years of age, and all agre,
the time should be extended to eigh
q teen lin order to save many who mus
= Eotherwise'g go toruin. L Here they art
taught every thing useful-cutting ant
. making garments 49, Gaming chairs
!, cooking, washing, and house keeping
in all its details; they are also given |
good practical education. Matti
Pray, the teacher in the institution, i
most .amiable and efficient instruc
} tor and devoted to her work. Here