Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-08

that only reaches to the back of the
ears, and under which the uncut hair is
tucked; the compartment of young girls
placed there by their parents for cor
rection;" another for girls of the town,
and still another for old and infrm men
dicants. TIE sub. divisions are made
with regard to the ages of the criminals,
the children ranging in years from seven
to sixteen being by themselves, and the
others grouped accordingly.
Eagerly | looked for the means en-
ployed to elevate and benefit the young
girls, many of whom had been picked
up for being lost in the streets, or for
begging, or for having been ungovern-
able at home. / asked one of the " Sis
ters to tell us what they did to inspire
the girls with honest motives, and to
help them to be strong against tempta-
ton. Oh, we teach them to read and
write and to learn the catechism, and
they attend mass and sing and sew.
suppose you know the history of
each one, and something of her trials
and temptations2"
Oh, no. we know what she was put
in here for and how long she has TO
stay.
The prisoners all rise to their feet
VIXEN visitor enters, like lot Of school
girls. They wear hardened, uuimpres-
sible look, especially those under thirty
years of age, that was fearfully notice
able. Out of the fourteen hundred saw
was but one who had face that
could be called handsome. She was an
English woman, and of all the women l
ever talked with decidedly the most
hardened and unregeneratiye.
But what are you doing hereY |
asked. You look like gentlewoman."
"Oh, / ami" she replied coolly. Il
belong to an excellent family. My
father is a surgeon and my husband is
commercial agent" and she twirled
wedding ring on pretty hand.
But why do they allow you to be
kept in this placer
"Oh, they don't know it; / wouldn't
have my friends know | was here for the
world. Because | won't tell who am,
and am here in France without pass
port. is why / am here"
"Oh, that is all nonsense nobody
asks for your passport in France. You
did something; what was it 2 Twisting
her hands with dramatic air, she
shrugged her shoulders with, Oh, 1
couldn't tell you, it was so dreadful
You remember the Lady Faulkners
case? Well, it was like that" Lady
f. bad been arrested for shop. lifting.
But why should you steal? You
never had need, I'm sure
"Oh, no. | have all | want. All my
wants are supplied. 1t was misunder-
standing you know" and with a misera-
BILE laugh she made grand curtsy and
ran away--a woman to organize band
Of robbers, capable of any crime, and
will commit misdemeanor the moment
she shall be out Of Jail
After our talk with her we came across
two other English-speaking prisoners,
one a, good faced English woman who
had not yet had her trial, and who, with
tears in her eyes, declared she would
never again be caught in st. Lazare; the
other was Boston woman of Irish
descent, whose husband. an American,
was also IL prison. She, too, had been ar
rested for theft; it was so hard to live in
Paris when one did not have plenty. A
kind Englishwoman had been in the
prison and had taken her bLby out and
placed it in the country. The English
clergymen never came there to visit the
prison, and it was very rare French
lady came there as visitor, she said
However, they were well enough treated;
allowed to receive and write letters, and
had books to read.
Upon inquiry we learned that the ma
jority of the women and girls are arrested
for misconduct and theft Often months
pass by before they receive trial. If
condemned to term exceeding a year
they are sent to New Caledonia or some
one of the French colonies.