National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-30
ayatiumaI grpnbIitan
THE PRLSONS or PARIS.


The Petite ROquette Is the name given to the
house of correction for youthful delinquenss
under sixteen years of age, and for lads under
age, whose parents have, as a last resource
brought them before the President of the Trib-
unal of the Seine. This must be necessarily
difficult and delicate duty, and, as might be
expected, the inquiry is often too slightly pUr-
sued. Worthless parents, wishing to be re-
HeYed of the care of their offspring, and, per-
haps being about to contract second mar
rage, will falsely accuse the poor boys. The
system here is strictly separate and cellular
This is doubtless absolutely necessary in the
earlier stages Of their treatment still it is 4
sharp remedy, and it is very painful to see
these young creatures, at the very age Whea
their spirits are most buoyant, immersed in
solitude, seeing no one but the officers GRd
chaplains, and left to work and eat and sleep
alone. One fine lad, whose cell entered with
the warder, when asked him how he came
into that place, hesitated at first for an answer,
and then replied, "They said stole" His
couptepance rather belied his evasiye reply,
and could not but doubt whether the facts
altogether bore out his favorable representa-
ton of his case.
The youth looked well and as happy as cir
cumstaDces would allow. l believe he was
near the end of his term. Six months is, was
informed, the utmost limit Of their cOnfne-
ment here with the exception Of some more
hopeful characters, who are detained with =
view to further probation and ultimate appren-
ticeship. If they are not well conducted, and
are not claimed by their parents at the end Of
that time, they are removed to juvenile agri-
cultural colonies, such as Mettray. l was
happy to find some alleviatiOns provided for
kI,.y, 81 Iag-
for their improvement, in the services and re-
ligious instruction of the chapel, and in the
classes for instruction in the elements of gen
eral knowledge. Separation here also is string
emily enforced. The chapel is rOtunda, and
is fitted up with rows Of bOx-like seats in con-
centric circles, all cOnverging around the altar
and the priest There they sit unseen by each
other and all seen by him. Their relatives,
when they have any, are allowed to visit them,
but the interview must take place on the wrong
side of q wire grating. Even in the hours Of
recreation they are alone. Each little unfor-
tunate has his own little yard, in which for
one hour daily he may stretch his limbs under
the eye of the Vigilant keeper. Iobserved one,
and only one, grim concession to childish tastes.
A slight recognition Of the fact, so truly and
we'll expressed by Keble, that ''the heart Of
childhood is all mirth, /" is seen in the hoop
which hangs up at the entrance to each yard;
but the play must indeed be q slow one. No
sooner has the unhappy urchin got his hoop
into fair motiO2 when it falls against the walls
of the Enclosure and he has to begin again.
This place is also their laYatOry, where in all
possible weathers, with the running pipe, soap
and towels, each youngster performs his toilet
When the water is frozen in the pipes the soft
hearted authorities make virtue of necessity,
and allow them to wash indoors. The system,
although so stern and perhaps needlessly harsh,
appears in many respects most admirable, and
vastly superior to the practice, still to be found
in England, of combining merC children with
veterans whose hair has grown gray in crime.
My last visit was reserved for that which, on
account of its painful associations, is, in some
respects, the most interesting-the prison of
the cOndemned-La Grande Roquette. 1t is
used as the temporary depot of those under
sentence of penal seryitude, as we'll as for the
confinement of men condemned to death.
There appeared to be nothing worthy of special
notice in its ordinary arrangements. They
pass the day in common, but sleep separately
at night. Quite apart from the rest are the
three cells for the condemned. They are spa
cious and airy and are extremely well secured.
A warden and q soldier, who are changed
every two hours, are in constant attendance
upon him. He is never left alone, day or
night. The chaplain also pays him frequent
visits. All other visitors Except, when neces-
saTy, his legal adyiser) are excluded. As,
happily the cells were at the time unOecupied,
was allowed to enter them. The gloom add
stiffness of the weird place made one shudder.
Good Words.