Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-09
7H4NKSGITING At TIE STATE
PRLSOI

| Dout iless the inhabitants of no community
look forward to the annual Day of Thanks
giving with more Of interest and wishful ex-
pectaton than those of that which is en-
braced within the walls of our State Prison at
Thomaston. The humane custom of giving
the prisoners on this annual occasion day of
rest from their usual labors, a substantial
Thanksgiv dinner and a season of social
intercourse and diversion, has become estab-
lshed in this institution and its observance is
attended with good results. Last Thursday
the day was observed as usual. AT o'clock
r, ligious services were held in the chapel and
short practical address adapted to the oc-
casion and the audience, was made by Rev.
J. X Mason of Thomaston. At the conclu
sion of the services in the chapel, the prison.
ers were given the liberty of the new paiGt
! shop, where they were allowed to mingle
| freely and without restraint in social inter-
course and diversions until the dinner hour.
| The room where this unusual "social assem-
bly," was held is in the second story of the
new building that has been erected to take
the place of the one destroyed by fire some
thing over year since. This building is of
brick and is built partly over the old quarry,
so that while it is two stories on the front, the
rear wall is four stories high above the stone
foundation wall, which latter rises some TWEEN
ty feet from the bottom of the quarry. The
| building is over $50 feet in length and the
paint shop in the second story runs nearly
the whole length of the building.
| In this immense room were gathered near
ly all the inmates of the prison, the only ex-
ceptions being Wagner, the Isles Of Shoals
murderer, Bartlett and Sims. the Bowdoin-
ham Bank robbers, Deacon Rogers the de-
faultng cashier and one or two inmates of the
hospital. A dozen or more of visitors were
also present, including several ladies. The
writer was among the number CT those pres
ent for an hour or two and we found much to
interest us in the novel gathering. Music
was furnished, comprising Ave or six pieces,
and though no regular ''sets" were formed
for dancing (perhaps for the lack of suitable
partners), groups of the prisoners INDUCED
in alternate exhibitions of saltatory exercise,
varied with an occasional 'walk around,
and one couple ventured to essay a waltz.
Others tried their comparative ability and
skill in lifting and holding out weights, or
balancing heavy articles upon the chin, as
pertaining their weight upon the scales, etc.
A "guess- cake" was also brought in, which
was given to the man guessing nearest to its
weight. The men mingled freely, talking
with each other, or with the officers or visit
ors, apparently having as much liberty for the
time as any assembly Of a like number of
persons come together to enjoy themselves
| for an hour or two. There are at the present
| time 1873 inmates of the prison.
At little past noon the men were mus
tered by the officers and filed in to their quar-
tiers in the celia, where they were to spend
the afternoon Each man, as he passed to
his cell, took the dinner which had been pre-
pared for him. This consisted of roast fowl,
with the usual accompaniment of vegetables,
etc. Mrs. Rice, the wife of the Warden, was in
the prison kitchen, personally experimenting
the preparation and proper serving of the re-
past. Warden Rice was present among
the men during the morning, having word
for each as he met them and apparently re-
ceiving from the inmates of the prison the re-
spect and esteem which he deserves as a firm,
just and efficient, but humane and consider
ate officer. We heard one young prisoner
remark to the Warden that the present was
his last Thanksgiving Day in the prison, and
we hope that the annual observance Of this
festival, with its temporary liberty and priv
ieges, may be to those who are sooner or
later to 60 out from the prison walls an en-
blem of, and an incentive toward, that posi-
ton OF honest freedom and respectabili,y
which they may gain if they will while even
those who have, according to the verdict of
the law, forfeited forever the right to mingle
among their fellowmeu, may, if they will, be
thankful that the highest freedom is inner
freedom. and that prison walls cannot deprive
of this liberty the man who has emancipated
himself from the dominion of his own evil
passions and base desires. -Roehiand Ga
zttte.
POLITICAL.