The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-03-14
Two pictures Of Prison Management.

A writer in ~Godey's Lody's Book relates
the following:
Although so much has been done, OF
late years, to improve the management OF
our prisons, there are still many complaints
at out them. and benevolent persons are
studying different systems, with the vie"
of correcting what is wrong. We suspect
however, that the root of the mischief VIII
in general be found in the character of the
persons in charge. When capable, we'll
educated, and we'll disposed men or women
are placed over any institution, it may he
taken for granted that if they find bad
system in it. they will speedily create
good one. This view has striking confir-
nation ia the descriptions given by cor
respondent who lately paid visit to the
prisons of Rome. The prison for men,
which occupies a structure of world
wide feme-the celebrated -'Baths of Do
cletian"-is under tue superin tendence of
warders of the usual stamp, who doubtless
do the best that their character and capac-
ity will allow. The result is shown in the
picture thus presented to US:
"Walking along a corridor, the doors of
several large, ill-lighted rooms were thrown
open. and the sight that met our eyes, as the
warder entered and called al posto ! Ito your
places) is not to be forgotten. 1t could best be
iikened to a scene in Dante's Inferno Forty
men, with half.cropped hair, in loose
and dirty prison dresses of black and yellow
wool, scutled like frightened animals, each to
his place; many who are Willing away the
weary hours in sleep hastily jump from beds
which, in some of the rooms, lay on the floor,
thus adding to the appearance of general unit
diness Like hounds hudded 10 kennel, these
wretched men, with hanging heads, and low,
sullen countenances, sit crouching all the day
without work, and with no one to watch or
teach them. Their sole occupation must be
the rehearsal of past misdeeds and the hatch
ing of new plots, with the occasional excite
ment of a fight, which has been known to end
in homicide"
From the grim baths of Diocletian the
writer proceeded to the 'sunny, handsome
Villa Aiteri', no transfOrmedinto IL prison
for women, of which he gives a very diff
fefent account:
at was provided for this purpose Ivy Mon
siguor Merolr, who had brought some Belgian
Sisters from Belgium on purpose To act as jail
ers under the Iapal reign, and who was con-
sequenty anxious that they should he retained
for this purpose, there having been some dan
ger of their being superseded III the general
reaction against religions orders. They are
now servants of the Italian Government, and
under Government regulations-to them
a sore trial, no doubt; but the appear
aDce of this institution certainly gave
the impression that these gentle jailers work
from higher motives than those of mere pay
The prisoners, who looked neat and tidy
and of cheerful expression, were all occupied
with embroidery and lace-work in one long
room. They were arranged In rows racing a
sharp eyed but Unlocking Sister, who,
seated at high desk, kept order by the sole
force of her presence"
The contrast of these two pictures is
better than pages of disquisition. The
laws and the prescribed regulations for
both prisons are the same. The ditferen ce
is in the quality of the keepers. Systems
aud rules are in themselves inert and dead
things. The human character is in all re-
forms the vivifying power. 1t follows that
in establishing an institution of any kind,
the true course is to look for managers
of the proper character and qualifications,
give them good and competent assistants,
furnish them with the necessary means,
aud sustain them with cordial trust. We
may then feel sure that the right system
and regulations will be developed by the
force of natural law, and will speedily
make themselves known, as in the woman,
prison of Rome, by their visible fruits.