The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-21
LETTER FROM THE PENITENTIARY.
Portland, January 16.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The monotony of our prison life was
relieved this morning in a manner
which can only describe as glorious,
and cannot rest quietly until 1 tell you
something about it.
For the past two years Mesdames
Thornton, Clawson, Carter, and several
other ladies whose names 1 do not
recollect, have been carrying on mis-
sionary work here. During the past
year they have held meetings here
every Sunday, and not only have they
| interested themselves in the moral well
! fare of our isolated community, but
they have visited the sick and supplied
them from time to time with many
things. But what set out to tell you
about was the entertainment given
here this morning.
Just as the clock struck ten, two or
three buggies were driven up, and afew
minutes after we were surprised to hear
the tuning of violins. The bell soon
struck, and we were admitted into the
chapel, where we beheld-not men, as
we supposed-but lady and gentleman
and five beautiful children, two girls
and three boys, all ready with their in
struments to entertain us. OF course
you will guess at once that these were
Mr.. and Mrs McGibeny and their fam
lily, and you are right.
1t is impossible for me to give an ac-
curate account of all that was sung.
Suffice it to say that singing and song
sters alike seemed to US almost divine.
Eyes unusued to tears were filled as
they gazed on the sweet, wee, curly
headed little girl, only three years Of
age, who kept time to the sweet strains
with her tiny triangle and drum, and
the pat-pat of her little feet, as she
looked with wondering eyes over her
strangely-attired audience.
OF the effects of such an entertain
ment upon US you can judge. All the
sermons preached here for the last two
years have not aroused as much feeling
as did this strange, sweet concert. Not
only did they entertain US for an hour
and half with such delightful music
as never echoed from the walls of our
chapel before, but at the close they Wis
tied the cells of the men, the children
shaking hands with US, and the father
and mother speaking words of kindness
thoE mill nayar ha fOrOOtfau hoo rd
one man to whom Mrs. McGibeny had
spoken very kindly say that if he ever
forgot to pray for himself, he was sure
he should always remember to pray for
her and her family. Words of kindness,
sympathy, and love will reform a man
when rigorous prison laws and bolts
and bars utterly fail.
1t is we'll known that the majority of
men in prison have neither pleasure in
the present nor hope for the future be-
cause they feel that when the bolts fly
back and they are once more at liberty
that they will be Stunned of all men
and women. Chance to earn living is
small, for no one will hire them if they
know where they have been, and they
go out into the outside world feeling
that all whom they meet are enemies.
A noble few from Salem and Portland
and among these as one of the foremost
1 count yourself-have met US here with
-. words of hope and encouragement, and
for this we all feel grateful. Oh, if this
treatment of poor, erring, unfortunate
humanity would but become universal,
few indeed would return to these walls
for second term of servitude for crime
committed. EUGENE ST. CLARE.
Oregon State Prison, January 8, 1876.
The North German Lloyd's steamer
''Salier," from New York for Bremen,
Is ashore in the English Channel. Ef-