The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-12-18
ONE OF DICKENS CONyICrs.
Spending Lifetime In Solitary Couaue.
ment---DecorntiuR u Cell Undsr DIM.
cnltieH---A Singular Character.

ment---DeeorntiuE II Cell Under DIN.
caltie".--A Singular Character.
Over thirty years ago, says q Phila-
delphia letter, when Charles Dickens
made the tour Of this country that 70.
suited in his "Amcrican Notes, he do.
voted much OF his timc to the inspec-
tlon OF our prison system. Our priLci.
pal prison, then as now, was tho Eastern
penttentiary, in which the system Of
solitary confinement prevailed. Mr.,
Dickens in few graphic sentences
pictured tho miserable condition Of tho
unhappy convicts TO whom the sound Of
a human voice is almost unknown for
year after year.
That Mr.. Dickens notion OF the sys-
TEN was fair one, the experience Of
many years and the testimony Of somo
OF the best minds OF tho age
have shown; but many men are
still Livingstone OF them now within
the walls Of tho prison itself-who are
ready to testify that the institution was
as light and airy thirty years ago as it is
now, and recent personal visit con.
vince mo that it is IS pleasant and
wholesome place as is compatible with
massive stone walls md nnyielding bars
OF iron. Possibly Mr.. Dickens imagi
nation, as is apt to bo tho case with men
OF such high strung sensibiIities, was
wrought upon by his surroundings. At
NIL events, those who read his vivid dc.
scriptiOn will shudder moro at tho
picture SO powerfully brought before
them, than they would bo apt to at the
original.
The building covers square, and
branches off from q circular hall in the
center into seven long corridors, all
we'll lighted and excellently ventilated.
Everything is as clean as soap and water
can make it, aud within the cells,
which are ranged along tho corridors ip
two tiers, thcre is neatness and cleanli-
ness which would shame many model
housewives.
In Dickens time there was prisoner
OF forty cars or thereabonts, whose do.
lected appearance especially attracted
tho attention OF the novelist. He was
in the corridor fronting the entrance,
md had dovokd G!l the time allowed
him from his work to painting aud orna-
menting his cell and cultivating his
little gardun-a patch OF ground about
eight feet long aud Eve or six feet wide.
Dickens lGscribes the cell and the gar
d.n briefly, but devotos long parn.
graph to the downcast expression and
demeauor Of tic prisoner.
1t was the arrest Of this mau-CharieS
Lnngheimer by nGmc--shat suggested
this letter. Laughcimcr was discharged
from tho pcuitentiary in September last,
and lately was brought up before
magistrate charged with stealing all
overcoat. lIn is seventy. four years old
with bushy gray wliSkers anil grizzted
hair, and has oil tho Appearance Of "
well to-do mechanic. As far as can
ascertain, he is not u hard driukcr, hut
tho police and tho prison authorities
say that his long life has been ono con.
slant series Of lArcenies. In prison he
loves TO work, aud shows great taste and
ingenuity; but, once at large, his itch.
ing Of the fingers returns, and he is soon
in trouble again. When Dickens saw
him, he was serving his third term 70,
grand larceny. Since then he has
"tlono" three terms Of i've years Cnch,
and fivo others Of year or two each,
returning 10 the prison with tho rCgu'
larity OF the seasons. /
Tie cell lie occupied in 1912 is one OF
Tho ns1n ul,oa.o ~ kl,n ,Nriont, hNk fIn |
garden is not as well kept rs it was then.
Tho walls and ceiling OF the cell arc
olaborately painted in red, blue, Nnd
green. Every time he comes back he
tries to get his.old cell but failing i'll
this, lie goes to a new one, and content.
eily begins the work Of establishment.
When I saw him, just before his release,
he had spent nearly year in cell i'll
the southern tier, and had painted aud
arranged il 80 thoroughly that it looked
almost inviting. Tho paint he obtained
by soaking colorcd yarns in which lie
worked in water, and extracting the dye.
Such trifles rs he could obtain from the
chaplain or the warden he utilized with |
wonderful ingenuity. His garden bed,
like that described by Dickens, wis
coffin shaped, but his flowers were
the brightest and most blooming in .he |
prison. He sat at his whesl as the war.
don ushored me into tho cell, looking up |
with pleased expression at the sound |
OF our voices, but mover stopping his
work for q second. An expression Of
surprise at his wonderful ingenuity drew
forth faint, aickeriug smilc which was
painful to see, but after the Irst glance
he did not look up again, although I
could SEQ that he heard every word wo
said, and watched our motions sharply |
out OF ono corner Of his eye.
He will take up his old quarters for
q year or two more, and l AM glad to
say that his comfortable cell has been
reserved for him. He is standing Nr-
gument for tho authorities Of tho prison
in favor OF tho silent system. "Why,"
they say, "if this man wanted to, be
could get out OF this State ind into New
York rs soon as he is released, for our
prisoners seldom so away empty hand
el, and there he could cervc his tlmo IN |
Sing Sing or on Blackwell's island aud |
herd with his fellows. This Uystem may |
not work the same with all mtn, but the
stories OF insanity arising from solitary |
confinement are all bosh. Invariably
ws find that our insane prisoners were
mentally un:oupd when they eamo to
no