The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-26
0NE0F DICKENS'S CONVICTS
THE Story or CHARLES LfNG HRTM.
ER, THIEF AND ARTIST.


spending Lifetime In SOLITARY Confinement
decorating Cell Under Difficulties
singular Character what OnicinI. Sny.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. %. Over thirty
years ago, wnen Oh ules Dickens made the tour
of this country that resulted In his American
Notes." he devoted much OF bis time to tho
inspection Of our prison system. Oar principal
prison, then as now, was the EASTERN peniten-
tiary, In which the system OF solitary connne-
ment prevailed. MIR. Dickens in a few graphic
sentences pictured the miserable condition OF
the unhappy convicts to whom the sound OF a
human voice Is almost unknown for year after
year.
That Mr. Dlckens's notion OF the system was
fair one, the experience OF many wears aud tho
testimony OF some OF the best minds OF the age
have shown but many men are sti living
some Of them now within the walls Of the prison
itset-who arc ready to testify that the institu-
tion was as light and airy thirty years ago II Is
now, and recent personal visit convinced me
that II Is as pleasant aud wholesome place
Is compatible with massive stone walls and I'M
yielding bars OF iron. Possibly Mr.. Dckens's
imagnation as IA apt o. be the case with men Of
such hieh-strung sensbilites, was wrought
upon by his surroundings. At all events, those
VINO read his vivid description will shuddor
more at the picture so powerfully brought before
Inc building covers a square-a block" you
would call It In New York-and branches Oh
from a circular hall In the centre into seven long
corridors all well lighted and exceilentIy venti-
lated. Everything Is as clean "a SOAP and water
can make it, aud WITHIN the cells, which are
ranged along the corridors in two tiers there ia
neatness and cleanliness which would shame
many model housewives.
In Dickenss time there was n prisoner OF
forty wears or Whereabouts. whose detected APP
pearance especially attracted the attention Of
the novelist. lie In the corridor VI Ontiuu the
entrance, and had devoted all the time allowed
him from bis work TO aInttng and ornumenting
his cell and cutiva ing his little garden-a patch
OF ground about eight feet long and five or six
woe. Dickens describes the cell and the gar
den briefly, but devOtes a long paragraph to the
downcast EXPRESSION and demeanor OF the
prisoner
heimer by name-that suggested this letter.
Langheimer was discharged from the penitcn-
tiarv In september last, and yesterday was
brought up before magistrate charged with
stealing an overcoat. lie 10 seventy four years
old, with bush gray whiskers and grizZled hair,
end mas all The appearance Of a well TODD me-
chanie. a. lar as ! can ascertain. he Is not a
narn drlnker, put the police and the prison nu'
'horltes say that his long life has been one con-
slant series OF larCenies. In prison lie loves to
work, and shows great taste and ingenuity; but,
once at large, his itching OF the fingers returns,
ana he Is soon Ia trouble again. When Dickens
saw HIM, he was serving his third term for
grand larceny. since then he has done three
terms OF i've years each. and i've others Of year
or two en-, returning to the prison with the
regularity OF the seasons.
The cell he occupied in lsi2 is one OF the side
shows Of the prison, but the gIrden IL not as
well Kept as 1t was then. The walls and ceiling
OF the cell are eltborately paint d In rcd blue,
ana green. Every time he comes back he tries
10 get his old cell but failing IN this, he goes
to new one, and contentedly begins the work
| OF establishment. Wncn saw him, Just before
hts release. he had spent nearly Il year In u cell
| IN the southern tier, and had painted and
arranged n so thoroughly that II looked almost
| inviting. The paint he obtained by soaking
cOlored yarns IN which he worked in Water, and
extracting the dye. Such rlhcs - he could OBJ
tam from the chaplain or the Warden he utii-
| yea win wonderful ingenuity. His =, rdcn bed,
! Ike that described by Dickens, was coffln-
shaped, but his flowers were the brightest and
! most blooming IN the prison. lie sat at his
wheel as the Warden ushered me into the cell,
ROCKING up with a pleased expression at the
SOUND OF our voices, but never ST. pping his
| WORK Tor a second. An expression OF surprise nj
MS wonderful ingenuity drew forth "a faint,
| IA ,heflng smile which was painful to see, but
| after tue FIRST glance he did not look M again,
| although could see that he heard every word
| We sald' aud watched our motions sharply out
OF one corner OF his eve.
Nithin few days he will take ND his old
quarters Tor year OF two more and / am glad
to say that his comfortable cell has been re-.
| served Tor him. lie Is a standing argument for
the authorities ot the prison Ia favor of the ST.
lent system. "Why" they say, "if this man
| wanted TO, he could get out Of this State and
INTO New YORK as soon as he Is released for our
prisoners seldom 20 away empty handed, and
there he could serve his time in Sing sing or on
| DlicNwelfs Island anu herd with his fellows.
men, Out the stuties OF INSANITY arising from sol
! ltnry confinement are all hOsh Invariably we 1nd
| that our insane prisl were mentally I'M
| sSuuu wien tney came 10 us.