Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-08-25
CONVICT LABOR ABROAD.
Some Facts About tho Largest Pcnitentiary
In GermNny.

Some Facts About tho LARGEST Pcnitsntiar,
In GermNny.
At Plotzensee, three-quarters OF al
hours ride from Berlin, Ia the largest
penitentiary in Germany, concerning
which we gather these facts from Berlin
letter:
Those who have no trade, upon their
entrance are given the choice Of that
which they will learn. There are accom-
modations for 1900 prisoners, and at the
time Of writing there were only 100
cells empty. The division Of solitary
confinement and imprisonment for life ID
always full, for the emperor is so averse
to capital punishment that he almost in
variahly commutes the sentence of death
to long imprisonment. Here also each
prisoner is expected to perform his Ger.
tain amount of labor and make enough
to pay for his existence. Confinement,
without light and idlenesss, is entirely
banishcd, or, If used at all, is only in case
of violation of the prison rules as sec
ond punishment.
For lighter crimes the prisoners work
together. There are large and hand
some workshops in which every variety
of work is manufactured. In one di-
vision, rs We passed through, where
over hundred men hid finished their
work and were eating their evening soup,
our party excited commotion which was
really alarming, for visitors are seldom or
never permitted to visit the prisons, and
ladies never.
The greatest variety of articles are
manufactured, from the most exquisite
wood carving down to the commonest
socks that are prepared by an American
knitting machine. In che cell we found
n man cutting corks. In another en-
yelopes were cut and folded with re-
markable celebrity. A third made shoes,
and 80 on through all the grades of handi-
craft. In the common Torkhouse richly
carved oak chairs, with cane seats, were
made, and found ready sale in Berlin, as
does, indeed, everything made in the
penitentiary. A fews days before our
visit n fire had broken out at night in
the inflammable material in one of the
workshops. The building was entirely
consumed, with all its stores of material
and tools. The most trusty prisoners
were permitted to assist in extinguishing
the flames, and no damage was done to
the main building.
In the kitchen the pots and kettles
were of mammoth dimensions, and every
thing is moved by steam. A vat almost
as large as n small-sized bedroom was
full of peeled potatoes ready for the
Sunday dinner. Everything is cooked
to mush, or what could be really and
truly called "spoon victuals," MS Of
course no knives and forks can be used.
Twice week they receive fresh meat,
which is always reduced to stew with
some kind of vegetables. A plate of
soup was handed lis to taste. 1t was for
us simply horrible, being made from the
German brown bread, a mixture to which
our long residence in Germany had not
accustomed lis.
The doctor told us that every morning
different divisions of the men passed in
review before him to state their griev-
ances and ailments, and that nine out Of
every ten made can evening prayer and
morning petition for change of food"
But this style OF food is one of their
punishments, and no change is permitted
until they have reached the point where
the stomach actually rejects this slushy
preparation. Then they are confined
to their cells and furnished with solid
food until it resumes its normal tone.
Every device is rcsorted to to prove
themselves unable to partake of the
common rations, and the doctor assured
lis he was sometimes at his wits end to
decide between real and feigned sickness
on this one point.