The Democratic advocate., 1878-12-07

enough. Specimens were there of goal
blrds-strong, weak and cadaverous, bold,
ferocious and timid, cunning, repulsivc,
and, to judge from the type, utterly incu-
rable. According to the statement of one
who said, II was saved here" nine out of
ten present were at this moment at work
in the thieves market, and the vast ma
jority were returned convicts. The meal
was partaken of with warmth of the we'll
lit comfortable building, no doubt COM
pared with the bitter cold which they had
left, and into which they would have to
turn again in an hour or two, having much
to do with it. Outside the chapel there
was an unlimited mob, ravenous enough
and anxious enough to partake of the treat;
and after those with tickets had satisfied
their appetites large number were admit
ted, and supper was given them.
Since June 3 last, 4 1897 prisoners had
been discharged from the House of Cor
rection in Coldbath-felds. The Mission
had taken room in Elm street, nearly op,
posite the prison gates, and it was the
practice to meet prisoners as they came
out, and to offer them card of invitation
to breakfast. Out of the above mentioned
number no less than 2,110 had accepted
the, invitation, and, whilst partaking of
breakfast, 1.-The Gospel was read to them,
and the benefits of the Home explained.
OF the 2,110 who had been thus provided
for, 426 had signed the temperance pledge.
Several gentlemen and few of the thieves
addressed the meeting.
An ingenious fraud has been committed
upon wealthy merchant residing in the
neighborhood of Paris. A week or two
ago he received letter informing him
that the writer has ascertained that box
containing treasure was buried in his gar
den, and offering to indicate the exact
spot if he would agree to divide the spoil.
The merchant was at first inclined to treat
the letter as hoax, but upon receiving
second and more pressing one he sent an
answer, agreeing to the proposal. The
next day he was waited upon by gentle
man of agreeable manners, and it was ar
ranged that the search should be made at
night, in order to prevent the neighbors
from talking. The box-a very weighty
one-was duly unearthed, and when taken
into the house and opened was found to
contain 5000 francs in silver pieces of 8
fir. each. The merchant, much pleased at
the result of the search, at once handed
over the half which he had promised to
his informer, who remarked that it was
rather a heavy lump to carry to the rail-
way station, distant about mile, and per-
haps the merchant could oblige him with
notes or gold instead. This the merchant
was very happy to do; but he regretted bit
terly the next morning, as hesaw by the light
of day that the 5 franc pieces were spu-
rious.
A clergyman has been convicted Of
forging promissory note. l do not know
the details, but the offence is generally
expiated by a sentence of penal servitude.
But I do know what Lord Coleridge re-
marked, and that was that he be sentenced
to nine months imprisonment compar
atively light sentence-because he believed
the prisoner, "owing to his being an edu-
Gated man and of good birth, would find
it particularly severe" In my Ignorance
I should have imagined that good birth
and a good education should almost have
counted against the prisoner, but the ways
of judges are strange. Brett could not be
hard upon Colonel Baker, and even Bran
we'll was merciful to the mistletoe man
so why should not Coleridge
spare the man "of education and good
birth ?" ALPHA.