The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-10
EDITORIAL OoRRFsPONDBNoE.

N'A+AANNAa hAtNHN AAnAAAOA- AIulll week
to week was suddenly snapped a fort
night since by a spasmodic determine
tion on the part Of the chronicler to ego
home"
We were, as you will recollect, at
work in Salem, and had gotten as far in
giving epistolary account Of our tolls
and wanderings as the prospective Sat
urday night open temperance meeting
in the capital city, Which we couldn't
attend because so thoroughly tagged
that weary nature would not he whipped
up TO the point of taking another step.
Sunday morning found Us sufficiently
rested to be able to hear Brother p. :.
Knights very able Easter sermon. The
church was artistically decorated, the
singing fiue, aud the preaching Of the
progressive order. There was a good
congregation of well-dressed ladies pres
ent, but barely enough gentlemen to
give the meeting tone.
After the sermon, Superintendent
Burch sent his la1mdoiet to convey Us
to the penitentiary, where we had the
pleasure of holding an Easter meeting
with Rev. DIR. Hall in the prison chapel,
in presence Of a congregation quite as
large as Brother knights, with the diff
ference that well-dressed men lin
stripesl We're in marked majority,
with barely one woman convict present
to give the meeting tone. Women evil
IDENTIFY go To church from choice, while
men attend under compulsioD.
Mr.. Burch is doing a splendid work
among the prisoners, of whom one
hundred aud thirty-six are men. One
solitary woman is there as a prisoner,
and she is committed for life, her crime,
the murder Of her husband. The poor
old creature is excessively miserable,
and yet the peni,entiary is evidently
the best place on earth for her. We
would suggest a stove i'm her cell; and
several appliances Of comfort and lux
ury could be added at little cost, to en-
liven her lonely quarters. She was very
humble aud obsequious with US until
we told her plainly that we thought she
was better of in the prison, where she
could not get liquor, than she would be
il allowed to run at large; aud then
didn't she rail?
"An' it's the likes Of yez that goes
gallivantin' round the country, LAWN
yer pore husban' at the keraydle an the
wash-tuh, while yez be's maxim the
spayehes, an bossin' the payplel' she
said, adding much more of the same
sort, which was equally laughable.
We record with profound humiliation
the not very surprising fact that the one
woman convict i'm the Oregon peniteu-
tiary is opposed to Woman Suffrage.
But then she has good deal Of company
among the would-be popular women
outside, and that's some comfort.
DR.. Hall is doing very earnest work
among the prisoners, who listen with a
great deal OF apparent feeling to his
Sunday exercises. They join in the
singing with the average congrega-
tional harmony, and many are much
affected by the sermons. While State
prison converts and death-bed repenters
generally need the constant application
of the remedy that brings them 20 con-
viction aud repentance in order TO keep
them in the straight and narrow path
Of human rectitude, yet there are al
ways naturally good men in the peni-
tentiary, who have no business there,
and the spiritual consolation they re-
ceive at the meetings is often a healing
balm to their wounded pride aud out
ragged sense Of justice. We are satisfied
that there are at least one dozen men in
the Oregon penitentiary who ought, i'm
justice to themselves and humanity, to
be allowed TO change places with a like
number Of average Oregon Legislators.
But such is luck.
On Monday we again visited the
prison in Brother Burch's laundOlef.
Good reader, imagiue a rattletrap Of the
most diIapidated granger style, drawn
by superaunuated equine, comforta-
ble, fat, and uncomforiably lazy, the
rattletrap a cross between a farmers
carryall and city dump-cart, and you
have an accurate picture Of that Eaundo-
tet. We think an appropriation for the
purchase Of a hack-and-pair for the
prison will be first in order at the com
ing legislative session. \ friend at our
elbow suggests that Brother Burch has
the right conception of retrenchment
aud reform; and while the State is
groaning under the visitations of DEM
Oeratie swamp angels and the lock and
dam swindle, he'd better stick to his
ld,mdOIet.
After a bountiful dinner at the hos
pitable board Of Superintendent Burch
and wife, we were shown over the
prison grounds and through the build
ings, where bands Of convicts are let, by
contract, to different manufacturing eu-
terprises, all Of which are in a flourish
ing condition. Blacksmithing, tanning,
saddle, and harness making, boot and
shoe making, cabinet work, and iron
shaft making are among the enterprises
in active operation, and Mr. Burch is
justly proud OF the success Of his expert
ments in utilizing convict labor for the
benefit Of the State. As we watched
the men at work, we could not but wish
that their earnings might go to the sup
port Of their families, many Of whom
are reduced to EXTREMIST straits to keep