Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-24

thoroughly overhauling the beds and bed
ding, airing and shaking up, cleansing and
purifying. Few bedrooms in the land are
better cared for, or receive more frequent
renovation. By this plan, the occupants of
the cell are allowed to go to the labor in the
general work rooms to which they have be-
come accustomed. As becomes good house.
keeping the chamber work is ali done ND in
the morning, and every department is kept
as neat and tidy as Dutch kitchen.
The work-rOOms are large and airv. and
are provided with every facility for the labor
to be performed, according to its kind. In
one room are to be found from FORTY to sixtv
women putting cane seats to chair-bottoms.
They sit in rows or sections, the line drawn
with military precision. and look like a
marching column, or would if they were
standing. The work in hand in this room
yesterday morning was an order including
1900 chair bottoms to be 'scaned,' and for
the service the prison receives the munifcent
sum OF four cents each. However, the work
IS such as requires no special ingenuity or
capability in the performers, is easily learn
ed, and available for the dullest intellects
No talking is allowed among the workers,
and matron and teacher circulates through
their ranks. giving instruction or advice, as
the case requires.
In another room we find upward of one
hundred women, seated in sections, as in
the first. Upon one side the whirr of sew
!ng-machlnes makes all the noise apparent
IN Inc room, for here, too, the workers are
speeches.. The work on which these
women, or most OF them, are now engaged
is the manufacture of Jackets for the schoo
MunSOn-fOnr huv rol DS
cents each, and money saved to the State at
that. Lamb knitting machine is near at
nand, ana red mlttens are being turned out
ghbly. the nducement being fifteen cents
per pair from contractor. It becomes at
once apparent that here is an institution in
which, II desired, all the sewing work for all
the State prisons and reform schools can be
performed. The work is done well. Two
matrons overlook this room.
In all there are about two hundred and
twenty-five women at work, and the arrange
ments are such, as we have said, that thew
are never idle and never overworked. When
waiting, for any cause, for their regular
| work, they are provided with materials for
edslng and crocheting, and the products ag-
gregate largely from SO many hands, and sell
readily at fifty cents per yard.
| Inc laundry rooms are elaborately fitted
| up, and, besides doing all the work necessary
Tor the institution, are prepared to take in
large amounts of work from outside, and
execute it with fidelity and great excellence.
From twenty-five to thirty persons are now
employed in it. The terms of service of the
prisoners vary from two months to nine
years, so far, and there are many whose
terms include three to five years service.
| In the Kitchen vast amount of bakinn
and cooking is performed, also in the main
! by conVlcts, and the results are of the best.
Inc bread baked is really home made, sweet.
and OF quality superior to that found in
most public institutions. Between while,,
the crochet needles are piled by the attend
| ants, and all wheels move.
AS might be expected, large proportion
OF the convicts can neither read nor write
and school has been established occupying
a neat, cosy room in pleasant part of the
second story center. In this school seven
classes daily are assembled of twenty-four
scholars each. The lessons in most of these
classes are simply reading and writing. The
aVlolty with which the women take to study
IS amazing, and so is their progress as we'll
we found several women who have been in
mates but short time, who have alr.adv
learned to read simple exercises, and in writ
ing their progress is simply astonishing. All
ages are represented, and the older scholars
seem to outvie the younger in their applica-
ton and success.
III all these rooms, as well as in the better
class OF cells, the presence of plants and
flowers is noticeable upon entering, and the
pleasure their presence affords cannot he
overrated.
On Saturday the convicts write home. or
to their friends outside. Devotional exer-
cises are held in the chapel every morning
and evening, and appropriate services in the
same way on Sabbath morning, with Sunday
schoo! IN the afternoon. singing school
IS held on Tuesday and Friday evenings of
each week. Clergymen of all denominations
are welcomed to the prison, and given the
fullest liberty IN their clerical capacity.
In the nursery there are at present forty
three babies fourteen of whom were born in
the prison during the short time since its
opening. In no department, except, pers
haps, the hospital, is the peculiar influence
OF the establishment SO noticeable. Eighteen
months Is the limit of age during which the
youngsters may be allowed to remain. They
are attended by their mothers when the
health of the latter will permit, and their
appearance, tucked away in their little
cradles, cannot fail to interest. The nursery
Is bright and attractive, Astounding in plants
and flowers, and no wonder look of salts
faction rests upon each mothers face.
! The hospital is the most cheerfully sit
uated room in the building, and is excel
lently provided with every appliance and
attribute which should be found in such a
department. The lady doctors and apothe,
! carries are hard at it in the dispensary during
sick-call and the quiet dignity and business,
like air of the operators win the tribute of
thorough respect from the first look.
IL In the reception-room the other day, a
pleasant incident occurred A young man
appeared at the prison, and avowed his will
ingness and his intention, if he could be al
lowed, to marry one of the prisoners. With
+ him came his employer, and agreed to give
him work constantly as guarantee that he
could support family. The girl was mott
fed and willing, and visiting priest per
! formed the ceremony. The little reception
room was made to shine for the occasion
and green leaves and nodding flowers did
. their best to illustrate this first festal rite
! within the prison.
/ Stop! This was not the first festival event.
y On Christmas the first was witnessed. From
, this there came result SO eminently femi
. nine in its cause that it became a marked
feature in the occasion. True to their in