Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-19
Laudu Gs ert and Er-Couvicts.
To the Editor of the Globe.

| Io VIC IulIOI OI Lue OlODe.
letter published in the New York Herald
from Linda Gilbert the prisoners friend, re-
| calls the incident which determined her mis-
sion, and gives rise to certain reflections on the
subject involved.
As a school girl in Chicago her way led past
the city prison. On given occasion she was
hailed from grated window and asked for the
newspaper she had in her hand. She ap-
preached and handed it to the prisoner, who
was SO profuse in his thanks that her heart was
touched: She brought more to him, and OBJ
serving his close confinement, gray hairs and
'gentlemanly breeding, her sympathies
were gradually so enlisted in his
behalf that she entered into conversation with
him. and among other things learned how very
precious newspaper is to one under such cir
cumstances. Indeed, she was now so carried
away with feeling and sympathy for him that
| she did not stop to ask whether the papers had
been read at home, but would catch up even
the morning mail and distribute it among
the inmates of the prison on her way to school.
She visited the prisoner, and in later years dis
covered that what she was doing to tighten
their burdens and call back the smile to hard
ened features, was accepted as so much done to
her Redeemer-that he had said, s'In as much
as We have done it to one of the
least OF these, We have done it unto me. Come
ye blessed etc. She found her own Joy in
giving joy to others. So it must ever be-
Those who impart joy share the joy impaired,
and Uice Versd.
OF 375 discharged convicts for whom she
has obtained employment, 200 have proved
worthy of her confidence and kindness But
mark this suggestive sentence-she says, "Their
employers do not know that they ever saw the
inside of a prison, and am free to say that of
the whole number have aided, not Is per cent.
have disappointed me in this PLAN They
know, and she knows, that success depends upon
concealment. To be known as an ex-convict is
to be feared and treated with distrust. And
the lower the party who makes the discovery,
the worse for the poor fellow struggling for
lost ground. Those who make the greatest ado
IN such cases, are more than likely guilty them
Selves and do this to divert suspicion Thus
they would appear to be exceedingly virtuous.
but the age is progressing. To hear woman
speak uncharitably of her unfortunate sister
now, begets distrust of her own purity ssMe-
thinks the lady doth protest too much" indi-
Gates clearly Shakspeare's thought in this re-
gard; and the old saw, 'Thief cries thief is
too close to truth to bear amendment.
Jesus of Nazareth never treated people with
suspicion. Good and true himself he was
ready to condone the faults of the fallen.
IL Is woman's mission to save the world.
forms derive their inspiration from her, and
she hers from Christ. Linda Gilbert is simply
IN advance of her sisters. Were they all like
her we might rapidly turn our prisons into
asylums for the insane. She has demonstrated
that convicts are capable of gratitude. Every
is stay to keep them in the path of virtue.
TUBAL CAIN.
Minneapolis, JAN z, 1879.
Wants to KnO,U Where to Get Government
Envelopes.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Can you tell me how or where can buy
stamped envelopes? had supposed the post
office was the place to obtain such articles, but
L find am mistaken. I called there Thursday
night and the clerk told me he would have
called again last night and the clerk told me
be had and he did not want me to come
around bothering him any more. As loyal
citizen do not want to disturb or irritate the
government, but I wish you would tell me
where to get the envelopes. JOHN FISCHER
ST. Paul IAN 1S