The sun., 1879-06-01

crime Of which he has been adjudged guilty, |
other prisons bv good behavior. He ia on. |
tered in the second grndo ana ia in the way, ns |
the Superintendent expressed IT, " TO work out |
stances. however. lie cannot Oe held beyond tho |
utmos! limit prescribcd for his offence 10y the |
the offender from the place where he has boon |
convicted to the prison. and all Information |
disposition. education. and mental and physical |
condition, making n complete history OF the |
offender, is obtained. rs far "a possible and Is
record Of his marks. The Superintendent nj takes |
pains to become M intimate with the personal |
character and CHARACTERISTICS of the now conner |
ma lie Is with himself. Aa the Superintendent |
said. no knows them nl through md through. |
and is therefore, able to arrive ut an accurate |
judgment as 10 the capabilities Of oach ono aud
can determine when and how TO build up and
develop whatever may be lacking or dormant
The cells Of the second grade are IN the south
and north wings. They arc about llve 1cct by
siderably larger than tho cells OF tho other
prisons Of the State. There are three tiers Of
tho centre OF the building. detached on each
side from the outer walls. The upper tiers are
reached 10y iron sthirways at each end; In;
mites are permitted TO decorate their cells and
TO have furnished to them by friends euch COM
forts rs they may bo able to provide. In mum.
Der arc carpets some Of them made OF rags that
probably the mother OF the occupant iashioncd
with her own hands years ago. aud that brings
when II lay upon the kitchen floor ut home and
ho rolled over IL in his Innocent gloc. In others
are patched countcrpnnrs covering the narrow
beds. or notices worked in wOrsted or painted
on card board. Each narrow door is n gratod
one with gn independent lock, and. besides. an
iron bar that runs the whole length Of the block.
and is operated at one end, affords an addi-
tional security.
second grade man can go either up or down,
as his conduct determines. Ho may descend
into the third grade or he may bo promoted to
the first. The system is entirely individual In
its character. Before II WIS in complct" opera
tion II was estimated that. perhnps on an aver
agc. 20 per cent of the inma.es would 20 down
ward. and 10 per cent. would advance A trial
OF nearly three years is a triumph for human
nqlureo Only per cont have, rcirogrnded.
while 80 per cent; havo advanced. Promotion
or degradation Is governed by n series Of
marks. To 10 downward rcqurcs some very
serious offence. showing an utterly depraycd
nature or long-contuued srries OF offences
against discipline. Slight offences are pun
ished by the Withdrawal Of certain privileges.
such as toa or coffee NJ meals. or attendance in
the reading room. Tho second prndc wenr no
distinctive prison uniform. unless rs far as re-
gnrds tho shape or cut oi their garments and
dark-blue sehmlrss cap, without a ior,piece,
similar to those worn by sailors IN the United
States Navy. Behavior such as reduces an in
mate to tho third grade puts upon him dis
unctve prison uniform OF rough gray cloth
cumpels him TO walk between his work ana
his cell with his companions Of the same grade
with lock stop and his right hand ON tho
shoulder OF the man preceding him gives him
his meals alone In his crampod cell. and do;
prives him Of everything except tho ludcst and
hardest prison fare Continued ill-bchayior
condemns him to seclusion in n dark cell. the
only FtNl luIlsllineDt OF llt helhIHlWNIN. anu
still greater deprivation OF such comforts rs are
provided the others. The excellence OF the sys-
tenn may BE- Judged somewhat. by the fact that
OF the $40 present inmates. only lS are In the
third grade. and OF these only three are in Sc
clusion. On the other nand, perfect behavior
for six months, Indicated by the gaining Of nine
marks each month-three for LABOR three for
behavior. and three for school progress-entites
man TO rise from one grade into the next
| to the FIRST grade he is furnished with suit Of
| light blue clothes that has anything but tho ap
| pearance OF prison uniform, and dark mill
| tary-looklng cap. The clothes for al the in
mates arc manufactured in the building. the
| shoes and caps being purchased elsewhere.
There are minor distinctions in the grades.
| arising where u man has hardly earned promo
tion from it. but has done well, SO VOL that he
deserves some recognition. In the third grade.
| he is allowed some slight privileges denied tho
rest. In the second. he Is made n sergeant,
| wearing chevrons on his right larm or has
some privileges extended TO him. In the FIRST.
| he is made IA sort OF a monitor over his com
| rades or has a shoulder knot worked on his
coat or acts as IN officer. or has his privileges
| largely extended. Some OF these latter in this
grade include permission to 20 outside tho
| whore "a man of high standing hns been intrust-
| ed with errands to the city, and these have never
| been betrayed Both the first and Second grade
men. II In good standing. are permitted TO soc
| their friends who call upon them without there
six months perfect behavior in the first grade
entities the inmate 10 releasc from coniine-
mont no matter what may have been the crime
n,s5 w'aF mNpnsr p to the Eng
homo TO his friends or elsewhere in tho State
| But in each county there is stationed an agent
| constant watch on these released men. II, Tor
| six months after thelr release. their conduct Is
| perfect Judged 10y the prison standard. they are
! entitled 10 u full pardon by the Governor. but II
| in any manner they relapse into bad behavior,
they may be- arrested by the agent and returned
| Immediately. without warrant or other process
| of law. To the Reiormaiory, whore they aro on
tho same footing as II they had Just entered the
| first grade,
Tho cells Of the inmates Of the nrst grade arc
| in tho l. running west from the north wing,
They are eight 10y ten ie"t on the noor, and
! have a grated window and grated door, They
| are twice the size OF the most comiorthble cells
| in tho other prisons OF the State. They are sit
uated in regard 70 the outer walls as pre the
| the centre Of the building, entirely detached
from the walls. At the western extremity OF the
| L. is a pavilion OF three stories connected with
tho corridors OF the fret grade men hy n high
and wide iron door; On the ground story Il
is roomy, light well ventilated. and neatly fur
nished with tables and chairs and the appoint
ments Tor the meals The bill OF fare is in ad,
vance Of that of the second grade. a variety OF
vegetables in their season berries and fruits
being furnished. These are all grown on the
grounds OF the institution. their cultivation be-
ing in the hands of tho inmates. The kitchen
and laundry OF the first grade are also in this
building. separate from those OF tho other
grades.
In the second story OF this building is the
library and reading room OF the hrst grait
men into which they are privileged to enter nl
almost any hour when their duties do not re.
| quiro their presence elsewhere. In the third
| story IL the chApel OF the first grade. Thost
who have earned this position, on arriving al
II. enter distinct community surrounded by
so many privileges and benefits that those IN
! the lower grades nre eager To achieve 1t, and
| they strive with all their nature 10 enter II.
| " II Is one OF the most interestipg studies Inn
aginablo." Mr.. Brockway. the Superintendent
said to watch the gradual unfolding OF The
characters Of some OF these poor follows thai
ara sent horc. II IA for all the world like
flower. You can see one leaf unfold, after
a time. touched by some influence sur
rounding IT,, then another and another ant
another until IL Is all opened out 10 view. Many
ofthrm. when they first come. seem entirely shu
up within themselves, afraid to show what thrl
arc, or unable to see TINT thcro ia anything els
in the world beyond the limited horizon IN
which they were born and have been bred bu
II IL not many days before tho change is begul
, and their Improvement and development 9"
in. We seek every possible means 10 inspir
| their hOpefulness nrst-tO lead them 10 forge
the things that are hchind, and look forward I,
, a better and useful life. Wa take care never Il
call them boys and do not destroy their indi
Viduality by giving thCm numbers, but rccog
, | nize them 10y their names, aud speak TO then
IA men and address them as such, trying 4
build up their manhood and showing then
what they owe 10 Themselves and the commute
in which they live. Take an instance Of HOY
we teach them sclf-relHnce and their own per
, sOnal responsibility. At first in the workshop
\ | they are given certain tasks. IL they accom-