The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-30

feet vide and eighteen inches deep-a
yeritable coffin lowered with Slated
lid which closes down firmly and is fas
tened with paddock In the semi hn-
mane institutions where the use this
contrivance is tolerated, 1t is theTule TO
half fill the box with the softest rye straw
or hay, 80 that as little bodily suffering
as possible will be inf cted upon tneun
fortunate occupant. But it was not 30
here 1t was evident to me at a glance
that the recent occupant OF the leather
strait.jacket was in this terrible "crlb
stepped within the cell, and was about
to approachthe bedside of the morlally
damned. The attendant came forward
and said, "She's naked, you know"
This fact had not occurred to me in the
first moment of indignation, and stop
ned. But | hesitated only for an instant.
1t was clearly not question Of propriety
but Of duty. l was present amid those
scenes of sorrow an0 pain from no idle
curiosity. must see that sutering face.
And during this moment OF hesitation a
mute appeal forsympathy was addressed
to my heart which almost brought tears
to eyes that have long studied sorrow
A thin, white hand-a small, delicate,
womans hand--and arm, were slowly
pushed out between the stats of the
cribs top. ! involuntarily took off my
hat The hand was closed, and not un
iii it had projected beyond the eide of
the box did it open. Then it gradually
unclosed itself, and slowly let fall upon
the floor stream of cut wheat stubble
The tiny, truncated cylinders, with their
knife.like edges, rolled about upon the
painted boards, blown by a draught OF
wind so faint that the sense Of sight and
not of feeling madeit perceptible. When
the hand was emptied the fingers NOV
ed slightly, conveying to my mind com
plete 0ration in one brief sentence:
"Upon this stubble | am held-my
bed and my blanket alike-but, alas !!
not my winding sheet"
Then violent shudder passed up the
thin, white wrist, and to the very tips OF
the long, slim fingers. 1t was the pero'
ration. 1t appealed to all tnat was hu,
name in maD-it meant, This is agony"
To which, with uncovered head, re
sponded, addressing the attendant, 1T
is Infamous"
Divining that visitor was present, in
a lucid moment this lost woman was ma
king mute appeal for sympathy.
The moment had come. | stepped
resolutely to the side of the crib of Uti
cas- fashioning, and looked down upon
the pale face beneath the bars. 1t was
Young face--once intelligent, no doubt,
for there were traces of refinement even
vet. could not decide as to the color
of the ey, 8, nor as to the sufferers age.
Thirty years-possibIy thirty-6ve; but
where sorrow cuts 30 deeply, very little
of the human face divine remainsl Clear
as in sCulplured marble saw the des.
pair of a broken heart. Despair Then
why not death2 HopelessDess; why not
an end to hope2 Here was the refine
ment of cruelty. In former TIMES tacks
and broken glass we're scattered on the
bottom of the boxes in which prisoners
condemned to torture we're placed, to
suffer and die. But here, at Blnghamp-
ton, the guardians of the insane poor are
too merciful for that Here was "a suffer
ing little body, turning and writhing in
agony that ten thousand pieces of need
le.like stubble iLf cted.