The Russellville Democrat., 1880-05-13
A CONvICT'S GENEROSITY.
Five Dollars for IreIand's Poor from 2
 Pria0uer
Philadelphia Press.

Philadelphia Press
 Warden Townsend of the Eastern Pen itentiary of Pennsylvania was asked 8 curious request some weeks ago by a prisoner under his charge. Learning of the terrible sufferings of the poor in Ire land, Prisoner "No. 94," as he is known to the officials, inquired of the Warden as to the sum that stood to his credit on the prison books for extra work. He was told that little over $5 was the amount, and he requested of the War den to obtain for him draft on Ireland for q, payable to- the order of Sister Mary Frances Clare, the nun of Ken mare. This was done, and in a letter written by the donor the charitable gift was inclosed and mailed to the country in which the poor fellow was born. A few weeks elapsed and the nun of Ken mares answer was received, winch is as follows:
 CONVENT OF PooR CLAREs, KENMARE, l
 COUNTY KERRY, March 3, 1880.
 MY DEAR PooR FELLow-For long time l did not receive letter that af- fected me 80 deeply as yours, written as 1t was from your prison cell, and from the thinking of the sufferings of others, forgetful of your own, and sending me the sum of q from your own hard earnings to relieve the distress of others. All can say is, that the head and heart that has done this generous act cannot be bad one, and whatever act you have committed to oblige the law to punish you mustindeed have been done in a ho,tglltless hour. May our good and merciful God look down upon you this day with eyes of mercy and compas- sion, comfort and console you, and give you the great grace of resignation to His most holy will.
 l wish yeu would write again and tell me all about yourself, and thank the good kind Warden who has allowed you to write. rtsnu nsTe
 "a am sending you a little book by this post. Read page of it every day, and we will not forget you in our prayers.
 SR. NJ. F. CLARE.
 Warden Townsend opened and read the letter and then delivered it to "No. 94," "for," said he yesterday, "when once the iron doors of this place are opened to receive a convict, the name by which he is known in the outside world Is left behind him. and with the clank- ing of the prison gates all memory of his former position in life is forgotten and the number of the cell in which he is incarcerated, is used to designate both the man and the occupant. When the generous fellow was handed the kind letter from the famine-stricken country, he burst into tears as soon as ke had fin- ished reading the missive. The man was touched by the hopes held out for him and it was some hours before he re- yai n aH nd quietness. He has been in prison now about eighteen months and has two months more to serve before his time is up. Since his imprisonment he has con aucted himself with more than usual good behavior. He was sent here con victed of burglary, committed in the southern portion of the city. l know it was not his fault, as he was led into it by evil associations, for he is young man, unmarried, and about thirty years of age, and as he says himself he dates his downfall from acquaintances picked the money which he sent to Ireland was by working extra, in making shoes at night, while many of the other prison CTS pass their spare time, from 6:30 to g p. m., in reading or idling. It takes a long while for man to earn S5 by extra work, as the State only allows him from five to ten cents for the extra task which he is willing to perform, and half of this goes to the county as sort of recom- pense, so the poor fellow has had to work hard for his gift. No. 94' is man Pm sure will never return to this place, and since he has been here he has won the confidence and merited the respect of all the keepers, for he is polite and obe- dient at all times, and does not belong to that criminal class which necessitates the keeping of such an institution as the Eastern Penitentiary"