Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-10
In a Belgian Prison.

offenders who are mentally and phys
icaily sound. Short terms are en-
dured in one or other of the many we'll,
planned, maisons d'arret through
out the country; but for the longer
periods, varying from three and four
to six, seven. eight, and even ten years,
the Mason Centrale OF Louvain is that
set aside. Let US follow the condemned
criminal into his living tomb. The
steps taken on reception are much the
same as elsewhere. His name is entered
upon fine books, he declares his religious
belief, he hands over his private prop
erty, he IS bathed, his hair and beard
are cut close, he is clothed in the gray
cloth prison dress, and conducted to
the cell which will constitute his home
for so many dreary years to come
At first he is left to his own retiec-
tons; permission to work is only con-
coded when he himself petitions for it.
This soon comes to pass, for a nervous
feverish eagerness for employment is
marked characteristic in the solitary
prisoner. 1t is even alleged that most
of the suicides which have happened
have been early on Monday morning.
and following the long Sundays idle
ness, which seemingly greatly aggra-
Yates depression of spirits. From the
moment he has entered his cell he has
been studied psychologically, by his
custodians. Director, priest, school
master, cOnb'e nlaitre, and trade instruct
or-all these have visited him, and
have endeavored to become thorou ghly
acquainted with his character. These
officials will now be his sole companions
and friends. At intervals OF every two
months he will be permitte! to converse
with his relatives if they choose to visit
him, but only in the parton, or visiting
cell, and in the presence of wander.
Intercourse with his cofarade felons Is
absolutely denied him. When he issues
from his cell, whether to shutlles over
the smooth corridor in his list slippers
to his private box in the prison chapel,
or to CHATTER down the passage in his
wooden soled sabots to the exercising
yard, he invariably covers his head
with his capuchon, or mask-a hideous
contrivance in blue cotton with holes,
through which his eyes glitter bale
fully. Communication by word or sign
is vigorously forbidden, and is nearly
impossible. At exercise each prisoner
has high walled segment of circle
all to himself, one of several radiating
from common center, in which stands
q watchful warder. AS the prisoner
ranges slowly up and down it he might,
but for the pipe he is smoking, be mis-
taken for some Gagged wild beast. To-
bacco to smoke at exercise, or take As
snuff in the cell, is one of the few lux
uries greatly coveted and deeply appre-
Ciated ut Louvain. Fresh air and ex-
ercise are limited to strict requirements;
the rest of the day is passed by every
prisoner in assiduOus toll in his own
private retreat. There is but little ten.
dency to idleness or misconduct, yet
"reports' are frequent, and for the
! slightest infraction of the rules. Alb
solute submission of will, the surrender
of all volition, Of all independence. is
scrupulously exacted, but it is generally
accomplished without the infection OF
frequent punishments. Nor are these
of a penal character; handouts, iron of
all kinds, dark cells, straight jackets,
have no place among Belgian disciplin-
airy restraints. Reduction Of diet, bread
and water fare, the loss of privileges,
OF wages earned towards the purchase
of better articles of food at the canteen
these are sufficient to keep Belgian
prisoners behaved. Indeed, but
for the one terrible infection of contia-
uous cellular separation, the rule is
essentially mild. The warders are on
friendly, almost familiar terms with
their captives. How goes it y is the
morning greeting. " Have you all you
require? DO not hesitate to speak il
we can do anything for you" The
poor prisoner thus cheerily addressed
will look up mournfully and merely
shake his head. He cannot be very
difficult to manage. All opposition, all
obstinacy is pretty well crushed out OF
him. You enter the cell of u notorious
malefactor, q quintuple murderer, one
of whose victims was his own brother.
whom he robbed, then poisoned, and
you find quiet, gentle creature, with
shy manners and downcast eyes, who
can hardly be prevailed upon to speak
The only life and movement seemingly
left in him is in the nervous twitching
of his hands-white, attenuated, but
SupplC uuuup, WuiCn AuSC uHoppCu buc
needle he was so dexterously plying
upon pair of gray uniform overalls.
This man has been about eight years in
a cell. Next door is another, soldier,
an artillery man, VINO murdered his
wife and cut her up into small pieces.
He is equally quiet, but when spoken
to will converse freely enough. He
has been four years in this cell, and has
apparently suffered no evil effects.
Further on is another interesting case.
A murderer who, having completed a
long term of solitary Imprisonment,
was removed to Client, and permitted
to associate with others like him, pres
emily had u murderous ARRAY with one
Of them, and killed his man. He was
relegated again to separate confinement,
and processes to prefer it greatly. He
will tell you that he is now safe from
the interference of others, that he can
pray when he pleases, that if he is out
of temper he cannot give his evil pas
sions play, as he has done once too
often already. He is very garrulous,
and in this, as in his feeble manner and
somewhat wandering eye, bctrays that
he is perhaps little weak in his mind.