The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-28
Ehe DFeary Round of n
Life

Whether or not disgrace ana non.
ineuept 10 the peUiientiacy I. IA;
clent to restrain many persops 4-om
violating the law, the rules aud reou-
lutious necessary TO the safe taaniog
and proper discipline of the nri-,,srs
are horrltyinS enough, when nronerly
considered, to deter every one from
committing aay act which would ,ikely
bring its rctribuiiou within the c;reum
scribed walls. 1t must be remen, bered
too, that terms of Imprisonment, in The
peultentlary are not numbered bv DAYS
or months, but by whole years which
must drag YEARLY along from day to
day, ladened with regrets for the past,
despair for the present aud fear for the
future.
The prisoners now confined in the
Kentucky peuiteutiary are passing their
days after this prescribed manner A.
early in the morning as the ouard 90
the wall can see from one guard 10 the
other "a precaution necessary to pre-
vent prisoners escaping 10 the dark
the prison bell is rung and the conyicts
marched from their cells to the yard
where they wash their faces ard make
their preparations for breakfast. Thu
usually occurs about half past 6 o'clock
duting the winter aud about O'Clock
during the summer The meals are
served gu the lower floor Of the two
story brick building in the osster OF
the yard, the upper floor Of "hIch Is
used for divine services. They march
double file into the break hst room, the
negroes 90 one side takpg possession
of two tables and the shites on the
other taking possession of two other
tables. After breakia.t they again
form into a column aud march TO their
separately assigned tasks, at which
they must labor diligently aud uneeas-
ingly, without utterlng word. except
for a good reason. until the bIl rings
at u O'Clock. They are giIen until
half past y TO make their preparations
for -diuner. They thea take he same
procedure 10 the dinner tablethey did
to break fast, and there remail, II they
desire. until nearly one O'clck. One
o'clock finds them again laborng at
their work To winter they quit work
about t O'Clock 10 the afternoon, eat
their supper and march totheIr cells
about $50 o'clock. The guards on
the cell floors call the roll as the pris
ouers pass, to ascertain Theiher any
one Of he number is missing W ben
the convict reaches his cell door, he
remains standing there face outward,
until the "all right" bell Is rung. The
cell door is then shut 90 him, the law
requiring all convicts TO be securely
locked 10 their cells before dark, and
the convict left until next morning to
ruminate on his life and prospects.
10 some few instances, where the
couyicts have behaved properly aud
can read, a lamp and such books or
papers are given to them as the War
den or Chaplain may direct. Time
with these may pass somewhat agree
ably ia the cells. but with the most OF
the eonvicts all is profound silence and
darkness until the prison bell taps next
morning Thus they have twelve long
weary hours in which they must thin K
or sleep Among the rules adopted
by the present Board of Directors, the
following are few that referto tbi-
subject, and also to visitors, AID may
perhaps, be Of some -inss<sai o-the
general reader:
"First-Prisoners must faithfully
aud diligently obey all orders, observe
uobroken silence aud execute theiI
work to the best of their ability
"Second-They are not to exchange
q word with each other under any pre-
te6se, nor communicate any intei.i-
geuce to each other IN writing. :
"Third-They must approach tbs
guards in respectful manner, and be
brief ia their communications.
"Fourth-They must not look a
visitors, but give their whole attention
to their work
Visitors must not be permitted tC
enter the prison except under the care
Of an officer or guard They shall no
indulge in loud talking, laughiog oil
auy personal allusion to prisoners by
remarks, pointing or otherwise"