Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-02-12
HI STATE PRISON.
A View OF the Cenvicts at Divine
WOrshlp.


The clergy Of Carson take turn about
and preach to the convicts in the State
Prison every Sunday. They attend to this
duty with great regularity. The law pro-
vides the payment Of SIS for each sermon.
Very frequently a choir of young ladies go
out to the Prison-it is only a mile and q
half from town-and enliven the services
with singing. A representative Of the
SENTINEL visited the Penitentiary last
Sunday, and accepted an invitation from
Major Garrard, the Warden, to go in and
partake Of the gospel food with the jail
birds. 1t was an
INTERESTING sCESE.
The c~onvicts, about 100 whites Of many
~nationalities, 7 or 8 Cinnamon and n
Indian were assembled in the dining-room.
They were Of very different ages, ranging
from that Of one boy who is only Is years
old to a few who are probably 10 years old
and upwards. They were in all attitudes,
most Of them sitting on long benches that
are placed by the wooden dining tables,
some stood, and some stretched themselves
out on the floor. Their faces wore, gen.
orally, an expression Of indifference to
"h0 Woo 6OAhb VII III thO way vi ICllSlOub
service, though of keen interest fop the
situation in every other way.
H N THE PREACHER,
A Presbyterian, the Rev. Fairbairn, were
locked within the dining-room, an apart
ment Of the prison, built of sandstone,
the floor being Of tho same material,
and about IS feet square. The preacher
faced them with his back to the heavy iron
grating, through which he entered, and
outside Of which there was a small audi
ence, composed of Mrs. Garrard, Miss An
ME Martin, Governor Adams and several
other gentlemen, including the SENTINEL
reporter. Miss Martin presided at q small
organ, which stands outside against the
iron grating, in the hall. Opposite her,
across the hall, on the same side of the
grating, sat an armed guard in q high
band Of criminals, and having within his
reach a large iron triangle, which, being
struck, would give the alarm to the other
guards everywhere within the Prison
walls.
"YoUNa GENTLEMEN"
Was the singular and u~naccountable
manner in which Mr.. Fairbairn began his
discourse. Why he should call the prison.
ois yOuuB was EdbutT HhIu 10 uuueFStanQ,
for the majority OF them are middle aged
men, unless it be presumed that he might
get their ears better by a little blarney in
his introduction; but when he addressed
that striped crowd as gentlemen" it
made our reporter think of an exclamation
by an Irish gentleman of his acquaintance,
who. upon his arrival in America, was i'm
mediately dubbed professor" When in
troduced to his class Of little BOYS and
girls. whom he had been imported from
Ireland to teach, he was so struck with the
discrepancy between his school work and
the high title gratuitously given him that
he exclaimed: "Great God and have
they 20 appreciation in America for the
fitness of terms !" Love one another"
was the theme the parson devoted 20 min
utes to. in which he seemed scarcely more
sincere or apt than in his opening saluta-
ton. He tore around considerably, but
there was no soul in his words.
ELoQUENcE rs OF THE HEART;
But mere buster is palpable hypocrisy.
The conyicts, who are not so depraved
but they know the chaff from the wheat in
rhetoric, seemed to be amused by the par
sons extraordinary gestures-especially
the Cinnamon, who grinned as though
were being served with . oontortion-
lst show. The music, however, what there
OF 1t, ground out Of one little organ.
up by q few unframed voices, was
the best feature OF the occasion. There
something soothing in it, and moth
ing pumped up for effect. |
A soLEMS INTEREST
Must be felt by any spectator of that IN
Iortunate assemblage Of criminals. A
fanao a ~ 0p0 than - atriEtnoI~ fntat- |
Iigent and handsome. Unless all physiog-
nomy is . deceit. there are plenty Of worse
men outside the prison than some of those
that are incarcerated there. 1t makes ore
10 think how, in a passion, or
in the recklessness Of dissipation,
he might be guilty of some violent, hasty
act that would cause him to be buried
alive with those whose transports society
must protect itself against in this way.
Many Q man now In that penitentisry,
some, anyway, who might be restored to
liberty aud be made good citizens thereby.
The great majority of them, OF course, are
we'll placed. There are some Of them who
ire beyond reclamation, who are naturally
and
ILL CRIMINAL,
Whose element is crime. That these are
,ut of from association with their fellows
"a fearful punishment OF itself-and are
xept within walls forever watched by
,leepless sentinels. who are ready to shoot
hem down at the FIRST sign OF insurreetion,
but an act OF self-preservation on the
part OF society. Still the spectacle of
wretches 30 unhumanly situated
the heart to pity. We're it not so 1t
be said with more truth than poetry, |
Alasl for the rarity Of Christian charity,
the sun"
sHERMAN's RANK.