The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-01-27
Rsport on Prison and Jail Work.

81. held At 81. Johns5ury September 80, by
Mrs. Sarah G. Cole, Superintendent
Your Committee on Prison and Jail
Work has TO report bnt little accom-
plished in the direction contemplated.
butit Is hoped that beginning has
been made, which in time may bring
forth fruit.
In inaugurating and prosecuting the
work. i, is necessary to- rely upon the
co-nperation of the Unto IN the
towns, where our county jaiis are
located. Early in the year wrote TO
Unions so situated, and urged them to
take hold of the work. AS there were
lao auxiliaries in Wiudham and Wind
sor counties, there seemed no open
door in that direction. The same is
true of Essex and Orleans counties.
but within the last few months the
last mentioned counties arc lobby
falling into line in the Temperance
work, and we expect that In the near
future they will extend their efforts
In this direction. Franklin, Wash
ing,on, Addison, Orange, Caledonia,
and Bennington counties promise co
operation, and Caledonia county sent
o reuort. Some OF the counties are
forum tie in having almost empty jais,
q fact which speaks well for the NOR.
atty of their communities; but it is
also largely due to the fact that since
1878, persons convicted Of less agrava-
ted crimes are sent to the House of
Correction in Rutland, instead of be-
ing left serve their terms of punish
ment in idleness in the county jails.
In Chittenden county the total num-
her of commitments for eight months
from January 1st 10 August S1st. was,
for all crimes, $50. For iptoxication
1871, for selling liquor 60; second Of
fence / for selling to habiiual drunk.
ards 8 keeping liquor with intent to
sell II keeping nuisance 5, breach of
peace asd assault As. Total 299 direct
Violations of the liquor law, and it is
quito probable that portion of the
other offences may be charged ill.,
directly to intemperance.
1t Is doubtless true that large per
cent of the larcenies are committed by
persons who spend their substance in
rioting and drunkenness, and resort to
theft to replenish their wasted re-
sources.
In the statistics Of the House OF
Correction at Rutland, for the year
ending July 81, 1881, the whole num-
Der of commitments for all crimes was
1872. From Bennington county, fol
intoxication, 1; Chittenden county 29
Chittenden county, for selling, 4
Caledonia county, for selling, l,
Franklin county, for intoxication, z
Rutland county, for fntoxication ant
selling, 10 each. Washington county
intoxication, g.; Windham county, 8
Orleans county, for selling, l. Who'll
number of offences against the liquo
law IS. The Superintendent adds
that "There have been % commitment
for breaches of the peace and assault
nearly all, have no doubt, caused b.
intemperaucc." He also says, "Thert
were during the same time 55 coin
mitments for larceny, "a portion of which
were the indirect result OF intemper
ance." You will observe that Their,
have been no commitments to thu
House of Correction during this periot
from Addison county. May not thi
fact convey hint that the persisten
labors of the temperance women in tina
county have influenced public scnti
ment and public practice? Would tina
the temperance women in every por
ton of the state might be stimulated t
follow their example.
But gathering statistics is only ,
small part of jail work. Personal visi
tation of the inmates is the all-importan
part of the work. To go to them will
real interest in orr hesrts, and 10 bea
t. them the offer Of savat.cn llrUngl
Christ, is the lofty parpose conlemplat
cd by "Prison and Jail Work" Ii th
members af this Union will undertake
this labor of love, even though it be 81
distsstefnl at first, their interest will b.
so awakened and their sympathies s,
enlisted, that the burden of the dut,
will be greatly lightened. II
Iwould especially urge the ladie
engaged in this branch Of work to q
we'll supplied with reading matte
adapted to the needs of the inmates
and lot 1t be selected with care. Let i
be both temperance and religious liter
AZURE, and 1 would lay great stress
upon the religious element in the liter
allure distributed. Do not confn'
Yourselves to tracts, but include high
toned secular and religious newspaper
and books. Cut of from intercourse
with the outside world, and shut M
with their own thoughts and too Offer
guilty consciences, they are greedy fol
ANYTHING to relieve their Loneliness
and under such circumstances will of
ten.read books and papers with avidity
which they would turn from with con
tempt II they were at liberty. In ,hi:
way we may confidingly hopo that some
gospel truth may reach the hearts Of
these our erring fellow beings, even
though they are not seeking it.
would have jail visitors guard especial.
ly against any thing prosy. And am
sure 1t will be unnecessary to add thai
any kindness shown the inmates of our
tails will be useless, unless accompanied
by loving admonition and sympathetic
personal interest. "a Frf ns
The House Of Correction at Rutland
certainly offers field of great interest
to earnest christian workers. The in
mates have all had their trials and re-
eeiyed their sentences before going
there to serve out longer or shorter
period, and consequently there is a
larger element Of permanence than can
be found in the county jails. Tho in
mates are required TO labor the pre-
scribed six days of the week, and this
of itself Is Q powerful help in the work
of reformation, but 1t necessitates the
confinement OF temperance and relig-
ious work to the Sabbath. But this
can be no objection, for the temperance
women of Vermont believe this to be
emphatically christian work. The
biennial report of the officers Of the
institution for 1880 says that relig-
ious services are held every Sunday by
the Young Mems Christian Association
of Rutland, and IL the association has
done no special temperance work in
the institution, would earnestly urge
the ladies' of the w. G. 4. u. Of
Rutland to divise means to prosecute
the work, either alone or in con-
nection with the Christian Associa-
ton, subject Of course to the approval