Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-21
FEMALE CONYICTS.
The Daily Routine in the WomRn's
prIsOn at IOnlOn


The ordinary days routine will be
something in this way: Prisoners rise
at five minutes past six, put away
their bedding, and clean their cells
There are, by the way, no plank beds
in women's prisons. AT half-past six
they commence work; at quarter to
eight they have breakfast nature
of which depends on the term of their
sentence, but which will consist Of
bread, cruel and cocoa, or porridge, or
a combination of either two of them.
at quarter to nine labor is recon-
menced and continued till quarter
past eleven, when preparation is made
for filing into the chapel for prayers ut
twenty-five minutes past eleven.
There are two cnapels--a Protestant
and Roman Catholc-the Protestant,
of course the largest. It's light and
cheerfullooking place, with bright
and pretty communicable and a
good harmonium, accompanied by
which the women sing with all the
spirit and vigor of those who feel it
real treat to be permitted to use their
own voices. In all the women's
prisons it is recognized as great pun
ishment to be debarred from chapel.
1t is so, indeed, in the mems prisons,
but it is especially 50 with the women.
Warders sit on raised seats here and
there about the assembly, but the con-
gregations are usually very orderly and
well-behaved, dreading to have the
privilege of the service withdrawn
from them. At twelve o'clock they
have dinner, this also depending upon
their term of Imprisonment and how far
they have got through it. 1t will con-
sist for the first seven days of "stir-
about" a decoction of Indian meal and
oatmeal. After that it may be some
combination of bread, suet pudding,
potatoes, beef Or soup. Labor recon-
mences at half-past one o'clock and
continues till quarter to six, unless
broken in on by open air exercise,
which may come in the course of the
day at the discretion of the super
intendent. At quarter to six supper
is served, and this will be the same as
breakfast Labor recommences at a
quarter past six o'clock, and finally
ceases at eight. All have to be in bed
and lights out at half-past eight. On
sundays they rise at seven o'clock, and
attend service morning and afternoon,
are locked up with their supper at
quarter to six, and have to be in bed
and lights out at quarter after eight.
The only prisoners who do not fall
under these general arrangements are,
of course, invalids, and those who have
infants under twelve months old.
Occasionally children are born in
prison, and it is no unusual thing for
woman to be convicted and brought
here while sucking an infant. If the
child is over twelve months old it is
sent to the workhouSe or friends. If
under this age it is admitted with the
mother, who is permitted to retain it
until it completes its first year. There
is one block of buildings devoted to
nursing mothers, and known as 1.-The
nursery" and it often happens that in
every cell a mother and child will be
locked up together, both being dressed
in the prison blue, in which many of
the little things look pretty enough.
They are well fed on abundance of
good milk if the mother cannot nurse
them, are of course kept scrupulously
clean, and in their little blue dresses
tied up at the sleeves with bit Of blue
ribbon, they look, many of them, quite
smart and pretty, and are evidently
pets of some of the warders. The cells
are clean and comfortable, though
gloomy; they have certain periods of
outdoor exercise, and the mothers have
nothing to do but nurse them and
amuse them, and on the whole, senti-
ment apart, it is rather a stroke OF luck
for many poor little mortal to be born
in a prison or to be taken there for a
start in life The children are said to
thrive wonderfully as u rule, and it is
quite easy to believe this London
Daily Ne,Cs.