The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-10-04
PRISON PETS.

There are numerous instances on rec
ord of persons in ''durance vile'' MAX
ing pets of the most unlikely of animals,
nay, even reptiles and flowers. The
Instances considered noteworthy have
been generally those of persons of rank.
In reality, the passion is not more to be
wondered at in the Count Picciola of
sehool-book notoriety, who gained over
the good-feeling of his keeper to re-
spect the pet flower which had sprung
up between the stones of the prison
yard, than is similar feeling exhibited
by the deepest-dyed criminal of the
common jail In fact, it has been no.
ticed that the feeling, if anything, is.
stronger in the man of few resources.
The present humanitarian system of
conducting prisons provides the edu-
Gated prisoner with many means of
killing, if not improving, his time,
which bygone system ignored. Com
panionship is found in books of the very
best kind. In the case of the unedu-
Gated prisoner, it is very different. For
many hours of the day he is
shut Oft from everything but in
tercotlrse with his own thoughts,
and these being, as a rule, not very
companionable, he casts about for
something to engage his attention other
lhan the four bare walls of his cell.
suddenly he hears the chirp of some
ampudent sparrow, enticed by few
stray bread-crumbs which the poor
wretch has spared from his allowance
ana pushed through the grating of his
WINDOW, Here is something which GER
talnly bears him no nl-will; something
winch, to one given to suspect, is above
suspicion. There is not the slightest
aoaot about THIS visitor. But the un-
suspicious feeling is not reciprocal. The
crumbs are all very well so long asthey
"a San De reached from without the bars.
Inc dark within is an unexplored
region. But there comes a spell of
sharp frost, may be, which whets the
appetite OF the feathered visitor, or
saefe is something in the manner of the
woald-be host which treasures him, and
eie lnqulsitive little head is cautiously
pushed inside the bars, in order to fol-
wv Up trail of crumbs iudiciously
aalo py the tempter. No harm follows:
s:l aho familiarity breeds boldness. The
uesle fellow is surprised to find himself
gsite Within, tail and all, and, as
snough astonished at his own audacity.
scats . hasty retreat. The next visit
anas am less modest. He advances
as1oss the floor; then, with sidelonc
lanees, makes backward movement,
sup. = forward one, till he feels quite
ppvsiuVe that the statue-like figure in
sa0 eofher has no bellicose intentions.
- = : sort OF feeler, the figure moves
ssos q hand. This is too much for
@ sparrow. A huttering retreat
= me bars, out, and away. leaves.
T ~ lonely inmate still more lonely.
aas thought of the crumbs, how
ss5 .sI' steeis the little feathered breast.
~ og-and-by he makes another
10y At last he loses all fear, and
sVps up quite close to the immured one
A.. snateh some crumbs sprinkled
a Ihe hand in sight of the bird.
ss;. rssn TINS 1t is not far, as confidence is
ss, ssasnsa, to hop on to the knee and
ssseaiaer. What sort of hird-lopic has
sns 80 gong on in the breast of this little
s,sssoW In week or two he learns
fros Sone at call, and to eat his meals
s;Sl.a aa sae hand of man who, very pos
49,; ls suffering imprisonment for
A. saas nus wife very nearly to death,
Wa,,s5 ~ some kindred crime but who
li,tsaa liaa take infinite pains to attach this
viii soaliess bird to himself, and resent.
snea @ 10 paows # necessary, any interfer
hr IA = the philosophy of the mat
leali,,,as = u the waking up of dormant
hssa;s ! the softer, better memories of
Afs,rer Afs,er Gays. when the love of wife and
a mad not become estranged ?