The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-03
A COLLEGE BEHIND BARS.
THE student PRISONERS AND THEIR
DAILY ROUTINE.
How Discipline In Maintained by the
Mark Observation-Disclosures" OF
the Elmtra Rcsormatory.

An Elmira On. W correspondent writes
10 the Boston Herald: Every waking mo-
mept OF the student prisoners ut Elmira is
taken up. To train the mind, to break up
old habits OF thought. to remake the very
mentahty OF a man--that Is the aim OF SUI
perintcndent Brockway's method. IL Is
West Point drill. AT $50 A. NJ. three
strokes on the gong in the guard-room cali
the men from slumber. They arise ana
dress immediately. Then, ut another sig-
nal from the gong, the first-grade men,
wearing neat blue suits with navy caps,
march TO their dining-room, where they
sit ri tables, each accommodating aDont
a dozen men, and are permitted 10 con-
verse freely. the topic Of conversation be-
ing often some question Ia politics. hlsto.
nv, or current news. They are apparently
rs free rs so many college students IN inc
commons-room. The students at the Ia
bles In Harvard Memorial are not more I'M
restrained. All that is required Is that the
conversation shall not degenerate into vul.
yarity or improper talk. The second and
third grade men have not so many privi'
legcs as the first-grade men. They. TOO,
arise at the sound OF the gong, but remain
In their cells, being served with break
fast by
PERSONALITIES,
l had almost said "''udent walters >!
The second gIade wear Dark clothes and a
sailor cap. while III, third or conyict-gradc
men are dressed IN red suits and caps.
When the first-grade men have finished
breakfasting they return To their rooms.
and are permitted TO occupy the time till
1880 In reading or otherwise. just be-
fore 1850 comes the signal for work, ana
every man who Is not incapacitated by
illness marches TO the workshops. Only
the third or convict-grade men are COM
PEELED TO march in the usual lockstep.
Every man is required to leave bis prison
cell or room in perfect order and cleani-
ness. The first-grade men march in three
squads under charge Of captains selected
from among them. The second-grade men
march under command OF frst-grade SER
geants. and the third-grade men. in scar
let lines, march in lockstep under charge
OF prison officer.
Right here let me say that every man on
entering the reiormatory is placed in the
second grade. Ii lies with him II he rises
into the first grade and wears the blue, or
sinks to the third grade and wears the red
The working hours are from $50 A. NJ. to
4:30 =. NJ, with an hour out at noon,
making the time spent in the shops eight
hours. The second and third-grade men
eat dinner in their cells, while the fortu-
nate first-graders chat at leisure around
their Jolly tables.
AT THE DINNER HOUR
the news Of the day from all over the
world is announced TO the firSt-grade men
BY one Of their number, who reads from
newspaper, emitting all matters Of police
or criminal intelligence. When 1870 az
rives work ceases, and then comes the
evening meal. and by O'Clock the men are
all locked in their rooms for the night OF
until school begins. On school nights
every man is LET out OF his room at O'Clock,
when the men proceed TO the several class
rooms. The lectures and recitations occu-
DIV one hourand half. From 5 to 6 i. N.
daily Superintendent Brockway sees such
men rs desire IN audience with him, the
request having been made therefor 10y
means of letters deposited by inmates in
the superintendent private DoN. There
ire, beside the regular school exercises.
frequent concerts and lectures.
Mr.. Brockway, the superintendent and
guiding spirit OF this remarkable iuStitu
ion. is a clear-headcd, alert, progressive
nan, who would in any calling make his
mark. His cast OF mind is that OF scien-
ific man rather than that of pedagOgue
,r ecclesiast. suspect that this very mo-
iern man Is good deal Of an evolutlOnist,
md is putting into operation in this Won
ierful prison Of his the idea OF developing
he rudimentary, animal man into the in
electual, reasoning man. He seems TO be
!, hearty believer in the perfectibiity OF
human nature. and to place great reliance
In undertaking. II he can get
A BOY OF CRIMINAL HABIT OF THOUGHT
TO reading Dickens and specializing about
physical phenomena he is content. IL a
lad comes to the reiormatory with an in
clinatlon to draw indicate pictures, Mr..
Brockway Immediately sees in this young
man possible artist and has him put TO
STUDYING drawing. lie studies every mans
aptitudes, and tries TO get at the mans
inner nature by talks in private and en-
couragement in his studies. The SUPER
intendent Is more than half the system.
On Sundays there are religious services,
and OF two SUNDAYS in the month the
Catholic chaplain holds a catechetical class
for the inmates OF that faith. Once month
mass Is celebrated in the chapel.
had meant to say above that the third
grade men are rot allowed tea or coffee.
which is only given 10 the upper grades.
Nor are the rooms OF cells OF the convict
grade men so well furnished as arc those
OF the second and first-grade inmates. A
third grade man has in his cell bed, bed
ding mo sheets, and q bucket. while i'm the
second-grade rooms there are cupboard
and chair, the beds are furnished with
sheets, and they have slippers and brushes.
and are allowed gas In the evenings. The
third-gride man cannot receive either
visits from relatives or letters. But by
from one TO three months Of perfect de-
pertinent and behavior the thrd-grade
man may advance INTO
TIE MORE PRIVILEGED SECOND GRADE.
where he was at Gist. II the second-grade
man cin push his way by diligence and
wcll.doing into the first grade, his lot will
be as happy one as any man can expect
behind the bars. He eats his meals. as |
have shown, In the company OF men OF his
grade, he hears the news OF the day, he has
u large and comfortable room. a better bed
than men OF the lower grades, and stands
an excellent chance Of becoming captain
OF the squad, keyman, or patrolmau.
The whole discipline OF the reformatory
l. directed to bringing men up out OF the
third grade into the second, and from he
second into the fist. II is pleasant 4 be
able to say that there are never more an
Is per cent. Of the inmates in the con let
grade OF this reformatOry. II man is
found incorrigible he is transferred 10 one
of the three State prisons.
To keep the run OF this mass OF men,
ranging In number from 500 to 600, there
must. perfore, be a system which deals
minutely with each inmate The systern L.