Connecticut western news., 1884-12-31
THE PRISON OF LOUVAIN.
BELGIUMs PECULIAR WAY OF KEEP
 ING ITS CONNECTS.
Shut Out From All Intercourse with Fel-
 low Man-A Terrible Existence.

In the whole of Europe there is but one prison in which the systeme eel Lttlaire of absolute isolation by day and by night is still enforced, and it has, on that ground, strange and sad celeb rity. That one prison is the Maison Centrale of Louvain, Belgium.
 The buildings of the prison all con- verge toa central apsis, whence warden can easily survey the six immense ave nues or wings, consisting of two stories of cells. While some slight repairs were being done to one of these cells, figure suddenly appeared standing mo tionless at the door-a mysterious and ghastly apparition, clad entirely in white linen, head and face closely masked by hood of the same material Air was admitted to eyes, nose, and mouth by four round holes. Obeying a rapid sign from the warden, the figure turned to the wall, and crossed it's hand behind its back. Itwas a convict. Even through the apertures of his concealing beadgear, the prisoner of Louvain must never catch passing glimpse of any human face beyond his keepers, and no breath of the outer world must ever pass upon his shrouded cheek. He wears his linen hood summer and winter, but during the cold he is provided with warm brown woolen clothes. Labor is compulsory, and the days are spent in one unvarying monotonous round of self-same duties.
 At o'clock the peals of an organ wake the convicts. They come from the chapel, all the doors of which are thrown open, and the prisoner who can play the organ strikes the first chords. This is the signal for all others to rise, dress, aud make up their beds and bedding. The music lasts for fifteen minutes, and may, at the will of the player, consist of religious anthems, operatic airs, waltzes, or polkas-notes that must strike with dreary significance on the ears of some of the wretched beings cloistered there. They do not all belong to the dregs of society.
 At the last sound of the organ the warders must find each man at his work. Breakfast consists of half pint of coffee and bread, and the other two meals of the day of soup and vegetables. Three times week the convicts have fresh meat, but never wine. The convict who has earned a certificate of good conduct, however, can procure some at the prison canteen, as well as beer and to- bacco in stated quantities. Each day the prisoners are taken out of their cells in rotation for solitary exercise in sep arate yards. The rest of the time is en- tirely given up to the accomplishment of their allotted portion of work, except on Sunday which is day of absolute rest Between the religious services the convicts are at liberty to employ their leisure in their cells as they think proper. The prison library contains a considerable collection of books of travel, and such publications as the NagaSin Pitoresq,te from which each man can make selection. Only those who can neither read nor write are com pelled to attend school for instruction between mass and vespers. This takes place in the chapel itself
 Nothing can be more striking than the construction and internal arrange ments of this chapel It is large cycle or wheel, consisting entirely of super posed flights of steps, like circular and reversed amphitheatre, the centre of which forms a raised stage, on which stands the altar, towering far above the heads of the phantom-like congregation. Each row of steps is divided into com. partments or pigeon holes, just large enough for a man to sit and kneel When the hour for divine service has come, the first cell is opened by ward, CT, and convict No. l is led out, con. ducted to the chapel, and, entering the row to which he belongs, walks to the furthest compartment, which at once closes upon him. Then only No. 2 leaves his cell and goes through the same performance. And so on till all are settled-no man being permitted to mode till the one immediately preceding him has entered his allotted pen. After mass they are all taken back into their cells in the same order and with the same precautions.
 There are about twelve flights of steps, containing sixty seats each, but as the circle of the chapel is divided by five or six immense partitions, into each of which the prisoners are carried simul- taneously, the operation takes compara- lively only a short time. From his stall each convict is able to see and fol- low every movement of the priest who oficiates at the altar on the central plat form, while he cannot catch even a glimpse of his right and left hand neighbor, owing to the height of the dividing floors, nor can he look over at the opposite row, which is hidden by g boarding higher than himself, and which as effectually shuts ont from his view those above or below, before and behind him.
 The cells are clean and we'll arranged. Daylight is admitted by small window beyond the prisoners reach. The ven- tilation is perfect. In winter the mouth of hot air pipe gives sufficient heat, and in the evening the necessary light is procured by gas jet, to which there is no access from the interior of the cell. The furniture consists of washstand. a commode on the best sanitary principle, a shelf supporting some pewter utensils, and an iron bed. The bedding is a foundation of sacking, mattress, two sheets, one blanket in summer and two in winter, and bolster. The convict has to fold and put these things away. The bed itself is taken to pieces and ,.1naol or,of,,sk kl,a wall forxnfpox Aonla