Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1885-04-29
ABOUT PRISON MANIAC smErT.


dresses, remarked that he was once in
formed by one having a large and varied
experience with criminals in penitentia'
ries, that prisoners could be divided intc
three classes: First, those who should
not have been imprisoned at all, mo-
being naturally evil, or put in duranc'
vile for the breaking of some statute
second, those who might be benefited by
a proper prison regime, and third, those
who were irreclaimably bad and who
should be taken out into the middle o.
the ocean and dropped into the raging
pillows.
In many respects this classification is
not an exaggeration. But the growing
sympathy Of the age will neither adjudge
who is past reclamation nor mete out the
drowning punishment even if such judg-
ment were passed. Victor Hugo has
most graphically painted the sufferings OF
Jean Vatican who belongs to that class
imprisoned for a triding offense or no
o%ffense. The growing sympathy {. the
age, and possibly the infrequency OF
crime resulting from a naturally ~depraved
criminal class, has led the masses to
think of every prisoner as a possible Jean
Vatican.
As if to voice this sympathy, and at
the same time show the philosophy of its
operation. Herbert Spencer wrote his ad-
mirable essay on Prison Ethics"
The articles of Charles Dudley Warner
in the current number of the North
American Review, calls to mind the essay
of the great English philosopher, as it is
an account Of the practical workings OF
what he has taught as the correct theory
of prison discipline.
So far as the ordinary Jail is concerned
Mr.. Warner sees no difference between
the ram, shackle and uncomfortable ones
and those. which boast of architectural
beauty and the best means of giving
physical comfort. There is apt to be the
SAM hang-dog, depressed, hopeless and
heavy lot of prisoners in the splendid as
in the poor prison. As a means of re-
forming the prisoner, Mr.. Warner has
come to the conclusion that nothing is
gained by turning the prison into a com
Portable hotel.
Turning from the ordinary Jail. it is a
pleasure to read Mr.. Warmers account OF
the Reformatory at Elmira, New York.
This institution has no counterpart in the
world, so far as Mr.. Warner knows, and
it is an attempt to carry out in practice
what Mr.. Herbert Spencer says is the
proper way to treat criminals-by de-
veloping their moral and intellectual fac
ulties, and above all their individualism.
Any one convicted of a State Prison
o~ffense, who has never been in Jail be
fore, between the ages of sixteen ano
thirty years, can be sent to this Refor
matory. The Judge sentencing the pris
oner has the discretionary power to d.
this. Once there they are put through
system Of compulsory education. A
first the prisoner is placed in the inter
mediate department from which he car
60 up to a higher grade through goot
conduct, hard study and efficiency in thu
trade he is learning. In consequence o
endeavor he can make a man of himself
get his term shortened, and if he show
sufficient moral development is set FREE
ON parole. On the contrary if he doe
not do we'll he is put into a lower grade
and if no improvement is shown he mus
serve out his term.
All the humanities are practiced II
this institution. The striving are en-
couraged by words of sympathy AM
advice; the erring gently chided; tn
very bad more severely. The prisoner
are not dressed in a special garb and ar
allowed free communication one with tn
other. But everything they do is in tn
line of education and for everything
done, whether at the workbench or tn
study room, they receive good or ba'
marks. This is stimulating. 1t seem
strange to relate, but Mr.. Warner give
an interesting account of these prisoner
taking a lesson from the teachings o
Socrates and discussing it with spirit AM
intelligence.
The whole matter summed up is this
Prisoners are not treated as if punish
ment was the end of their incarceration
but rather as men who are being educate'
to live as sensible, honest and intelligen
citizens. While the ordinary jail get
back about 60 per cent Of its criminals
this institution reforms so per cent
that is, they so live afterwards as no
to get into the clutches of the law. Suci
being the case this institution, as Mr.
Warner says, is worthy the attention o