Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-12


penal eorvitude 10 tho daily papers, Ills de
scriptton OF the punishment Of bread and
water diet. dark cells, aud that bumiliatinp
exercise with the crank known ms "griud
Ing the air" would have had no flrst-hand
value,
Before leaving Portland he was told that
the discharged Prisoners Aid Society,"
would Coubtiess do something for him. He
expressed his gratitude for tho information,
but added that unless from disusc his right
hand had lost its cunning, he could earn an
honcst-he EN- hasized tho word livelihood
without Gifil ulty. lIo had been an nrIis
nnd could again pursue that craft under n
new name During his detention lie had
given Lis ianitors proof of his graphic abl.
les by tho craving OF sundry states with
complicated and not inartistic dcsi ms. These
"oi ks OF art are still shown to visitors to the
prison as Curiosities.
SO, practically FREQ man, Maurice Her
vey stool in the streets of London at o'clock
on the second day of tho new year. There
was little about him to attract attention
by IA merciful and sensible dispcnsation, dur
ing the three months prior to his cmancpa-
tion convicrs hair is left to nature, SO that
in these days If military crops Mr.. IIorvey's
head, which ro longer resembled Fitzroy
stormdruln, was not a signal Of danger. The
SUIT OF clothes which replaced the durable
prison dress was rough and ill-fitting, but
not such as 10 create remark. In London
that night there must have been hundreds of
Thousands II respectable men who looked
neither better nor worse than Maurice Her
vev.
Free at last! Free to turn where ho liked,
and, within the limits of the law, do as he
liked; in splendid health; in tho primo of
manhood. Free TO redeem or cancel tLo past
by honest work, or by dishonesty sink lower
and lower in the future. In his pocket the
sum OF five pounds seventeen shillings and
sixpence, the result of years of self-cnforcod
good conduct and unavoidable hard labor
The lingering of this money gave him new
or at least awoke a dormant sensation. 1t
was moro than four years snce his hands
had touched coin Of tho realm. Think of
that and realize what penal servitude means
The first use he made Of his liberty md
money was characteristic, and j fear may
awaken indulgent sympathy in the minds of
the majority of man mot woman) kind
He went into a tobacconist's and bought ,
ninepenny cigar. He lit it, sat down upon
chair in the shop and for some minutes
smoked in bls5ful, contcnted silence. The
shopkceper eyed his customer narrowly. His
general appearance, especially the look of his
hands, did not seem compatible with what
the tradcsman called 'nincpenny smoke
gent" Iervey caught tho mans eyes fixed
on his hands. He himself glanced at them
with n look of disgust and mut,ercd curse.
Years Of turf carrying and digging and delv-
ing for Portland stone play havoc with n
gcntlemnn's hands. Hervcys nails were
broken, blunted and stmted; his fingers
III
his han Is were such as person solicitous as
to the refinement of his personal appearance
would prefer to keep in his pockets.
There wcre other actions which showed
the tckct-of-leave man to be possessed Of o
fastidious nature. Tho first euthraling
solemnity of the rebound enjoyment of good
tobacco having passed Off, he left the shop
and went in search Of u rcady-made clothing
establishment. Here he bou ht u shirt and
collar, pair Of shining boots, n hat, gloves,
and cheap suit which for few days would
hang together and present an appearance
almost fashionable He asked permission 10
change his apparel on the premises Then
having had lrown paper parcel made Of
tho suit presented to him by generous
governm mt h, went his way, 10 doubt
much relieved by the amelioruticn of his ex-
ternal condition.
After n few more purchases needed by n
gentleman for his toilet, he found his money
had dwindled down to very little. He had,
however, enough left to buy shiny black
bag. Into this he tumlhed his parcels, and
hailing hanson paid his last shilling to be
conveyed to tho door CT O well known hotel
A luxurious dog this convict!
He engaged bedroom He ordered O
dinner of which even Horace and Herbert
might have approved. He rang for hot
water, and spent half nn hour soaking his
hardened and disfgured hands. He scowled
az he realized the painful fact that hundreds
of gallons Of hot water and months Of time
must be expended before these badly-uscd
members in any way resumed their original
appearance. Then, without shilling in his
pocket, lie went to his dinner. with which he