The Mineral argus., 1885-01-08
MI EXPERIENCES M STATE PRISON.
DY AN Ex-wE2DEN.


. &c Prison. For nearly eighty years
,'a' rning walls Of the old Massa-
Tie ,ro". 3 Prison in Charlestown
cusetts Stale -. vet impressive mont
hare stood a siien.. :, Ieo- that tbo
tor, reminding the e,s
way of the transgressor is haru.. u
Yet, but very little is known OF the
inside history of the prison. The gen.
cral opinion is that the inmates are a
worthless set, compelled to labor for a
term Of years for their own good. and
the protection of society, and that the
disgrace of being in the prison is a
greater hardship than any connected
with the punishment inflicted. More
than this, some people infer that it is
not an undesirable place for the unfort-
innate and homeless.
This is a great mistake. Deprived
of liberty, even Of speech, and of the
use Of their eyes except upon their
work; forced to pass like automatons,
in slow and measured tread, from the
prison to the workshop and back again !;
knowing that each day in the week will
bring with it the same Interchangeable
rations; ignorant to a great extent Of
what is passing in the outside world !;
with the feeling in many instances that
wife and children are suffering in con-
sequence of their misconduct, one
must become familiar with this life of
frightful monotony to realize the ex-
tent Of the punishment criminal suf-
fcrs. The wonder is that SO few con-
victs become insane.
As o sentence draws to a close, the
time drags heavily, and the last few days
usually finds prisoner with Int little
appetite, restless and unable either to
work or to sleep.
A man who had served sentence of
ton years called at nv office a few days
after he was discharged. and in
liberty.
II can't realize it yet." lie said. "For
weeks before was discharged. would
lie on my cot at night, thinking what 1
would have to eat when my time was
up. Visions Of turkey. beefsteak. ham
and eggs and other luxuries of which
I had been deprived so long, filled my
mind, and I resolved when l was released
to have the best meal could obtain in
Boston.
"On leaving the prison, at once
made my way to an eating house, and
with trembling hands seized a bill of
fare. read it over two or three times,
trying to make up my mind what /
would have. It was in vain. My APP
petite was gone. The wonderful break
fast / had looked forward to with
such eager anticipations was made up,
finally, of cup OF tea and slice OF
toast"
The convict in prison is subject to
the same feelings and desires, influenced
by the same motives, governed and con-
trolled by the same general principles,
a. other men, and if finally saved. it
must be through the same Saviour up
whom we all rely. He is not necessa-
rily monster in whom the sentiments of
love, respect and pity have no place.
When we reflect lat the average age
of convicts in the State Prison is only
about twenty five years, we cannot de-
ny them our sympathy, especially when
we remember the fact that many Of them
are the victims over which they had no
control, such as the misfortune OF birth,
neglect in early life, drunken or crimi-
nal parents.
In my experience rs warden, ] have
seldom found man 20 hardened by
crime or vice that his feelings could not
be moved, OF his interest in o better
life enlisted, il the attempt to get Mt his
better nature was judiciously made.
The following narrative shows degree
of unselfish magnaniniity that under
other circumstances might elevate the
man who exhibited it INTO hero.
Early one evening in the winter OF
1864, o gentleman driving in a sleigh,
in the suburbs of Boston, saw two men
standing in the road. As he approached,
they expressed wish to speak to him.
He checked his horse, and at once one
of the men seized the animal by the
head, the other rushed to the sleigh,
and presenting q revolver, demanded
the mans money. He gave the robber
his pocketbook, containing three one
hundred dollar bills and some small
change. The two men then compelled
him TO get out of his sleigh. They
sprang into 1t, and drove rapidly away
Alarm was given. The criminals were
pursued. The team was found by the
side of the road in Cambridge. but the
robbers had fed.
The following evening an express.
man was stopped on the Salem turn
pike Just before reaching Lynn, by the