News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-01-22
TILE PRISON OF LOUVAIN.
BELGIUN'S PECULIAR WAY OF KEEP
ING ITS CUNVICTS.
Shut Out From All Intercourse with Fell
low Mun-A Terrible Existence.

In the whole of Europe there is but
one prison in which the SySten1e cel-
tNlaire of absolute isolation by day and
ny 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 to a central apsis, whence a warder
can easily survey the six immense ave-
rues or wings. consisting of two stories
# cells. While some slight repairs
we're being done to one of these cells, a
figure suddenly appeared standing mo-
-Ionless at tie door mysterious en-,
5hastly apparition, clad entirely in
white linen, head aud face closely
masked 10y hood of the same material.
Air was admitted to eyes, nose, and
mouth by four round holes. Obeving
fapld sign from the warder, the f. ure
urned to the wall, and crossed its hand
b hind its back. 1t was convict. Even
through the apertures of his concealing
beadgear, the prisoner of Louvain must
never catch a passing glimpse cf any
iuman 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
uring the cold he is provided with
warm brown wooden 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 eonvicts. 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,
and make up their beds and bedding.
The music lasts for fifteen minutes, and
m ~, at the will of the player, consist of
religious anthems, operate airs, waltzes,
nr polkas-notes that must strike with
lreary significance on the ears of some
of the wretched beings cloistered there.
They do not all belong to the dregs of
oc ETY..
At the last sound Of the organ the
warders must find each man at his work.
Breakfast consists of half pint of coffee
aud bread, and the other two meals of the
lay of soup and vegetables. Three times
week the convicts have fresh meat, but
ever wine. The convict who has
armed 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
he prisoners are taken out of their cells
n rotation for solitary exercise in sep
rate yards. The rest of the time is ell,
rely given up to the accomplishment
If their allotted portion of work, except
IN Sunday which is day Of absolute
est. Between the religions services the
'onvicts are at liberty to employ their
isure in their cells as they think
oper. The prison library contains a
considerable collection of books of
travel, and such publications as the
UGgnSin Picturesque from which each
nan can make selection. Only those
who can neither read nor write are COM
,elled to attend school for instruction
petween mass and vespers. This takes
place in the chapel itself.
Nothing can be more striking than
he construction ana internal arrange
nents of this chapel. It is large cycle
II wheel, consisting entirely of super
posed flights of steps, like circular AMI
reversed amphitheatre, the centre OF
which forms raised stage, on which
lands the altar, towering far above the
,eads of the phantom-like congregation.
Each row of steps is divided into COM
artments or pigeon holes, just large
uough for a man to sit and kneel
When the hour for divine service ha>
',me, the first cell is opened by ward
ar, and convict 10. l is led out, con-
lucted to the chapel, and, entering tha
row to which he belongs, walks to the
urthest compartment, which at once
closes upon him. Then only No. 2
leaves his cell and goes through the
.anle performance. And so on till all
are aattled-no man beng permitted t.
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
,ame precautions.
There are about twelve fights of steps,
20 t4ining 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 stimuli
taneously, the operation takes compare
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
Iform, while he cannot catch even a
ol mpse of his right and left hand
neighbor, owing to the height of the
dividing floors, nor can he look over al
the opposite row, which is hidden by .
boarding higher than himself, and which
As effectualIy shuts ont from his view
hose above or below, before and behind
him.
The cells are clean and well arranged.
Daylight is admitted by small window
beyond the prisoners reach. The ven
tilation is perfect. In winter the m Nuth
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 a washstand. a
commode on the best sanitary principle,
shelf supporting some pewter utensils,
| md an iron bed. The bedding is p
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.
Tue bed itself is taken to pieces and
placed against the wall, forming table,
in front Of which is a stool. The re-
mainder of the space is taken up by the
implements necessary to the convict
| obligatory daily task.
The rules of the prison are such that
the COW cts must replace their hooded
masks as soon IS the doors of their cells
open. They cannot expose their faces
wen to their warriors. II, perchance, q
face is seen by doctor it is paled by
the long sunless shadow in which 1t lives
and the want of braciDg, blowing air, fo'
even the daily walk OF an hour IN the
prison wards is at best only exercise IL
h.