Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-29

h the whole Of Europe sherc Is bat
~ peircn In which che system< cei.
1e(eir< Of absolute isolation by day and
" night h still enforced. and II has on
thai Rroand = strange and ssd celebrity.
1b3t one prison IL the Maison uentraie
of 1.oavain.
u England and in France prisoners
ases<ubmitted TO less severe penalties,
~ although they are condemned to
2itiace, they Il least work In common,
walk IN common, pray 10 common, and
eoutIncment to their cells is only tenn
porsfy measure RouTrcd TO in case OF
Standardization or misbehayior. The
question now pendant in France Of re-
placing the actual penitentiary system
By the solitary system adopted IN Bel
GUM gives interest TO the details OF a
visit paid TO the prison Of Louyain.
The buildings are situated on the an
terror bouicvards, nearly outside the
town. They date from twenty years
back. but their tall reddish walls have
retained the freshness Of newness. Ad-
mission to the interior can only be given
BY the Minister Of Justice, who grants
the permission with so much difficulty
that the rare visitors are always treated
with the utmost courtesy and considera-
ton. and enabled TO see rs much Of the
interior administration as is consistent
with the rules and discipline.
The buildings all converge to CEN
trail apsis, whence warder can easily
survey the six immense avenues or
wings, consisting Of two stories OF cells.
While some slight repairs were being
done 10 one Of these cells figure sud-
denly appeared standing motionlcss at
the door--a mysterious and CHASTITY APP
partition, clad entirely in white linen,
head and face closely masked by a
hood of the same material. Air was adj
Initted to eyes. nose, and mouth by four
round holes. Obeying rapid sign from
the wardcr, the figure turned to the
wall and crossed its hands behind its
back. Ii was q convict. Even through
the apertures Of his concealing head
gear 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 check. He wears his linen
hood summer and winter, but during
The cold he is provided with warm.
brown woollen clothes. Labor is COM
pulsory, and the days are spent in one
unyarying, monotonous round of the
self.samc duties.
At 6 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 the others to
rise, dress, and make up their beds and
bedding. The music lasts for fifteen
minutes, and may, at the will of the
player, consist Of religious anthems,
operate airs. waltzes, or polkas--notes
that must strike with dreary signifi-
canoe on the ears Of some of the wretch
ed beings clustered there. They do
not all belong TO the dregs Of society.
Leon and Armand Pcttyer are there ex-
plating the murder Of the lawyer Ber-
nays, whose trial two years ago startled
the world by its cynical revelations.
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 vege-
tables. Three times week the con-
,victs have fresh meat, but never wine.
The convict who has earned certificate
Of good conduct, however, can procure
some at the prison canteen, as well as
beer and tobacco in stated quantities.
Each day the prisoners are taken out of
their cells in rotation for solitary exer-
else in separate yards. The rest of the
time is entirely given up to the accom-
plishment Of their allotted portion Of
work, except en- Sunday, which is day
of absolute rest. Between the religious
services the conyicts are at liberty 10
employ their leisure in their cells as
they think proper. The prison-library
contains considerable collection Of
books of travel and such publications
as the "Magasin Picturesque" from
which each man can make a selection.
Only those who can neither read nor
write are compelled 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. 1t is a large
cycle, or wheel, consisting entirely OF
superposed fights Of steps, like a cir
cular and reversed amphitheatre, the
centre Of which forms raised stage,
on which stands the altar, towering far
above the heads of the phantom-like con-
grcgation. Each row of steps is divided
into compartments or pigeon-holes just
large enough for man to sit and kneel.
When the hour for divine service has
come the first cell is opened by
warder, and Convict No. l is led out,
conducted to the chapel, and, entering
the row TO which he belongs, walks to
the fnrthest 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
move till the man Immediately pre-
ceding 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 fights of
steps. containing sixty seats each, but
as the circle Of the chapel is divided by
i've or six immense partitions, into each
Of which the prisoners are carried stimuli
tsneously, the operation takes compare
lively only q short time. From his stall
each convict is able to see and follow
every movement Of the priest who off,
ciates at the altar on the central plat
iorm, while he cannot catch even
glimpse Of bis right and left-hand
owing TO the height Of the
dividing doors, nor can he look over at
the opposite row, which is hidden by a
4. A 4.