The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-04-18

nation. and found him reclining in the shade
of the paint shop wiping the perspiration
from his lofty brow. He invited me to
seat beside him, and asked why looked so
sad. L informed him of what had heard,
and urged him to tell me if there was any
truth in it, In answer to my earnest solicit
tations. he gave me the following informa-
ton. which he assured me was the true
story of the use and purposes for which
the new building is intended. He said: Il
suppose you are aware that the last
legislature passed law aboishing
convict contract labor which goes
into effect September l. 1888. l believe
that they also failed to make any
provisions for our future employment. and
that is question with which the next legis.
lature will have to deal. The consequence
is. that large number of us will remain
unemployed from the time the law becomes
operative, until some action is taken by the
next legislature. In the meantime. there
being no work for us we would have to re-
main in our cells. which all will admit who
have had any experience is not very pleas
ant and not at all conducive to health. To
Obviate this unpleasant state of affairs, the
prison authorities are about to build, not
solitary but don't give it away a GYM
nasium. The latest fad among all classes
on the outside is gymnastics. and we, to
keep pace with the times must be in the
swim. No public building being erected
nowadays is considered complete without a
gymnasium. not even those of the Y. NJ.
G. A, the high schools etc. Now, if mus
cular exercise is considered essential as an
aid to education. and is encouraged by those
who lead exemplary lives, it ought to be
beneficial as means of reformation. l
bnv bor n Mo 6rays n of 10 hpiIdipr
as it will be when completed. l am not
very well versed in architecture. but can
easily perceive that it is on the Greco
Roman. catch-as- catch-can style. 1t is to
be three stories in height and will be sur
mounted by dome which will be used as
an observatory by the repOrtOrial staff of
The MIRROR. who, by the aid of a large
telescope which is to be mounted at the
summit, will be enabled to give us an INK
ling of matters transporting in st. Paul and
Minneapolis. Those small apartments which
you notice ranged on either side, and which
the boys imagine are cells, are merely re
firing rooms for the use of the tired ath-
letes. 1t is to be furnished with all the
modern appurtenances that belong to GYM
nasium, such as the trapeZe. flyingrings,
horizontal bars. clubs and dumb bells.
Those OF pugilistc tendency. as well as
those who are fond of pedestrianlsm will
not be forgotten. as there will be rings for
the accommodation of each. We have among
us plenty of good material, some OF the
younger portion of our brethren having al
ready acquired quite reputation as aero
bats, and who can tell but what there may
be found among those more advanced in
years few who made some famous jumps
during the late war. The calculation is to
have the building completed on or about
the LIST of July. SO that the dedication cere-
monies can be held on the Fourth. This
will be a gala day. and preparations will be
begun sometime previous so as to add as
much ecat as possible to the event. A
drammatic and variety troupe Of home tai
ent is to be organized which will play quite
prominent part in the entertainments. l
overheard one of the officers saying that it
would be a most rusharShay' affair. what
ever he may mean by that The celebrated
VOcOphOne band of Muller Post G.. A. r.,
under the leadership of Capt. Taylor, have
kindly volunteered their services and are
already in active rehearsal. so that we may
well expect a rare musical treat
At this juncture the deputy warden hove
in sight and Me and Nike returned to
our respective posts, and l resumed work in
a more cheerful frame OF mind. determined
to let no more idle talk OF solitary deter
me from doing all that in my power lay to-
ward having the gymnasium ready for In
dependence day festivities. TAMMANY.