Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-20
THE WILD WEST.
Letter From Waterbury Boy, NOW
 Turnkey in Idaho Penitentiary.

Letter From Waterbury Doy' NV"
 Turnkey in Idaho Penitentiary.
 BOISE C1TY, Idaho, April 13, 1858. Editor Waterbury DEMOCRAT:
 Dear Sir:-Allow me to correct slight error which occurred in your issue of the 2d inst, in reference to the Hot Springs near this city. The Springs whose light ming cooking qualities I spoke of are at "Pike's Peak, {" Colorado, and I think his satanic majesty must be stoker; but the curative. ones are here and presided over by the good angel who hovered over the pool at Bethseda, but who got dis gusted with bo5h it and the Jews and IS now moving the heating waters here in the Gentle interest. Without doubt, the Springs really possess remarkable medi- cinal qualities, and many stubborn cases of rheumatism have been vanquished after a few weeks bathing in it's not unpleasant ly warm water The climate too is 8 potent factor in the case, for though sur rounded by high and rugged mountains whose snow white peaks retain their white covering all the year round, the city nestles costly down in the protecting lap of a valley that produces peaches and grapes of size and quality that the garden spot of California may rival but certainly cannot excel.
 From my seat in the lookout of the penitentiary here, gaze on the bright and dark sides of life and moralize to my hearts content Two miles below the glittering dome of the capital sparkles like huge diamond encircled by emeralds, for the houses are almost surrounded by clumps of trees whose green foliage almost conceal the dwellings, though here and there an ambitious chimney peeps out to catch a glimpse of the church spires that tower around it. That is my bright side of the picture and shows industry and prosper ity. I then look down from my perch on the wall into the prison yard and the reverse side looms up black and dismal. Many nations are represented there. Sons of Erin and sons of Ham argue noisily to- gether, the one enlarging on the virtues of dynamite while the other contends for cloudy nights and we'll filled chicken GOODS. Here group of would-be politi- clans mangle up the tariff question in great shape, and away off in corner by themselves is band of polygamous Nor mon mons who WI are are suffering 11 for a christ's Us reality for braving the government by clinging to the bigamy doctrine taught by the licentious leaders of a licentious people, Gazing longingly at the green hills are a couple of Indian horse thieves, while close to them sits stolid faced squaw who made a good Indian out of bad buck The Heather Chinee" is there also, but Ah Sin is happy and contented and only sighs for liberty in mild way, when he thinks of the blissful dreams he is losing for the want of of his inspiring drug. This is the picture l look upon daily. On the one side peace and happiness, on the other dis content and misery and the old saying re- CUTS to my mind "Be virtuous and you will be happy"
 I meant when starting to have given your readers an explanation of the mineral qualities of the springs here, but I have devoted too much space to moralizing on my zebra striped flock to permit of that, so l must defer it to some other season.
 Yours respectfully,
 MARTIN MCDONALD.
 Late of Waterbury.