The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-01-18
A Kind Word Saved Him.

A Kind Word Saved Him.
Editor Mirror:
Of course everybody has noticed the con-
spicious absence of our Sunday mind di-
verters' in the shape of little after-din-
ner amusement. Dame rumor assigns
many reasons for the abandonment OF these
exercises, but perhaps no one. except the
proper officials know the real cause and
the facts as they exist. AS certain officer
truly remarked the other day. 1 have an
opinion on all things that occur and never
fail to express it when the opportunity
offers.
So with the subject of Sunday entertain
ments. and in good faith I ask you, dear
reader. which is the best method. both for
the state and the unfortunate (whose lot is
bad enough at the best), to lock the unfor-
tunate up in SKI cell from Saturday until
Monday to weary his already burdened
mind, with the thoughts OF his unfortunate
position and the cause of his downfall,
(Which always stands supreme), or would it
be better to allow 430 bleeding souls to sit
in the prison chapel an hour, or an hour and
a half ON Sunday afternoons and listen to
a few remarks that are uttered from philan-
thropic hearts, and few sweet, and en-
chanting songs?
l do not mean to say, that 1--WE are saints
and that all we need is wings" But l do
say that in every one of those 430 human
wrecks there is some good; some tender
chord; some spot that will yield and assert
its manhood if you touch it.
;,,t h; vi, fln
world different man than he was when he
came in. Better. or worse? That depends
altogether on the treatment he receives
while here.
For an illustration. A few months agoa
boy, aged 49, went out after doing two and
half years, and few days before his de-
parture said to him, What are you go
ing to do when you get out" He hung his
head moment and then said: Il will tell
you the truth, since you ask me so candidly.
Although this is my first term in the ''pen"I
have done crooked work since | was Is
years old, and when came here l made up
my mind that was lost forever ar. there
was no chance for me to redeem myself,
and began to study plans how l could
make my living without work when my
time was up. But since Warden Stordock
came here and has allowed good christian
peOplo 10 speak GO us Ill IIlC chapel, anu IN
our cells, L have had experiences l cannot
describe. bnt these kind words have made
me believe 1 can yet be man among men,
and L AIN going to try. Should 1 fail, it
will not be my fault" and just there tear
trickled down his cheek. TO my mind
some kind word has saved that boy from an
unhallOwed grave.
You throw man into cell, throw his
food to him as you would feed swine, give
him no opportunity to divert his mind to
objects which naturally would cultivate the
finer sensibilties of man, the very thought
of society becomes repugnant to his nature,
and when he gains his liberty his conduct
surely cannot rebound to the welfare Of so
ciety or the commonwealth in which he re-
sides.
When the public at large understand and
appreciate the fact that prisons are for the
reformation of criminals and not merely
the punishment thereof, then, and not till
then. will you have less crime and fewer
criminals. The prison that is run on what
is known as the brute force system is only
worthy of despotic Russia. Yours, actual
ly in service, OLE DIVERSION.
Jan. Is, 1883.