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

EultOr
Our weekly organ has for the past month
or so been cOnspicuOusly loaded with vari-
Gus essays on prison reform. some of which
were both interesting and well written.
Now do not wish to criticize. but it seems
to me that most of the contributors on this
subject seem to have ignored one attribute
of the average human character. and which
| think should rank as OF the highest i'm
portance in the reformation Of us all. l
refer to the exercise of self-cOntrO or self
government. This l consider the root to
start from. How few. lamentably few, of
us here can, with truth. say that we are
capable of governing ourselves and of con-
trolling our passions and selfish desires.
The trouble is we try to begin at the top
instead of at the bottom of the ladder-we
do not begin to govern ourselves in the
little everyday things of this life. Take as
an instance the control of our appetite. 1t
is true there is not as much here to promote
a greed in this direction as there would be
on the outside. as our food and daily bill of
fare is somewhat stereOtyped in its formula,
but if the remarks of wv. r." in late
lSSut' VI tilC paper WCIC tIuC, SulCly tuCIC
appears room for improvement III this par
ticular Take again the control OF our
temper and momentary passions. How
many all inmate OF this prison might be
leading useful life in the world outside
instead of serving out long sentence here,
if he could have controlled what seems to
be ;n ungOvernable temper. Surely here
where we take SO much time to reflect and
to distinguish between what is right and
wrong. we ought to be able to keep out of
trouble; but alas. A and G cells tell a
different story. Some men will lay the
blame on their guards and insist that he is
always picking on Them" but never stop
to think that a guard is placed over them to
see that the rules are enforced and that there
are but two ways-the right and the wrong.
If we ignore the presence of discipline. pun
iShment must be the ultimate result of such
actions. We may see others daily breaking
the rules and never get detected. but we
know it is wrong. Try. then and govern
yourselves in this to start with. and you
will be both happier and more useful
man in every way.
As an illustration | will relate little in
cident that happened to me some years ago
while on the road. | managed some how
or other to get into controversy with my
conductor and suffered my temper to get
the better OF me. | felt sure | was right
and kept no control over myself. The
consequence was that | was called before
the superintendent who wanted to inveSti-
gate the matter. | stated the facts as they
actually existed and he agreed that | was
right in my argument, but would not justify
my display of temper. and severely repri-
manded me warning me never to forget the
respect due to superior officer.
Let us then obey all orders here implicitly.
without arguing on the fact as to whether
they are good or bad. and we will be both
happier and better calculated to succeed in
the outside world and to respect any disci-
plne to which we may be subjected in the
future have not said what would like
to on this all-important question OF self
government. nor can find words to express
my thoughts. but hope, however. that |
may have paved the way for some one more
able to handle the subject on which l have
written. S. A. McF.