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


Knowing from eXper fence that confidence
reposed in you in an official capacity OF
otherwise will not be abused. but will be
held inviolate, propose to make you my
confident in ''secret" which latter a tria
of more than six months) l find too burden
some to be born without assistance. Should
you give it publicity through the columns
of THE MIRROR the responsibility rests
with you alone and l shall feel myself alb.
solved from any action my informant may
take in regard to the matter.
At the western extremity of our ''reser.
vatiOn'' there is in process Of erection a
building concerning the use of which ar
erroneous opinion seems to generally prevail
among the 'bOna fde" residents of Oul
community. In speaking of it they invari
ably term it 1.-The solitary" i. e.. place OF
punishment and retirement for such of us
who may by our conduct show that we are
tired of our present surroundings, and thai
we desire to be secluded from the turmoil
OF the shop and dollhouse, so that we car
mediate undisturbed on past. present anC
l.
that the new building is intended for nc
such purpose. / ought to know, for l moi
only worked on the grading for the founda-
datiOn, but was on terms of the closest in
tmacy with my namesake. NJ. K, who was
walking boss, as well as powder man. anC
whO in order to relieve my mind, gave me
the information | am now cOntidentially i'm
parting to you.
In August last work was scarce in the
shop in which was employed and on re-
porting for duty from day to day, l was
told that l might return to the 'wigwam'
until the boom came along. One day while
deeply interested in the thrilling adventures
of Robinson Crusoe Mr.. Colligan (cell-rOon
guard) appeared and informed me that ]
was detailed for fatigue duty, and to re-
port to Guard Alexander. who was genera
supervisor of improvements just begun al
the west end. In accordance with in
structions | reported to Mr.. Alexander. anC
was regularly enrolled among the horny,
handed sODs of toll. The rule in regard tC
cOnverSing with each other was not rigidy
enforced, and we would occupy what leisure
time we had in discussing the tariff, civil
service reform, and the best means of getting
rid of the surplus with which the U. S.
treasury is now afflicted, and which causes
regard to the latter question. we soon solved
the problem and unanimously agreed that
rather than the country should suffer any
Inconvenience from the rapid accumulation
of DOODLE" we would cheerfully relieve
them of the responsibility and take upon
ourselves the burden, and would guarantee
to relieve the Stingency in financial circles
by putting the aforesaid doodle" into active
circulation. OF as some Of the boys rather
vulgarly styled it, "blowing it in" On the
tariff issue, nj. X. announced himself in
favor of protection to home industry. but
he said that he was for free wool because
it would not only reduce the price of NUT
ton. but would certainly make clothing
''sheep-er." He also agreed with the
''Plumed Knight" that tobacco was not a
luxury. but was necessity and should be
placed on the free list" Speaking of civil
service reform. NJ. K. said he was a bitter
opponent to any such system. because il
was foreign Importation, and tended to
create an ariStOcracy of office holders, and
that while he was enrolled among the
'Outs," he was in favor of rotation. but
should he by any chance happen to get a
good place at the public crib" he was
open to conviction and might possibly
change his views.
l had been employed but day or two on
the grade when l became curious to learn
what kind of building the authorities in
tended to erect there. l inquired of the
man who was working next to me, and he
informed me it was to be SOLITARY" and
explained to me what the term implied.
When heard the news felt bad; felt
indispOsed to labor; thought it was on the
same principle of sending boy to cut a
stick with which he was to be flogged.
went in search of NJ. K. for further infOr-