The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-01-11
For The Mirror.
The Uses of AdVerSity.

''Sweet are the uses of adversely" sings
venomous, wears vet a precious jewel in his
head" Misfortune certainly has it's uses,
as well as abuses. even in a convict's life
exempt from bubble haunt" 1t is not the
purpose of this brief article to refer to its
abuses, but, rather, to speak of the ''uses''
to be gathered from the wrecks of our pres
ent life. and utilized in the formation and
building up of a new and nObler character,
when we shall go forth into the world
again. Let us begin with the proposition
that life has its cOmpensationS for its every
degree and condition. no matter how desc
late and dreary. Don't let us take the
morbid delight of Mark Tapley and revel
with ''goulish glee' in a terrible afflictiOn
but encourage instead. an optimistic view
of our condition, and always look on the
bright side of this dark picture. One of
the rewards of our Imprisonment is the
opportunity afforded us for reading study
and serious reflection, which leach in his
narrow cell confined" should avail himself
Of; and. right here, let me say that our flu
ture conduct will be largely influenced and
moulded by the character of the books and
papers we select as the companions of our
solitude; hence it behOOveS us, who really
desire to reform, to make a wise use of
this principal advantage of our confinement
here. gentleman, who was remarkable
for the exemplary life he led, declared that
was particular about the kind of company
he kept. What shall we read? Read those
books that are instructive and elevating as
we'll as entertaining-gOOdb books that will
inspire good thoughts. There are num-
Der Of school books in the library; study
them and ''brush up" and improve our store
of knowledge, for education gives lis self
respect, and makes us ambitious to excel
in what is worthy. Above all, let us not
spend too much time porting over news
papers-eXcept as we may wish to keep
''posted' on the main topics and questions
of the day.
We should train ourselves to think Alright
They are never alone that are accompanied
by noble thoughts. One of the blessed
uses" of our enforced solitude which. as
Milton said, sometimes is best society,""
is its pronenesS to con ure up our halcyOn
days-sweet remembrances of the past
which still vibrate in the memory like the
soft strain of distant music.
Another of the fuses of adversely" ell
abes us to distinguish our winter friends
from our summer friendS"-whO quickly
desert lis when sorrow o'ertakes u.s."
Our present situation is the severest of all
crucibles to try our friends in, for very few
people care to acknowledge an acquaint-
ance in state prison. 1t is "a tombstone
true" that tries them, and when any prove
equal to the terrible test we should "grap-
pie them to our souls with hooks of STEEL"
and show them that we appreciate, and are
worthy of, their noble constancy and self
sacrificing love.
| do not believe in the theory of the total
depravity of man; in the most abandoned
among us there is some redeeming feature
somewhere in the innermost recesseS of
the calIOused and crime-seared heart. there
lies soft spot which needs but single
''touch of nature to make it throb and
beat in unison with all that IS good and
ennObling. ITO err is human, to forgive
divine" C. II. r.
Jan. Z. 1888.
MANY 10 lIImniac ORC ioi,ro,,c n ftnr ha;,o