Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-27
The Weekly Free Press from
this date is reduced one haiti
is now only ONE DOLLAR ii
wear,
THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
''An Inside View of the Institution and
Its working.
From the Rutland HeraldJ


(From the Rutland HcraldJ
The House of Correction was opened Dec.
It'll, 1878, when the first prisoner was re
ceived. Up to date there have been 1889
commitments, some of the prisoners being
committed more than once. AT present
there are st prisoners, nine of whom are
women. The majority OF this number have
neeu committed ior intoXicat!on aud
tramping.
The buildings are cOmmOdiOus, and, as
the majority of visitors have observed, are
"as neat as wax" The main building of
the prison department contains 10 cells in
the Women's part there are six, each hay
ing two hunks. In the centre of the build
ing are the ktchen.and bakery, where the
food for prisoners both sexes is prepared
IN cooking being done by male prisoners.
The women fare alike with the men no
partality being shown, The fare varies
With the season, but in the main ii consists
of hash, bread and coffee for breakfast ;
meat, pork and beans or fish, with bread
for dinner bread and coife Tor supper.
The hours Tor meals are at g, =? and &; and
the working hours are from TO II and
from to & o'clock.
Everything Worn in the prison is made
there, except the stockings. The men all
work on marble and the women do laun-
dry work and repair and make the prison
clio hing. After supper, and until $50 p.
m, the men have the time at their own
disposal, but at $50 they must have their
lights out and be in bed Many of the
prisoners employ their time in the manu-
facture of fancy articles, which md Il
ready sale One convict has manufacture
ed and sold 500 WORTH of marble horse
shoes There is but little sickness, and a
call from the doctor is rarity, although
some one is always on OFT time, owing to
colds, etc.
Entertainments, generally furnished by
the convicts themselves, are given tre-
quently in the hail. and outside aid Is also
given IN this direction. The night school,
presided over by Mr.. Coolidge, is well at
| teuded Convicts are allowed, if well be
haved, to "go visiring"about once month
when they may call on fellow prisoners
but no conversation with each other is
PERM tied at any other time. They are al
lowed TO have reading matter, and may
write letters ut the States expense at rea-
sonable intervals, and at their own expense
once Il week.
Prisoners addicted to the tobacco habit
are allowed a quarter of a pound OF plug
tobacco once week. They are required
to ba,he once each week, and at all times
must keep their clothes neat and in re-
par.
1t is noteworthy fact that, with but
few exceptions, the prisoners all gain IN
weight from four to 20 pounds. This, OF
course, is due to regular habits.
When a prisoner arrives, his hair is cut
and he is shaved, a bath is given and he is
weighed and provided with a prison uni
form His clothes are cleaned, labeled and
packed away, and he goes to work at once.
For good behavior there is always a re-
ducli'l made lie the length OF the sen
teu,,. Except in case of sickness, no pris-
oLer is excused from religious services,
which are held every Sunday. On fourth
| of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas
specia entertainments are given aud an
extra bill of fare is provided