The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-05-09
The Value of a Sunday Suit.

Pleasing thought: yet how many of us have traced
the import Of it? l venture to say that not another
penItentiary in the world provides their prisoners
with extra suits for Sunday Some twelve years
ago gave up attending Sunday school. church,
and the meetings of the Y. NJ. c. A., of which 1
member. just because l did not have q suit
to wear on Sundays. l remember yet only too
well. after my clothes had become shabby, of slip
ping into church on Sunday evenings, taking a
back seat, and hurrying out after meeting. before
anybody saw me; and then after awhile gave that
up. and because was unable to get sunday suit
at that time is why am here to-day. l have had
many Sunday suits since that time. but had omit
going to church.
Boys, how many of you had Sunday suit at the
time you were arrested? Not one in six: | might
say not one in ten. If some great and rich man
would take the city of Chicago and furnish every
man, woman and child with a Sunday suit the
Bridewell would be depopulated, and Joliet
penitentiary would be soon advertising rooms to
let Men won't go to church, like they do here
to chapel, in Their everyday clothes, in their
shirt sleaves if the coat is dirty. and there are
few churches that to have them attend.
They not that kind OF christians. So. instead
of going to church go fishing. Previous to this
time. twelve years ago. had been in the habit of
dressing up Sunday and when the time came
that could not do so. and had to wear my old
clothes all day sunday. those the bluest days
of my life. After awhile the other hab of dress
in up became fixed as the former had teen,
and then didn't care; and it is just here. The
first Sunday went to chapel here felt very much
ashamed. because had very old suit on. The
only way could comfort myself was by repeating
this: 1T is the penitentiary; what is the differ
eEce?' and had to say that every few minutes to
keep my pride deceived. Now l have got used
to it, and after several years have passed here,
without thought of dressing up sundays, 1t will
be quite natural for me to give no thought to it
after get out and you can imagine how and
where will spend my sundays.
But. hold on; l am to have Sunday suit here
and dress up every sunday, and l tell you there
is no habit so hard to give up that of Sticking
up on that day. when once thoroughly acquired.
So you see, after leave here may go to church;
at least will associate with little better class
of reOple-may become respected and honorable
and the state won't have to be taxed to prosecute
me again. Won't that be much better? How
| refreshing it is to see that at last the fact
is becoming recognized that manlness is good
even for prisoners. OF course only little is good
for them-only Sunday suit now-but wait, boys;
some day we won't have to be locked up like
brutes for years, when each day longing
to be and could be if only had a little
assistance. Even will be partly men. on
Sundays. at least. There will be no more wood
sho p hands with the dust of the in their
clOthes more blacksmths with iron dust and
coal dust their clothes: no more painters with
paint on their clothes; more Office clerks to
feel themselves above us-but instead of being
mechanics we will all be men. SO far our clothes
indicate. A mans occupation should never be
known by the clothes he wears when acting the
part of a man away from his trade or profession.
We should not forget that we are first men.
think our managers here must have thought
all this. and more. too. before they requested the
directors and governor to sanction the expend-
ture. l consider it a great benefit. the import
ance of which neither the officials or prisoners
fully realize.
Boys let all show our appreciation by COM
plying with the deputy's request. We all remem-
Der what he said about taking of our clothes
He don't make long speeches-says he is no speech
maker-still some of the boys who have been in
the hole say that he has made speeches to
them that would put Patrick Henry or Daniel
Webster to shame. Don't let your curiosity
tempt you to prove the truth of this. But here is
little speech that have all heard him make
Boys we have had good sermon; it has done
me good and l hope it has you
He has said this in such kind earnest truth
full way, that we all knew that it from the
depths of his heart which is the fountain of elO
quence. and those few words have sunk deeper
into our hearts than the whole sermon did. In
fact, we always like to hear the deputy speak; he
always has something good to tell US. Pardon
me, boys, for speaking these words of praise.
feel that am only your mouth-piece. l like to
praise what is good; and then l first lost my
christianity, then my honor, then my freedom
and all for the want of Sunday suit twelve