The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-07

that system is getting to be Il hated system; it
will probably pass away; but apprehend the peo-
pie will not feel the tull rel eff they anticipate.
The men in prison are fed wholesome.
nutritious diet, carefully prepared TIE dinner
is not repeated any day in the week. that is to
say one dinner is just like any other during
tue week: breakfast may be the same from one
day to another, supper the same, but there is al
WAYS a change for dinner. There is always on the
table at noon pudding and milk. supper is uni
formly taken in the cells; breakfast and dinner in
the din ng room. supper consists of bread pint
of milk and cup of tea.
The prisoners now being clothed in striped
garments. We have three cOlOrs of dress now in
use at the prison. There is the older grey suit
the striped. grey and black; and the stripe which
is nearly black and white. now coming into use
The prisoners educated attempt is
made at education. This educat Oh shows is eff
fects in the life, the character and general ap-
pearance. especially in po.nt of intelligence, on
the entire prison population SO far as the men
are brought under the influence of education
We have also religious instruction there; and
tn S consists in that given in the Sunday school,
and from the sacred desk, and in teachers meet
ing and in the prayer meeting; and first l will
speak of that Civ IN from the desk. Our gospel
service very nearly resembles your ordinary
church services. The chapel was built to equal
the cell capacity at the time the prison was built
since them the cell capacity and the population
of the prison have far increased as to make the
attendance at chapel service twice month. n
stead of once week. The singing is done by
large choir of lr soners, the consret alton having
books. and W til the privilege of JON ng. Attend
apce on chapel service is required; on the day of
coming into prison every man is informed of GER
tain tn ngs he must do. and among the rest he is
informed that he is expected to attend chapel SER
vices if not sick at work. for it is necessary for
some of the men to do housework sunday, but
no prisoner is compelled to labor in the shops
the Sabbath; if he goes to work there it is
though he were a free man.
Attendance on sunday school or prayer meeting
is optional. Each man is informed the day he is
received that attendance chapel does not inn
ply an abandonment of any relig on he may have.
indeed advise him to cling to his old religion.
if he has one. and to his church.
Our SUNDAY school consists Of an average at
tendance of 225 men. These arranged in 80
classes. All these classes. save four, are taught
by prisoners, and l never saw more efficient and
interested corps of teachers. on Friday evening
they come together for about two hours. and we
examine the lesson for about an hour, then we
have essays or papers the men prepare them
themselves and stand up and read them Then
select passage from the Bible, ten fifteen
verses, the men being ignorant of what is to be
read before reading designate two men, then
read the passage, and one of the designated
rises and tells what he thinks some one verse
means, and their ideas compare very favorably
with what would be said in your prayer meetings.
When this is done the meeting is closed and on
Lords day meet for the Sunday session.
The law authorizes to furnish the prisoners
with religious papers, and about $50 religious and
temperance papers are brought into the pr son
each week; many of the men subscribe for relig-
ious papers on their own account. Last night as
| was down stairs (where the men are), young
man came TO me and said. Here eight of
want to come to sunday school, Those
volunteers. The regular attendance. where every
one may attend who wishes. is once in two weeks.
In our pray er meetings. when say, You may
now pray there is no hesitancy: they follow each
other right along sometimes two three will
start together. After we have had prayer they
read verses from their Bibles. Then we bear tes
timony and sing for awhile. Then pray and
sing speak and sing.
Then we have meetings which hardly know
what to call here; call them there. 1.-The Mon
day evening meeting or 1.-The Thursday or sat
urday evening meeting" Sometime ago asked
the Warden If could bring men out on Thursday
evening; he said that l could so selected eleven
men, took Wayland's Moral Science. and COM
menced teaching then. They at once inter-
ested they began to learn they began to get clear
ideas these were men whom could not interest
in the prayer meeting, or in any other way So
the class began increasing till there were thirty
or forty. Then l said to the Warden There are
some men 1 do not yet reach told the War
den l wanted to reach the extremes those who
were uneducated and listless and those who were
somewhat educated He said he would take the