The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-05-16
Help One Another.

SUBJECT spoken or written OF more OIten Dy
the members of this community than that
of reform, while so few really reform. How
can we reform? Why should we reform?
Who can expect us to reform? Does the
wild parrot when caught in South Africa or
America. learn how to talk simply by put
ting him in cage, and giving him punch
now and then to make him keep quiet?
Could his owner ever trust him out of the
cage in such mood? l answer no. He
must be taught word by word. He must
be treated kindly. He must have food that
he has been used to. He must have the
privilege of hopping about in his cage and
speak what he thinks. If he is wrong in
his words there must be some one to con-
vince him and make him speak better, think
better, and do better. Then the owner can
trust him in a room with the doors and
windows shut. Eventually he will have the
whole yard. When he gets hungry and
finds nothing in his cage to eat, he
Will call aloud. Poor Polly wants crack
err When night comes he will go to his
cage for rest. When he hears or sees dang
er approaching he will call for help. He
will not try to defend himself. He will not
run away to escape punishment. but will
look to the household to defend him. What
kind of parrot have we? Why, we have
an educated parrot. 1t does not steal what
its companions have struggled to get for
their little ones. 1t does not kill some de-
fenceless bird to crafty itself. 1t does not
sleep here tonight and yonder tomorrow
night. If bird with thimbleful of
brains can be reformed SO simply why not
man endowed with intelligence of the
highest order? and by the same process. AS
can be seen the parrot has stopped all of his
wild habits and trying to live in conformity
with the laws of society.
One reason that the greater number of So
called criminals do not reform is because
few people will take the trouble of finding
out the real meaning of the wOrd--they
must learn what kind of a bird he is. An
other and more important reason is they
will ignore the very best and only way of
elevating man. Recently writer said he
had nothing to reform for Now. this man
is bright young man and might be con-
WINGED that he has something to reform for.
The best. yes. the very best, of us have
something to live for according to Webster.
as you will see farther on. Criminal re-
formation does not. in my opinion. and l
think you will agree with me, simply mean
that man should stop one particular dis
spated habit, but all of his dissipated and
degraded ways.
was cOnversing with man who was
about to leave this UNHAPPY abode. and all
at once as though the millennium had come,
and with confident tone he said, II have
reformed; 1 am glad that l came here"
| thOughtlessly said, Then you intend to
stop gambling and all such imprudent things.
and live square before the wOrld?" He said
II have no idea of stopping gambling; l
didn't come here for gambling. and cOnse-
quently don't have to atone for that. l
only have to atone for stealing" Reader,
! could have convinced this man that he
was wrong. but the law would not allow
me. Can we call him reformed man if he
holds to his views? Webster defines the
word like this, ITO form anew" Does
that mean to form in part? If that was
the meaning then the definition would have
been to Partly form anew" The way l
comprehend the word reform. though l
don't know how many will agree with me.
is this: If person was in the habit of ly-
ing, to stop; drinking. to stOp;,of stealing.
to stop; OF Swindling, to stop. and with
these we have reform and without them we
have only the ghost of reform.
write this for those who are anxious to
reform and for those that are anxious not to
reform. TO those who are Indifferent it can
be of no value.
Article after article has been written for
TIE MIRROR on this subject, and question
after question has been asked how can we
accomplish the end we have in view. AS a
matter OF course it cannot be accomplished
in one day or one month: nor can it be &C
cOmplished by force yet there is no rress-
ible power that can hinder us from doing
right.
The contribution of l.. Nj. in No. 50
would be direct road to reformation pro-
viding the larger majOrity-who are here
were men once. and intend to be men again,
would use their endeavor in our behalf.