The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-28


himself and decide his own destiny; con-
| nected intimately with nature. but not en-
| shaved to it: connected still more strongly
with God, yet not enslaved even to the
Divinity. but having power to render or
Withhold the service due to his Creator; en-
comprised by thousand warning forces,
by physical elements which inf1ict pleasure
| and pain, by dangers seen and unseen, by
the influences of a SINFUL tempting world,
yet endowed by God with power to contend
with the very forces which threaten to over
whelm him. Such is the idea of man."
Set up your standard accordingly.
Interference to the convict becoming small
| after he has been here short time, my friend
says that my assertion to that effect admits
| OF but one construction. He says this as
though there was some mystery about 1t
and that | intended it should admit of more
than one construction, Surely put it
plain enough! He further says thar must
admit that it is gross libel SO far as the
majority are concerned, and refers to the
P. M. as good authority to sustain him. Ten
minutes ago the 7. NJ. stopped at my door
and | asked him for his view of the matter
after calling his attention to my assertion
and the refutation. His exact words are:
Il would prefer not to be brought into the
matter at all; the boys might think hard of
me-" | asked him if he would allow me to
put his answer in my article. He said,
Yes" That was all that passed between
us. Draw your own conclusion.
have seen as much intrigue and diplO-
macy over package of cigarette papers as
would be employed between nations over
some great question. IF you'll do this for
me. Pll do that for YOU" IF you'll give
me piece of tobacco, I'll give You this or
that" Always looking for a return; always
expecting to pay something for favor(?).
could fill THE MIRROR with specimens
of petty dealings by men who when they
are free, are the most open handed class in
existence. OF course there are men here,
whose force of character clears them from
| this charge, but the most generous men in
prison are ten times more liberal when out
of prison.
l quote: ITO return to the subject
| Phoenix says: Instead of religion, what is
most needed in the prisons of to-day is man
hood But he does not state how to &C
quire this manhood" Is this a literary
| trick, or does he really require information
on this subject: If the former it shows
very small christian character if the latter
| well. l will make no comment.
| ''Let us have moral and religious instruc-
ton, if you will, but above ALL let us have
education" In one place. Memo says that
this sentence endorses his whole article,
but now he asks, docs any one believe that
ignorance is the chief source of crime?"
There is slight inconsistency here. With
out waiting to hear whether any one does
| so believe, he goes Oh for about a column
to prOve-what? Something that we adj
nit. My plea for educational opportunities
was based solely upon the thought, that as
| long as we are here we should improve as
far as possible, that we may be better fitted
to maintain ourselves when we are released;
and not with any idea that instruction is
necessary to show us the ''Straight path"
for a man is being ''created to act from a
spring in his own breast" to do the right or
wrong of himself, whether he be chimney
sweep or president.
The writer wants to know what is my
''mOdus operandi for regaining lost man.
hood" | do not remember ever having
used the expression ill., any of my articles,
but if l have, it was misuse of words, for
lost manhood cannot be reganed. [ think
that is clear exposition of my view of the
matter. Permit me to say that the man
who is intelligent enough to learn trade,
can always earn an honest living if so in
clined. trade or no trade" This was written
by me in answer to any one who claims
that trade is necessary to reformation.
This Memo twists into such shape that he
finally draws the conclusion that l am not
favOrably inclined to industrial education,
and must therefore refer to a literary edu-
cation as means of earning an honest
living. Permit me to say again that man
can earn an honest living if so inclined,
trade or no trade; education or no educa-
ton. suppose the next thing shall hear
is, that am not favOrably inclined to either
industrial or literary education. Lack of in
telligence is no excuse for one who poses
as a teacher, and Memo can only clear him.
self of the charge of wilful misrepresenta-
ton at the expense of his intelligence; and
as am inclined to believe that he is intel
ligent, must admit that am not inclined