Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-17

that found in the editorial columns Of
modern newspaper, there is coed deal of
difference; but as long as the latter exalts
virtue and pillories vice, the weak joint in
its armor is very difficult to find. The APP
petite the average prisoner exhibits fer
news Is truly extraordinary, and increases
in an inverse ratio to the significance that
any particular item of intelligence may be
supposed to possess fer him. ConYicts are
all politicians, and in times of political
excitement party feeling runs as high in
the jail as it does in the ward. Do the
Tories loose a seat in the Duke-ies, or is
there threatened suspension of diplo-
matte relations between England and the
Porte, the intelligence causes as much fer
ment among certain section of the pris-
oners as it does in Downing street. Them
selves the victims of persecution and OPP
preston p, the sympathies of convic.s
are arrayed on the side of the disaffscted
and turbulent all over the globe The for
mer are home-rulers to man, and natu-
rally cherish deep artipathy for that
country where order and tranquility are
seen in their highest developments. Within
certain limits this appetite for news should
be encouraged rather than s.ifed for news
after all is but contemporary history, and
the man who in prison manages to keep
himself well informed of the worlds do
ings stands much better show
IN THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE,
In which he will soon be called on to take
part, than he to whom the acquiring of
this sort Of knowledge has been denied
Compared with the newspapers the gospels
are nowhere, and the intense appreciation
which prisoners exhibit for the former is
one of the most grotesque but striking
tributes to its influence that could be cited
Of course the daily news-sheet is not the
only forn Of literature current in the pris-
on, but is individually the most dearly
priced, which is my excuse for dwelling on
1t at this rather inordinate length Be
| sides papers, the convicts have access to a
slenderly-stocked library, occasional odd
volumes from which serve to pass the long
hours between lookup and bedtime. As
the collection Of books which forms the
library is, without exception, donated,
criticism would be unkind, and might de-
ter kindly dispositioned people from max
ing contributions of literature to its
shelves, which are sorely needed As to
writings of certain authors are supposed TO
exercise on the minds Of prisoners, think
they are both very much exaggerated, and
considered as factors in shaping conduct,
their weight is inappreciable.
And others follies teach us not,
Nor much theic wisdom teaches.
And most of sterling worth is what
Our own experience breaches"
With reading and talking with his cell
mate, the convict passes his time till 8
o'clock, when Captain Powell strikes a
triangle which is
| THESIGNAL FOR ALL LIGHTS To BE PUT OUT.
Convicts are in the main good sleepers,
chiefly because in their case anxieties on
the head of sustentation are at minimum,
which latter, more than any others, are the
causes which promote wakefulness and I'M
rest. While | have made free with the
prisoner during his waking hours, 1 will
at least respect him in his sleeping ones,
for in these the most wretched and abiect
castaway on God Almighty's foot-stool, is
on footing of perfect equality with the
| dreaming autocrat of millions G. A. S.