The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-14
l did it. And they were very kind to me
when | was leaving, and-and Pm free
once more, thank God"

l did it. And they were very kind to me
when was leaving, and-and Pm free
once more, thank God"
BEGINNING LIFE OVER AGAIN.
Mixes friends go with HIM everywhere,
and many friendly laughs are had at his
surprise when shown some of the changes
that have taken place. In a general way
he knows something of the telephone. for
there is one in the prison office. But there
his knowledge Of modern improvements
ended. There was volunteer fire depart
ment in his days OF freedom, and when
yesterday he saw a modern engine being
dragged at furious pace through the
Brooklyn streets. the look of wonder and
awe that stole over his face was amusing
and little touching, too. When his friends
got him into one of our modern elevators
and whisked him up some ten stories of one
of New York's big buildings he was both
surprised and disturbed He said nothing,
for he had nerved himself for surprises,
but he walked down.
The Brooklyn bridge is ceaseleSs source
of wonder to him. 1t puzzles him even
more than did the electric car that he saw
on Park Row. drawn. as he expressed it. by
''nothng at all.' The electric light he can,
in general way. account for. The phono-
graph he has not yet seen. The Elevated
roads he respects, but does not care to ride the
Oh them. The big buildings of New York
fill him with astonishment. and visit to
press room of big newspaper bewiIdered
him. But to his mind the big bridge is the
worlds eighth. wonder for he has only
seen Bartholdis statue from distance;
that lessons its impressiveness. He has
crossed the bridge several times, but is a
little nervous about it. as though in doubt
as to his safety at so great a height. He
can't master the problem of that grip on
the cables. and his view Of the whole thing
is contained in the exclamation that he is
constantly making. Wonderful. Thank
God"
And SO Mike walks as though in a dream.
He meets new surprise at every turn. A
large room and a comfortable bed he can
scarcely understand.
Il wake up in the night" he says. land
wonder if ! ain not dreaming. | feel around
and recOllecu where | am. and then know
that am really free. thank Cod
Another thing that dazes Mike is the re-
ceptiOn he meets with everywhere he goes.
The foremost men in Brooklyn have sought
him out and made much of him. He has
shaken hands with more men within the
past few days than in all his life before.
He says little. Perhaps the gloom of the
prison still hangs over him, but he holds
his head higher than he did, there is diff
ferert light in his eyes and it is dawning
upon him that he is no more felOn. but a
man among men, who for more than thirty
years has been convict among cOnvicts.
There is a deep pity in his voice as he
speaks of other long-term prisoners in Sing
Sing.
Il sympathize with them from the bot
tom Of my heart" he says, young man,
you don't know what it is. | do, but Pm
free, thank GOdo'
There is another thing that the old man
says with an earneStness that is unmiStak-
able. Liquor" he says, ''shall never
again pass my lips. 1t brought sore trouble
upon me. as it does upon all who use it.
and I'll never touch it again."
He will be cared tor. the rest of his life,
and will want for nothing. TO those who
speak to him Of his new life, he says
simply:
''Pll get used to it by and by. It's like
coming back from the grave. But Pm free
thank Godv'-New York Mail and Express