Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-13
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
THE LIFE WORK or LINDA Gill;
BERT, PRISON REFoRMER-
Hsr Mission, Zeal and sceee~-The Prtsos
to BE for Reformation and Not for Yea
xrznee-Her winning ways. Success and
Future Aims



r+znce-Her Winning w.ys. Success and
Future Aims
SPECIAL C0rr>sponcsnce-l
NEW YORK. Dec lL-As the nxme Of
Florence Nightingale has for many years
been associated with the hospitals q the Old
world and philaHthropic work in connection
with them, 81 that Of Linda Gilbert nas dur
ing the last fifteen years been identified with
the cause Of prison reform In this country, .
Cause which aims at giving force TO the
dement's Of humanity and justice IN The adj
ministration Of prison rules and regulations
Instead Of allowing TIE prisons Of our land
to be schools 0s vice. where deprayity viii
become. from contamination and associa-
tious, more depraved. and the perpetrator Of
crime capable Of committing darker deeds
when be snail have served bis sentenee and
again he permitted TO emerge frvm the dun
geon cell into freedom. she would transform
all prisons into reformatories, where the
criminal shall be taught, II possible, 10 real
ize the extent Of tis crime, and have incul-
Gated INTO his mind the desire for reform;
thus transforming, as far as practicable, tire
useful and respectable citizens, when they
shall again mingl- with the world
Miss Gilherts idea IS that Imprisonment
should not have for is aim s. much the pun
ishIaent Of the criminal as the safety Of so
ciety against the perpetrators Of crime since
it Is not revenge that our government should
seek IN eunhnigg It's criminals as reforma-
tom. hence the reformation Of the criminal
accouplishes the object.
Although much remains 10 be done In this
respect, it is astonishing what this noble wo-
man has accomplished in the time in which
she has been engaged in this humane aud
philanthrupic work
Like the angel visiting the prison Of olden
time. the beautiful face and gentle presence
OF Linda Gilbert has hghtenel up the dars
cells OF thousands OF this unfortunate class,
ameliOratIDg their condition, placing the
means Of self Improvement within their
reach, speaking kindly words % sympathy
and advice thus preparing the way for the
assertion Of self respect and the desire for a
better life. She may very appropriately be
called The Angel Of the Prison, for she has
been the means Of bringing hight and free ON
from the debasing effects Of crime 10 thou
sands Of darkened souls and minds During
the last fifteen years she has procured employ
ment for 60 ex -convlcts, Six hundred Of
the better class OF these she has by her own
individual aid established in business in =
small way She has presented twenty two
libraries TO prisons in six different states,
and has in these and various other ways ex-
pended a large fortune in the good work in
which she is engaged, thus parting with her
own private property, while she devotes her
entire lime to labor for the cause
In speak, ing Of the result OF her ventures in
assisting so large a number by establishing
them IN business she saws
81 am happy to state that not 10 per cent.
of the number thus aided have turned out
unsatisfactory. To keep my aims from fail
ure, have been obliged To impoyerIsh my
self IN this cause, and my work Is now
greatly crippled for want Of means" She Is
at present in the west delivering addresses to
awaken an interest IN the public mind with
regard to the subject, inspecting prisons, etc.
Among the subjects Of her most impressive
addresses are "Causes and Effects of Crime,
Nv ho are Criminals etc.
In recent letter to the writer she says,
referring To a certain county prison in Iii
nois: at is disgrace to civilization.
want to arouse the politicians here TO put up
new building that shall he made refor
matOry in every respect. | will then pre-
sent the prison with library Two OF the
Libraries formerly presented by me were de
stroyed in the great Chicago fire expect
| 10 visit the prisons throus hout the west and
/ do what can for the eI-couvicts and then
families and return to New York early in
the s,rinp Linda Gilbert wa. born at Ro
chester, n Y, and educated in Chicago, but
| has made New York city her home for sew
| er,l veors mist although considerable Of he,
tim. is sncut in travelling in the pursuance,
| and prosecution of her plan. OF work.
She was horn n philanthroplst From q
/ mora child sb,. has hae,, Interested in the IN
fortunate and her synnathies keenly aliv,
To suffering humanity. When little girl Of
4 or o venrs Of age She used to visit. OF he,
own accord n pr son nearest her home IN tn,
west and take some little Gift. If only n few
noyvers ,o cheer the prisoners who Learned
to look upou her visits to their dark abode a
they rould A stray sunbeam from heaven
She frequently loaned them books from bel
fathers library. even at this age As sh,
grew older tins interest increased until sh.
decided to devote her life and fortune to thu
cause She was after a time APPOINTED in
snector of prisons. which official position
GREATLY increased her opportunity of useful
ness in this direction. Many a loatnsom,
cell was transformed into comparntivel,
comfortable quarters through her efforts. Ii
this connection she saws: II have been callet
visionary by some, most uniustly, as think
for all of INV work has been of the most prac
tical description. IL go into a prison an,
hnd the ar insufferablv foul. and see dirt anc
vermin everywhere, with bed bugs nearly a
large as rats and as numerous as autumn
leaves saw 10 the prison officials .You hav,
no right TO compel human beings to live il
such A Mace as this no matter what thei
crimes have been and if persevere until
got than to convert this der into habitahl
nlace it seems 10 me >, be n work eminent,
nractical and | have fouud that after tn
reform has been effected none are more prou,
of IL thon tho rrisnn officials from the sheriff