The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-05-30
How Wide Is the Gulf!

How Wide Is the Gulf!
Editor Mirror:
Reader. if you are outside the walls. l
am inside.
have been tried for violation of law:
you may or may not have been tried on
similar charge.
was declared guilty: you may be known
to have committed greater wrongs against
the welfare of society than the one which
am said to have committed. but because you
have not been required to don the stripes.
because you have been more fortunate than
l, does not widen the gulf which divides us.
Reader. let us for the purpose of the
argument, assume that am guilty that
have incurred the penalty for an act against
the well being of society," does this widen the
gulf which separates you and /: Even
though you have not born the name of con-
vict. OF been required to stand trial for your
misdeeds, are you not guilty of some act in
your life which the law says is a crimeo
What? 1t you answer no, then you are the
exception. L am not justifying my present
position. nor justifying crime in any sense;
cinatiOn in the minds of a great many
reputable citizens.
The force OF the term ''cOnvict' does not
reach the mind of the general public except
to distinguish those who have. from those
who have not been in prison. To know its
force In all its phases IS reserved for he who
has reached the class thus designated, but
has no desire to make his Identification
Herewith permanent.
The reader, of whatever moral standing
may be enabled to catch a glimpse of the
actual gulf of which | am speaking if he
will imagine the best friend he has in the
world is to become member of our class
Let not the meaningless word. Gin this con-
nection meaningless.) IMPOSSIBLE, deter
you from following the line of thought |
would have you follow. 1t may be painful
to imagine that your wife, child, mother
sister, brother. more distant relatives or
bosom friend could become a convict. but
stop. think. Hundreds and thousands of
as good people as you, have been compelled
to so think and KNOW. Who are you that
you should refuse to descend to the level |
invite you? Compare yourself with men
who may be found in the prisons of your
country. Are you possessed of more re-
spectacle lineage. better moral training, or
more intellect? The chances are ninety
nine to one that in all these attributes you
would find the equal of yourself. and best
friend in prison. This one, when you
found him, would perhaps. be bearing the
same relation to some one that you bear to
your friend OF your friend bears to you. If
not in nature. at least in degree. When
you have come to look at this friend in a
prison garb though through the clouded
glass of imagination, you are nearer in the
proper position to judge our class, the COM
paniOns Of all that is repulsive, and degrad-
ed. But you say, stop. my friend could
never become so. No prison garb could
change those inherent qualities which make
us such friends" Then say to you STOP!
No prison garb can make gentleman any
thing else but a gentleman, or change the
nature or actual worth of pure woman.
Then, where exists this gulf? In IMAGI-
NATION, and no where else when you sur
round the penitentiary with it.
There is a difference in the moral intel
lectual and social worth of Individuals but
draw the line with care if you would sepa-
rate societies or classes. Learn to Judge
your fellow man as you would be Judged
for just what you are worth. Your dent-
ficatiOn with certain society, sect or organ
ization of whatever kind or nature does
not change your true worth. When you
cast aside all else but your actual value
weighed in the balance of duty and love,
you may be found wanting. If you fail to
make proper estimate of yourself. perhaps
others have been more accurate. You may
have value among those who know you
that is in accord with your deeds.
OBSERVER.