The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-06-06

us the rerverse rebellion of dsobedent children
We are meant to be happy, as everything goes t(
prove, and we have to thank each other chiefly
and primarily for the pangs and tears and bitter
suffering which Illustrate this intention"
Next follows outline of Victor Hugos story
of Jean Vatican in Les Miserables," of which
the convict philosopher says: 81 can find no bet
ter illustration of mans depravity and his posi-
bilit es than by borrowing from this author 1t il
evident that Livingston is thoroughly familiar will
HugO's great work. lis it any great wonder,
queries the convict. in commenting on Jean Val
jeans nineteen years in the galleys for stealing
loaf of bread when driven desperate by hunger
THAT he succumbed to the first temptation tina
assailed hinl?'' He thinks not. and after telling
the story of Jeans struggles he adds:
why have thus condensed in few word
what comprises nearly whole book? Simply. m!
friends, to show you what an act of kindness will
do for the most depraved of humanity and thu
possibilities of which he is capable He cal
we'll say was wholly depraved, but by single ac
of kindness turned from his evil ways and became
an honored and useful member of society. Sucl
are the possibilities of all fallen 1t is true
cannot all become Jean Vatican. but we can be
! come. with the assistance of kind and Christian
people, better men and honored and respected
citizens, or we can become totally hardened ant
depraved by constant prosecutions for the past
in being looked upon and Stunned as one would
| some pestilence or contagious disease. Let u
again pause and draw another illustration: Johl
B.own is arrested for crime of kind, in
| dicted, tried and convicted and sentenced to
| term of five years. When arriving in prison b,
| has no trade, where he either learns one par
| of one but most often only part, which proves
| great injury to him when released. whereas if b,
| knew some trade complete he could more easil,
procure employment. He serves his time and il
at last released. Let suppose, in this instance
he has learned trade in all its branches. He ii
determined to lead an honest life and immediatel,
seeks employment. The first questions with which
he is naturally assailed are, What can you do
Where have you worked? Who is your reference
Now. my friends. what is he to say? If he tells thu
truth he will be summariy dismissed. Now, wha
is he to say? Well. let us suppose in the first in
stance he tells the truth. expressing his earnes
desire to lead an honest upright life. if only gveI
opportunity to do so; but it is altogether prob
able he will reach the door quicker than he cam,
in aided by little boot force. He tries again
With the experience OF his past failure, he con
| Il "
his endeavors to obtain means of procuring al
honorable living. This time we will say-mine
you, it is only supposition--he succeeds. Afte
| having worked for time, attentive and indus
trious, it some way leaks out that he has been il
| prison. He is at once summoned to the Office ant
informed that his services are no longer required
although he has been leading sober and indus
trious life and serving his employer faithfully. L
| it any wonder that, under such circumstances, h,
will again resort to dishonorable mode of life
And you, gentle public. hold your hands in hol.
horror and clamor for justitc, when you have re
| fused him the justice that was his due-the mean
of obtaining honorable living
What need is a grand reformation of soci
ETY.. know the world of to-day is afflicted will
a surfeit of romantic and impetuous reformers
Some of these build their castles in the air anc
weave their lotos dreams in honesty and sincerity
while others are rasce1s and hypocrltes, living by
their wits, and levying tribute on the credulity OF
their fellow men. Still they appear to have Ger
tain characteristics in common among which is
curious species CT egotism, which prompts then
to consider themselves wiser and better than other
people, and especially commissioned to readjus'
the affairs of earth as the vicegerents of heaven
They essentially pessmsts, who see no good
in the existing order of things and who affirm
matters cannot be mended except by popularizine
their own nostrums. Their fanatcism is mar
row and ntolerant that they are unsafe counsel
lors. even when their preachngs are essentially
true. We need christianizing reformation
when men will be taught, and not taught, but to
practice the love of neighbOr as ones self. and tC
extend charity and mercy to all. g.. ...,t