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

az, Gem

| future, feelings of the btterest sorrow fill my
soul. and l am in every way object for ones
deepest commiseraton. But how many are there
in this wide and socalled christian world who will
extend pity, let alone mercy and forg veness, to
the poor convict? He is the despised of humanity,
and is not deemed worthy of the slightest notice OF
regard whatever charitable institution or char
itably disposed persons may do for him upon his
release is done in a way that tends to degrade in.
stead of elevating him. in his well as in the
eyes of society.
Now, my friends, to what do you attribute
this? Are you believers in total derravity or are
you busy in the accumulation of worldly goods
and fame that were you to stop by the wayside and
help the poor sufferers in the spirit of christianity
to which you make such bold pretentiOns, that you
would either injure your own interests or lose the
esteem and kind regard Of your fellOw-men? If
so. God help you and have mercy upon you, for l
cannot. l will endeavor to show you, in clear
and comprehensive way, the falacy of your actions
and the immensely of the injury worked by the
following out of such Would you be-
lieve De that by following out such a course you
are directly responsible for very large percent
age of the crimes committed? Oh hear you
say, 'preposterous! In what way am responsible
| for the depredations daily committed? Am l to
| be annoyed and fettered and compelled to contri
butte towards the elevation of class who has
proven themselves to be the destroyers of all
morality and all that pure and holyT My friends
you must not Judge the criminal by the newspaper
stories you may read. The delight of many of our
metropolitan journals is to paint in the blacklist
and viest manner, and make the most simple
crime the most tremendous depreciation. 1t is in
|
scope to their sensational DESIRES and make SO
much of our daily literature unfit to be read by
the young members of our families. or cause our
daughters our sisters to blush with shame. The
newspaper reader is educated in the belief that
facts unimportant which fail to effect him
with some degree of excitement. His daily in
ference is that he has before him a miniature his
tory of the world, while in reality he is being
called upon a collection of heterogeneous Incl
dents. selected as most likely to tickle the jaded
palates of great public. These are the sources
from which you obtain your opinions but to form
a correct opinion you must know the convict per-
sonally and associate with him. Then and then
only, will you be able to form correct decision
You will find he is a created by God, the same
yourself; that he has precisely the same palms.
pleasures, hopes and aspirations, and is as acute
the striped garb. or no matter how rough external
appearance, he has yet heart capable and
| susceptible of love as any man s. The fact that
he may may not have had the opportunity of
building the foundation to grand and noble
character, and did not avail himself of the oppo r.
tunity, does not justify your everlasting condem-
nation total Indifference to his welfare He is
looked upon more in the light of brute than of
| a human being. He is tossed and buffeted un-
mercifully upon the tempestuous of life, and
the fact that he has already undergone punish
ment for his offense seems to count nothing.
just as long you pursue such course to.
all avenues of obtaining an honorable living just
as long you full to give him the proper recogni
ton. encouragement and support just so long will
all the efforts that being extended towards
his reformation be useless. But just reverse your
course and there will be happiness and rejoicing
on both Sides for you will always find that a hui
man heart leaps kindly back to kindness. Where
all has been misery, sorrow and degradation will
become JOY and happiness. Oh, what glorious
thing it is to be happy OF it is pleasant as
everybody knows but it is also good thing. for il
warns our hearts, expands minds, makes us
more gentle more tender, more full of charity to
men, more full of love to God 1t is to human
| nature what the blessed sunshine is to the earth.
why is it that SO little of such influences should
be found in the world? In this as in many things
else it is easier to ask than to answer In this as
in many things else faith speaks to of the gra-
cious intentions of kind father, and sight shows