The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-01-18
Some MOralizing by s'COle.''


should do while here to prepare oursel yes
for the fight we will have to make after we
are released from here. l am pleased to
admit that his advice, in my opinion, is
cannot follow it in toto we can each of us
exert every energy to perfect ourselves in
work which will bring in bread and III eat
when we become free men. The writer is
certain books. The books mentioned are
not there; neither is the writing paper of
which he speaks; the library furnishes
copy books for beginners only. Those W no
have advanced sufficiently are not allow ed
copy books. The number of applications
to-day shows that the article was read and
needed by quite a number. l was sorry
had to refuse so many, but orders must be
Obeyed, you know, and experts will con-
SeQuently so without copy books.
If each of us could purchase the books
we require to aid Us in whatever we at
tempted it would be money well spent.
But where is the money to come from?
Most of us are dead broke" and have been
since our trials; in fact, had to borrow
clothes to keep from exposing ourselves at
the trial. AS we have not been able to
save any funds since we have been board
ing here, l ask again. where's the money
to come from? Now, if any generous in
mate has two or three thousand dollars in
the bank and really wishes to aid his
brother unfOrtanateS, let him come to the
front, advance us two or three dollars each
and when we are discharged we will pay
,,,;,,o 81 4
upon outsiders for assistance of this sort.
A great deal has been written about
charity, reform, temperance etc. Begin at
home and let each one who means business,
practice these things upon himself and if
the results are satisfactory. nveigle some
one else to 60 through the degrees. One
thorough reform is worth more than ten
years devoted to writing plauSable-appea
ing newspaper articles that have no bottom
to them, because the writer is not sincere,
and nearly all OF us know it. L had hot
the pleasure on New Years day of hearing
Mr.. Stewards remarks, but from what
have learned he struck the keynote.
Lying outside as well as inside the prison
has become too frequent. Many citizens
think that lying to a convict is all right.
and consequently have no hesitation in
telling the most palpable lies to us, think
ing we will never know the difference.
A lie is lie and treachery is treachery for
all that. Have l gotten off the subject?
Not at all. I've said just what 1 intended
when l commenced this.
Now, boys, if you can't do any better
come up to the library or give in your slips
and you shall get standard wOrkS-histOry.
biography, fiction, science and religious -
all good books. by eminent authors. The
ablest writer's the world has produced are
represented in our library. The characters
noble, chaste, true and good, which we all
admire, are pictured in many of our vol
umeS. The other characters, the treacher-
Gus, low, crafty, deSpicable and serpent
like creatures are also here. The beautiful,
attractive and accomplished young lady
with scores of admirers and everything at
her command to make life success. is not
satisfied. because all the attention is not hers.
Then her tickle, treacherOus damnable
character shows itself. Not being salts
fed with having made herself miserable she
invents means and provides methods for
drawing others friends she would call
them) into the same miserable craft she has
fitted for herself. IF l can't be happy.
none of my friends shall be-" is the end
she is ever trying to accomplish. She is
there also, boys.
You may ask, what has this to do with
us? Our friends are not of that sort" [
hope not.
We can't all claim that we were born
with silver spoons in our mouth, but we
can be men. and fight the good fight with
honor to ourselves, and if He makes us the
father of family we may be able to put
the silver spoon in the family's mouth. and
when the rewards are given for good deeds
done, although the stripes are not yet
erased from our backs, we will get there all
the same. COLE YOUNGER.
Jan. 70, 1888.
''Build the little fence of trust around to-
day." says an advisory poet. Very good
advice it is too no doubt but what if q