The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-21

nobler traits of character mot loud prOtes-
tatOns or OstentatiOus display, and
it will need no prophet to fOretell the
result" In the following sentence Phoenix
endorses my entire article, which was
simply plea for additional opportunities
for moral instruction: Il would have reli-
giOus and moral instruction. but above all l
would have education" He also takes oc-
casiOn to prove at length what admitted
in one sentence: That convict posing as
a Christian is considered shining example
of Hypocrisy" Noone questions his state
ment that deception is vital principle
of crime;;" and also that many inmates
within these walls have practiced. and are
still practicing it. Does he mean to cOntine
it solely to the protesting Christians? By
logical argument he proved that deception
forms a prominent part in the character Of
every man here. He then says LET the
tests of manhood be such that premium is
not placed upon Hypocrisy" What stand
ard of manhood would he set up? What
ever be the standard, if rewards and privi
leges were to be dispensed, would not 1t
prove just as great temptation to hypOc-
risy? Nay, even greater, because now a
protesting Christian knows he is universally
looked upon with distrust. and that alone
prevents many staining their souls with that
crime. There is one of our number who
occupies very responsible position, he has
the reputation among both officials and in
mates. of Obeying every rule. [ have often
heard the remarks, Its shrewd policy"
''He knows on which side his bread is but
tered" etc. In his case it is policy, were
he protesting Christian, no matter how
pure his life and conversation might be, he
would be called rank hypOcrte. Is this a
just distinction? Must every good ac-
ton be imputed to an unworthy mo-
tive? In Phpnix's analysis of the
mental characteristics of a convict, he
makes the following statement, which.
though not entirely germane to the subject.
l cannot allow to pass unrebuked: THE
surroundings of the prisoner are of such a
nature, that he grows small, penuriOus, and
grossly selfish" This is susceptible of but
one construction. and he must admit that it
is, as far as the great majority of us are
concerned, gross libel. l have been here
somewhat longer than Phoenix and l have
ever found that generosity prevailed to al
most fault. Many Of my companions
often receive boxes of delicacies and they
have always seemed to me, to enjoy the
livelest pleasure in distributing the con-
tents among their fellows. The P. NJ. will
endorse this as he is generally the vehicle
of transfer. To return to the subject
Phoenix says, "Instead of religion, what is
most needed in the prison to-day is man.
hood" But he does not state how to acquire
this manhood. Let us have moral and
religious instruction, but above all let us
have education" Is education the parent
of morality. or whatever manhood consists
of? Does he, or does any one believe that
ignorance is the chief source of crime?
Let us see what one who has carefully inves-
tigated the subject, Mr.. G. r. Stetson,
thinks about it:
III map OF Europe was placed before
us, shaded in proportion to the returns of
known vice and crime, the darkest shadow
would seem to rest exactly where the boast
of intellectual light is greatest. in Saxony;
the very shrine of modern culture. the fort
ress OF free thought says DR.. Hayman in
the FOrtnightly Review. This garden of
the muses. radiateS moral pestilence at a
rate that ancient Rome and COrinth at their
worst could hardly surpasS. For prof.
cheney in the collective depravity evinced
by divorce, illegitimacy, suicide, general
child criminalitv, it may challange any spot
of equal area and population in the whole
world, civilized or savage
I'm France, two per cent. of the whole
population are highly educated. but nearly
five per cent. of criminals. Of the German
people. ten per cent. can read, of the Ger
man criminals twenty-five per cent. X
In Massachusetts, with her high rate of
literacy, and system of education which
is her pride and boast, we have the humili-
ating fact that in the year 1886 the number
committed to the county prisons was the