The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-06-27
"On1y a COnVict.,'

Editor Mirror
Occasionally the dreary mOnOtony of our
prison life is relieved by some unusual oc-
currence of pleasure; now and then the
daily grind is disturbed by an accident, or
death; but, strange as it may appear to
1.-The man up tree" these diversions do
not cause more than a momentary furry of
excitement which soon subsidies, and the
prison at OnceS resumes the even tenor of
its way. like placid river that has had it's
surface rippled DER by the dropping of
pebble into its quiet depths--we are ''only
cOnvictS.
Our fellow unfortunate who saw fit the
other day to shuttle off this galling-coi! of
servitude by self destruction. was. l think,
worthy in many respect of more sympa-
thetic and extended obituary than that
which appeared in our little paper last
week. | know not what 'trit1ing circum-
stance" in his career led him downward to
this haven of vice-unless it was "a weak
ness of financial strength" but do know,
by daily contact with him III the compa-
ny's office, where we were employed to-
gether, that he was genial. warm-hearted
fellow of unusual intelligence He was
cosmopolite and Notwithstanding traversed
the globe as sea- farer. and being able to
speak and write fluently several languages
but. he was ''child of adversely" like
the rest of us, and. knowing the world as
he did, II he grew tired of its vanity and
hypocrisy, and chose to rush unbidden into
the presence of his Maker, who among us
shall judge him? We sorrow not as they
that have no hope! In simple charity, then,
we say that he committed the awful deed
in moment of utter dependency, caused,
we learn, by the apOstasy of injudicious
and false friends" who months ago led
him to believe that there was a good pros,
pect OF their securing executive clemency
for him. 1t is needless to say that this
vain hope, too long nurSed by poor Ander-
son. alas! vanished into its original element
thin air-and left him in blank despair
''blacb as the pillows of midnight sea-"
through which no letter from his butterfly
friends shed their beams of comfort, though
earnestly longed for.
God deliver us from these idle friends who
are prOdigal of promise, but poor of per-
Torrance. They are like birds that sing to
us in the sunlight OF prosperity. and when
the night of disaster comes have flown
away. Oh, the priceless boon of unswerv-
ing friendship. In this world of vain pre-
tentiOns and chilling doubt, how inspiring
it is to find some friend as constant in the
night of misfortune as in the day of sue
cess!
Anderson was an earnest reader and stu
dent of the bible, and he was not ashamed
to own that he went down on his knees
every night in the solitude of his cell in
silent supplicatiOn to the Father of us all;
feeling that his transgressiOns were forgiven,
did he not have David's confidence in God
when he declared: Yea, though l walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
will fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me-"
and looking beyond the misty vale, his
heart fixed see
THAT light. the breaking day which tips
The golden-spired apocalypse"
and long to baSk in it's eternal brightness,
free from the depressing gloom of his earth
ly prison? Be that as it may, he is now at
reSt-nO more burdens to bear. no more bat
ties to fight. What soothing prospect to
the weary laden! Weather-stained sailor on
lifes tempestuous sea! your little storm
tossed bark has found safe harbor at last
You softly lie. and sweetly sleep
Low in the ground
C. H. r.