The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-01

| first half cycle of its existence, and, taking
everything into consideration. we have every
reason to be proud of its accomplishments.
1t was not to be expected that such an ell
terprise, conducted solely by and in the
interest of class who have by their own
acts become outcasts from society and to all
intents and purposes dead to the world,
would not meet with opposition, both from
members of the truly good' press and
society. 1t is gratifying to lis to be able to
state that the obstacles encountered from the
former source have been few: from the
latter, of course it is difficult for us to de-
eide how much or little opposition has been
made to THE MIRROR. though we have
reason to believe that it has not been seri-
Gus.
| Owing to circumstances which need not
be mentioned here, very little has been said
since its first issue of the objects OF THE
MIRROR. This being sort of birthday for
our little journal no better opportunity could
offer to give a brief outline of its original
aims, and also to enlighten the public to
what extent it has been successful.
AS outlined in the first number, TIE
MIRROR, was to be published in the interest
of the prison library, and as means of fur
nshing opportunity to the inmates of i'm
prOvement, both mentally and morally, and
lead them to something higher and nobler
on their release from confinement. This
was the main object in view, but at the same
time it would serve to educate the people to
know what prison is and what kind of
men get into prison. 1t would be well, both
for society and the criminal, if a true history
OF each cOnvict'S life and the circumstances
attending his or her DOWNFALL could be given
to the public. Such, indeed, was thought
by number to be the mission of THE MIR
ROR. 1t has also been charged by some pur-
blind bigots that THE MIRROR was started
to advance the interests of certain few of
the inmates. This is not true, as its thou
sands of readers can testify. Its columns
are open to all of the inmates alike, and no.
thing that is suitable for publication is ever
waste-basketed.
So much for the mission of THE MIRROR.
What has it accomplished? A great deal
more than can be told in few passing
words. 1t has inspired new hope in other
wise despairing breasts; it has infused new
life and vigor into heretofore sluggish brains;
it has created a desire and determination for
improvement that would have been still
born except from its Indictment; and it has
served as blessed means of communication
with the outside world. These are few
of the benefits it has conferred upon this iso-
la ted little world, but it would require
more inspired pen than ours to fittingly de-
scribe its manifold blessings.
Financially, THE MIRROR has paid ex-
penses SO far and contributed neat sum to
the library fund. 1t was the intention of
its founders to furnish THE MIRROR to all
the inmates gratis as soon as it's outside cir
culatiOn had assumed proportions to war
rant so doing. Our subscription list has not
yet reached such magnitude. but we hope
now that the trouble connected with the
prison have ceased. and THE MIRROR is to
be allowed to pursue the even tenor of it's
way, that our friends on the outside will see
to it that our subscription list swells to such
proportions as TO permit lis to deliver free
of cost copy Of THE MIRROR weekly to
each of the 430 inmates. We deliver now
about 325, most of which have been paid
for; but new additions are constantly being
made to our numbers and under the new
edict we can take no more subscriptions
from ''good-time" money. AS all new az
rivals want THE MIRROR, and as very few