St. Paul daily globe., 1889-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN PRISON.
The Inmates Of Saltwater Spend a
Pleasant Day,
THEY HAVE A FINE DINNER
And Entertain One Another With a
Minstrel and Specially Per-
formanc3.

The inmates of the Minnesota Stale
prison never had such gala time since
deprived of their liberty as was enjoyed
by them to the utmost yesterday, and
Christmas, 1899, will mark the date
which ushered ina new era in the policy
pursued towards the convicts by the
management, policy which is received
with delight, and, though tending to
greater liberty among the prisoners,
seems to continually work for the bet
tering of discipline and an improved
physical, mental and moral condition of
the inmates. In the first place, on no
other holiday had the men been given
more than three hours of freedom. Yes
terday the great cell room swarmed all
day, except when the chapel exercises
were progressing, with well behaved
men, all enjoying themselves. though
with less outward demonstration than
formerly. The more subdued tone of
this particular holiday was probably
due to the fact that for some
time there has been much less
restraint upon the cOnvicts than
heretofore. They have beeen allowed
to speak with each other more fire.
quently. and for the past two weeks
have been given the freedom OF the cor
ridors for an hour or more on Sundays.
Consequently there was less pent-up
feeling to be turned loose. Christmas,
1889, moreover disclosed by far the
finest and most generous dinner ever
served in the institution, the bill of fare
consisting of oysters, turkey, with
dressing, and cranberry sauce; mashed
potatoes. with gravy: hot rolls, coffee,
with milk and sugar; pumpkin pie,
cheese, apples and cigars. Each mans
tray held an entire half OF pie and
enough other food for two ordinary
men. The GLOBE reporter can fully at
test to the rare excellence of this din
ner. as he neglected the warden's kind
invitation to dine with the visitors, and
accepted the invitation of Editor Porter
to dine with him in the Mirror office,
where the editorial table was cleared of
its litter, and the editor, Cole Younger.
two of the other inmates and the re-
porter each took prisoners tay of
the food and, seated around
the table, enjoyed as good
and digestible dinner as a
newspaper or any other man often
chances to come upon, all splced with
the philosophical discourse of Cole and
the pat witticisms of Editor Porter.
L Hc LldttIidl uScu ny CtOWolo DCHHoA
in providing the prisoners dinner con-
sisted of 400 pounds of turkey, fifteen
gallons of solid meat oysters, half a
bushel of craDberrieS and six bushels of
potatoes. Soon after O'Clock the event
of the day, next to dinner, occurred
in the chapel entertainment, given bX
the minstrel troupe, composed OF twelve
of the inmates, the performance last
ing over two hours, and being received
with tumultuous and well-deServed IA
vor. Following is the programme:
Christmas 1889 programme OF minstrel
and specially entertainment given by and for
the inmates of the Minnesota State Prison:
PART MINSTREL TROUPE.
overture. OTcueSLrh
Opening Solo. .....:...::......J. c. Bonnell
Chorus by Troupe.
Song 49,. .... :. =. VIM. COnners
Chorus by Troupe.
Solo. .....,...... ...............B b. T.. McBrlde
Chorus by Troupe.
Song ........ ......................J0 ID 0nn nelly
Chorus by Troupe.
Solo. o............... 49,. John Stuart
Chorus by Troupe.
PART u-sPEoIALTIEs.
Barber Shop Farce. Frank Smith, Ben Clay,
Trio. John Stuart, VIM. Corners Lew Carter
Juvenile Recitation. Miss Bessie Brink
Dancing-V Virginia Essence. j ohm Stuart
and Frank Smith.
Social Comedy. Frank Smith, John Stuart,
G F. B. Henry and d. Moore.
Song ng........... ..B. Rosenbaum
Big and Little Casino-Plantation Dancing,
John Barton and Ben Clay.
Banjo and Guitar Solo John Stuart and
VIM. COnners.
Finale-Barrel Act. Frank Smith and John
Stuart.
The only performes outside the striped
ranks was little Bessie Brink, grand
daughter of Warden Randall, her reci-
tatiOn and singing of What the Choir
Sang About the New Bonnet" being
done with such cuteness and effect as
to bring down the house. Whereas
heretofore outside people have provided
the prison entertainments, the inmates
themselves were yesterday the enter
taners. All day and all through the
institution there was an air of content
and well-being never before so observa-
bic.
During the height of the cell-room
festivities at the prison yesterday Frank
Young appeared under the escort OF the
sheriff of Wright county, who brought
him to serve a term for larceny. He
finished term here only last July,
when he was known as Nelson. Young
was greeted with cOrdiaiity by the boys
by reason of his thoughtiulness in COM
ing back on such joyful occasion.
The county attorney has received
telegram from William Veazie, of Ia
coma, asking: "How much money will
it take to settle the John Russell matter
herer' Ve:Eie is Russelfs partner in
the lumber business. The attorney re-
plied that fine could not be imposed
unless the prisoner appeared in court.
Mrs. Brannan and J. T. Brannan, of
Winona, mother and sister of Prison
Storekeeper Billy Brannan, were guests
of the latter yesterday.
August Kleinschmidt and Fred Zoll-
ner, young farmers from Valley Creek,
were detected Christmas eve in sneak
ing small articles from the counters OF
the 99-cent store and arrested, each
being given thirty days III the pollce
court yesterday.
The Saltwater Gun club celebrated
Christmas by contest at Peoria black
birds for the badge.
A Christmas gift received by the
Prison Mirror office was box of cigars
from Rev. Father 2. J. Boland, of
Litchfield, MINI.
Ed Beerr and wife, of st. Paul, spent
Christmas with the latter'S parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Northey.
The Christmas exercises of the First
Methodist church last evening drew a
crowded house, and large amount in
food and clothing for the poor was OBJ
tanned.