The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-01-17

saltwater, Minn. Thursday Jan. IL, 1889.

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has to serve. If he ever reaches the dun
geOn he will probably raise the figure for
the time passed there. But there are many
who are thoroughly satisfied in their own
minds that there is no money in crooked
work: still they feel that they have been
wronged and naturally they wish to square
themselves--''One more trick and | will
quit" Now is it wise to allow revenge to
influence Judgment? A criminal in stripes
has been beaten at his own game. He may
have skilfully played his cards. but he has
made at least one mistake. That Darticu
lar error he may never commit again. But
how many other mistakes has he committed
any one of which would have landed him
here? Take your own trick" reader.
whatever it may have been, and you will
see that there were many ways in which 1t
was possible for you to have been detected.
In crooked work whatever is possible is
very likely to occur. AnalyZe it carefully
and you will see that there is many link
in safety's chain. 1t requires man of
marked ability to be a successful thief. for
he is playing against tremendous odds. SO
clety is organized. 1t possesses wealth and
power. At its command are all the re-
sources of science. On it's pay roll are at
least some shrewd detectives. For its own
preservation it must protect itself. 1t is
the enemy of the criminal. Which will
win? Look at the question from the stand
point of the almighty dollar.
Then there is another question to be con-
sidered-keepng the money. Easy comes,
easy goes" is what we all know. Why
this is so is needless to inquire. EXperi-
ence teaches that truth. Take the most
successful criminal OF your acquaintance,
have you not often seen him broke?
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crime. All fear the penitentiary. Some
dread punishment in life they believe will
come beyond the grave. Fear in both cases.
In other words, they think they will lose
more than they will gain. Far nObler, the
man who lives an upright life for the sake
of personal honor. How many men are
there who would not commit crime if they
knew there was absolutely no chance of
ever being detected? Particularly if the
injured party could well bear the loss.
There are some. there may be many. These
are the men to be trusted; Others have their
price.
Whatever may be the reasons which in
duce honest people to live as they do, it is,
for them, a sufficient reason. Why not for
you? Upright people have judgment as
well as others. When the great majority
of men live honestly there must be some
powerful reason therefor. Whatever a
criminal may say, however tough he may
be- there is not one who would not joyfully
say: place me once more at the crossroads
of life." That can never be. The record
of the past is written for eternity. 1t can
not be changed. The future is the realm
of hope.
Ask yourself: Can l afford to continue
in life of dishonesty?" Yes, or no, you
will reap the harvest, whatever it may be.
YOn have friends, you may have true
friends; but after all in the great battle of
life it is every man for himself. This is
right; it is natural Upright or dishonest.
successful or unsuccessful. your final des-
tiny concerns no one more than it does
yourself. j. B. F.