The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-01-24
Does 1t Pay?

period of years here. and being placed once
more upon their own resources and the
world Immediately 20 back to the
scenes of Their former disgrace and COM
mence operations again on a grand scale?
1t seems to me that the thirty months l have
put in here, will forever be lesson to me.
one which will in the future keep my
fingers from picking and stealing" This
effect, however, is not manifested in each
of us, for hardly term of court goes by,
but what we hear of one or more of our
recently discharged number again falling
into the hands of the minions of the law.
If one feels that lie is not capable of sup
porting himself On the outside in that style
which he is USED to and expects to 1--we. by
haId and manly work. either through lack
of physical strength or for want OF being
the pOsseSsOr of trade or profession. and
| is inclined to walk in the ways that are
evil. and take his chances we'll and good;
but why. in the name Ut goodness, doesn't
he pack up his valiSe and travel for fields
afre>ll-feldS that viii take him about
thlrty-siX hours to reach BY rail. Nothing
can be more nuuilating. | should think
than to be sentenced twice III succession to
one particular PRISON..
| Il few months ago as l was passing a
batch OF men who lad that day arrived
1ruln one Ut the northern towns. | was sur
prl>ed To see Uiie OF Them step from ainolg
his companions. walk up ~ the deputy and
while performing the hand shaking bust
ness. tell him (the deputy: That they
We're such good people down here that he
didn't have the heart to stay away from
them. and so had come back again to spend
few months w It'll tilem'-Or very similar
words. Was he at all embarrassed at having
to face the officers? Well. L should rather
say not; he seemed To look upon it as a
huge joke, and never felt for a moment in
his mean little soul that he was regarded
with dlStrust and aversion. He smiled COM
passiOnately on his comrades and, l have
no doubt. pited them for not beng able to
show OFT as he was doing.
OF course, there is such thing as a man
beng sent back here on second trip. who
has again fallen into the tolls by some mis-
understanding or by hard luck and unfOr-
seen circumstances. and some are eXcusable.
to a certain extent for AGAIN visiting us,
but what excuse is there for a man who
went out of here Oh the 21St OF a certain
month with new suit OF clothes on his
back-not very elegant or fashionable
clothes, sure enough but still clothes
$50 III his pocket, a cheek of brass
and unlimited experience AS a canvasser,
and On the 25th OF same month is again in
Jail for gently lifting OvercOats? This lden-
teal young man had. Oh more than one
occasion, treated me to a tOwery discourse
Oh the faliacy and unremuneratite cOnse-
QuenceS OF leading dishonest life. and |
really believed that on his release he would
devote himself to some legitimate business.
as he had the ability. and in time surround
himself with pleasant home and family.
But it was not to be; and ii his usual luck
follows him he will be with us again soon.
as the grand jury can't fail TO indict him
should they have the least ground To Go so.
He was in poor health and i'll from lung
trouble when he went from here, and ought
TO have known enough to keep out of
trouble, for his health was Of much more
Importance to him than few paltry over
COATS You will make little allowance
for him, however, when L tell you that he is
"a poet. and wears long hair.
AS said before, a naH has enough
money when he leaves here to carry him out
of the state, and that is the best thing he
can do if he cOntemplates travelling along
that well-wOrn path which leads to the
place where AIN penning these lines. In
the end he will find that 1t would have been
much better to settle down and buckle to
the work like man. for towards the close
he would find himself ahead and with a
little better prospect in view than ending
his days IN the poOrhOuse or penitentiary.
Travelling around with the boys. touching
up the town and having happy time gem
orally. seems well enough at the time. and
you may say then: There's no life like a
Bohemian life," but it soon pals. and plays
1 III .,;tt, f1,nn
years; and. worse than everything else. you
haven't anything to show for the forever past
years except badly broken-up physique
| and a SOtted intellect