Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-26

inyoluntarily took hundred lessons in the art of
Glow to live without working" and, after hear
ing the testimony of a number of experts, came
to the conclusion that the man who tries to
beat his way through this life works great
deal harder then he imagines he does.
Sleeping on Sunday night was a rather diff
cult achievement for more than one man in my
cell. All through the evening the air had been
filed with an almost insufferable stencil which
proceeded from the trough-the joint wash
basin and water-closet--and as night came on
the odor increased until it assumed pestilential
proportions. 1t permeated every corner Of every
cell in that vicinity and made the opening of
windows a stern necessity to all save those who
said they were used to the odor. But men
would not freeze, and that is what they would
have done, in my cell. at least. A strong,
piercing wind was blowing in directly from the
northwest and to open the window an inch
meant dangerous change in the temperature
for those men in the upper tiers. So we shut
the window and filed our lungs with a poison
that cents worth Of disinfectant would have
killed completely.
FISH FOR BREAKFAST.
Monday mornings breakfast was something
Of a change from the first meal of the proceed
ing day. The men had to 60 out to work on
it, and therefore it had to be stronger. There
was no apparent increase in the power of the
coffee, and the bread was Of the usual size and
quality. The understanding food was fish. II
each man selected his own. / picked up one
that seemed to me to be as likely a specim en-
as any in the collection, but q second glance at
it showed me several deficiencies in its con-
struction. The tray was gone, however, so I
retired with my piscatorial prize and CON-
menced to eat it Unless somebody picked it
out Of the slop barrel and fed it to a dog or
cat, that fish is yet undevoured. In size it was
just as large as any on the tray; it was fully
six inches long, head and tail included II Il
had been in good condition il would have con-
tributed materially to the meal, but, as an edi-
BILE, it was far from good. As an example of
ancient embalming it was a success. Just how
many years had elapsed between the death of
that skinny little fish and my acquaintance
with it / would not care TO guess, but / am
satisfied they were many. He was probably
one of the salted fish which Cleopatra caused
to be fastened to the hook Of Mark Antony. He
was too venerable to secure admission to my
msusoleum.
ESCAPING WORK.
As soon as the doors were unlocked went
down stairs to see the doctor. So did O number
Of others The snow was sufficiently deep to
require cleaning OF, and there were Q number
OF men who did not care 10 60 out on such tri-
fling business. was one Of them. / had no
objection TO the labor, but did most emphat-
ically object TO going out into q temperature
away below freezing with no more between me
and an attack Of pneumonia than hickory"
shirt and the not over-warm suit Of stripes.
The doctor said did not have to go, 30 re-
turned to my cell Several others also returned
to their cells, being excused by Mr.. Stouten-
burgh because Mr.. Gran had refused on the
previous day 70 give them shoes which would
however, were in frst-class condition; they
were really too good 70 comport with the bal
ance of my costume; 20 could not and did not
claim exemption ON the plea Of poor shoes"