The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-07-04
Jack of All Trades.

| find remarkably smart men: men who could
make more money in legitimate way than
they could ever hope to gain by other
means. They are expert in some line
of business. and how they ever drifted into
crime is puZzling question. There are
not many such men in prison, but there
are enough to make them known AS a class.
There is another class of prisoners who are
known as smart men, but the cleverness in,
this instance partakes of a cosmopolitan
nature. This class of men can adapt them
selves to their surroundings. whateverzthey
may be. and are always ready to make
themselves useful. They can do a little
carpentering. plumbing, bricklaying ETC..
but are not competent to fill steady posi-
ton i'll any line of business. Smartness of
this Kind has but small financial value as
general rule. At least twenty five per
cent OF the inmates OF this prison are men
OF this stamp, and L am inclined to think
that this Handy Andy cleveruess is the
indirect cause OF their being in prison to-
| day. -
|
out to see the world. He is not usually
Overburdened with money, and though he
may have been able to earn q far living
among his friends the chances are that he
is not far enough advanced in the knOWI-
edge OF any calling to command position
Oh the basis Of his abilities. He-travels
around from town to town and must take
whatever employment he can get AT one
! tilne he Is cierklDg in an office. at f:nOther
| ne is driving team OF a railroad or at
| luMoeT camp. He finds that knocking about
IS not nearly as pleasant as he anticipated
put ne has sort of mock pride that deters
him from returning to his friends: and in
his letters home never makes mention of his
troubles He very soon gets hardened and
reckless and will not finch from any EN-
ployment that will give him the means of
having '|gOod time" 1t makes no differ
ence to him now whether he handles pick
or pen so long as he can get money. In
leading this nomadc life it is hard to avoid
the aIluring temptations met with A man
may be naturally honest. it may have never
before entered into his mind to touch what
belongs to another but in leading this roam
| ing life the need of money is ever upper
most i'll his thoughts and it he sees a
chance to procure it without working for it
he must needs be strong to withstand the
temptation.
Many man can trace his present disgrace
10 MS IeVeriSh desire to see the wOrd'be-
fore he is able to properly support himself.
1t is very pleasant and wholesome to read
of the trials and struggles of the heroes of
hctlon to preserve their honor under adverse
circumstances. but there is little romance
IN going through the actual experience of
r0ughlng 1t through the world, and the only
sure way OF avoiding the unpleasant con-
seriousness of being dishonest is to settle
down in one place and use your surplus
fortltude in trying to be cOntented.
But. notwithstanding it's unfortunate
possibilities, the experience gained in trav-
cling about when you have to provide for
yourself in doing so, is of great value to the
man who can pass through the ordeal I'M
scathed. He accumuIates store of infor-
nation and knowledge that could not be
gained by other means. How many there
are who pass through it in this wise | can
not tell; but L do know from experience
that large number fall by the waysde
You can see them in all the prisons of the
country. They are the men who are called
smart because they learned little of half
dozen different kinds of work during their
migratiOns, but they paid too much for
their WHISTLE
Ask any OF these men what they would
do if they could blot out the last six or
eight years of their lives, and live them over
again. and they will tell you that they
would confine themselves to some one line
of business and remain at one place. None
OF them regret the experience they have had
If we except the finishing up in prison.
but it is doubtful if they would advise any
one they cared for to follow the same patti
1t is a good thing to be third-clasS COM
bnatiOn brcklayer, plumber and carpenter.
h1f Ic nh, hrfto t<h IL.
at one of them. The most successful men
have been those who adhered to one line of
employment or business. The man who is
of restless disposition cannot expect to