The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-03-21
Another SUGGESTION.

Another Suggestion.
In the issue of the 7th inst. under the
heading, practical Suggestions, 1 read
some very important and welltimed hints
from IN. which if taken up and acted upon
by those whose brains are now expand
ing upon the one, all absorbing issue of the
best method of settling the convict labor
question, will do an incalculable amount of
good without injury to any one.
COnvictS as rule are adverse to any Sys-
tenn that will bring them into contact with
outside labor, therefore any suggestions
that come from them, emanats solely from
desire tending towards the alienation of
their own unhappy condition without in any
way interfering with the just demands of
those outside who live by labor. be
that labor skilled or otherwise. 1t is with
this desire that take the liberty of making
few remarks on behalf of that class of
individuals to whom l belong-namely:
book-keepers and clerks. OF all classes.
none are to be more pitied than
they, their calling. generally speaking. to-
tally incapacitates them for any kind of
heavy manual labor and if forced into that
work for which they are unfit, their health
in short time becomes completely shat
tered and their future forever blighted.
There is no class amongst us, l venture
| to say, who have more difficulties to contend
against in obtaining employment when they
20 outside to fight life's battles anew than
the class refer to. One may be an expert
accountant and thoroughly cOnversant with
all the duties appertaining to general office
| h,,ciy, hIlfvo olfr orni ,aHi
able factors. The fact that one worked in
the prison Bank at Saltwater for num-
Der of years will not be taken by any sane
counting house manager to entitle him to
any position of trust and confidence.
Now the best way, in my opinion, to help
! this class is to give them an opportunity to
place themselves in the position OF not re-
curing this excellent reference which eX-
acting men generally ask for. There are
many young men amongst us who in the
past either neglected or never had time to
learn, photography, typewriting or tele-
graphing. If they were possessed Of any or
all of these qualifications, they could. with
very little capital and with the assistance of
their legal adviser and friends, open an
office of their own, where. by strict atten
| ton to business and leading a good and
moral life. win back for themselves that
esteem, regard. good will and friendship of
others, which they had. by their own past
regretted misdeeds or by the perjured lips
of perverse and malignant men, lost:
Now what l would respectfully suggest
is this, that school be formed wherein
photography. typewrting and telegraphy
can be taught, and that all those whose
calling tend in that direction have the privi
lege of joining. 1t would not require the
expenditure of a paid teacher Close ap
plcation on the part of the young men them
selves for a couple of months, Is all that
would be necessary to bring the matter to a
successful issue.
The small sum Of $500 would purchase
all the books that would be required, and
the outlay of about $1,000 per month for
three or six months would pay for the rent
ing of the typewriting machines which sum
could 60 to their ultimate purchase after
wards. BY this means there would be in
this institution within six months a school
of photography, typewrting and tele-
graphy that would not be excelled by any in
the state. There is large quantity of this
work done by the state for which it
pays exorbitant prices and by having the
school to which l refer in good working
order. would not only save large sums of
money, but give the young men here an OPP
portunity to build up for themselves bright,
prosperous and happy future. F.
Carl Pretzel's Philosophy.