The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21


should not be hung nor even sent here; his
proper place is in al imbecie institution.
1t would be laughable to listen to these
men spouting were it not from the fact that
the great mass of the people who do not
think for themselves, will agree 10 any
thing that Senator DumphOOl or Judge
Bra Mess has to say.
l was talking to Il gentleman last Christ
mas Oh the question of prison reform and
during our conversation he said that no
man would go out of here the same as he
came in; he would either be better OF worse.
Don't it sound deep? Here is one OF my
own deep thoughts and remember. want
the credit of it: In one year from to day l
will. if live. be year Older than AIN at
present. When you quote that. l want you
to remember to whom it belongs. Some
may not see the depth of it. but if you will
compare the two wise sayings you will see
that they are OH about par; for it is about
as easy for man in prison or out to remain
morally at standStill as it is to keep fIOm
growing older. Some few ladies have the
knack of remaining the same age for mum
ber of years Il know one who was nine
teen when l was fifteen and was still nine
teen when was twenty. but we all become
better or worse as time rolls on.
Here is another one of those enlightened
nineteenth century" savings; this find in
great prison congress speech:
believe the crminslto be distinct species.
and sooner or later he will be treated as such.
All! prison philanthrOpists. attention! A
new thought has been given to the world on
the criminal question! l can imagine l see
the gentleman as he gave this grand thought
to the world with chest thrown out; head
thrown back, left hand raised alOft; three
Of ripbf hop nd hot ha f1uf
buttons of his vest or coat. he thunderS out,
will be treated as such"' and then a
pause. Then voclferOus applause from five
hundred people who only heard him. yell.
Twill be treated as such!' 1t makes no
difference what lie said before. they must
need applaud because he is a recognized
great prison man" and whatever he says
must be good. The pause was what caught
the audience.
The real truth is, that the convict has
been looked upon as distinct species since
the first prison was erected. and that has
been the indirect cause of all failures in the
direction of reformation. l would not want
better illustration than what occurred to
me the other day when the legislature was
here. A gentleman and lady passed my
cell, looked in. and the lady. in an awe
stricken voice. said to her companion: He
is readingw 1t is impossible for me to de-
scribe the way in which it was said. but |
thought. for the words to correspond with
the way she uttered them. they would have
sounded much better if she hadsaid: 1T
is reading" didn't feel bad about it
am getting callOus-I only laughed. Next
came along man; he said: Coed morn
ing" Good morning." was the return.
Can you tell me in which part of the
building 44S is lOcated?" I directed him.
and he left after saying good morning"
again. Interesting interview, wasn't it?
l shouldn't be surprised to read. in one of
the st. Paul papers, all account of the
characteristics of the criminal. as cleaned
from an interview with 400 (my celD. That
was my only visitor. l heard them talking
at the other doors. however, and the bur
den of the conversation was: ''HOw long
are you here fOr?" ''FrOm what cOunty?"
''What are you here for?" That's long
time to serve" or. "That's not very long.
it will soon pass away" And so the world
moves on and in this way the people get an
idea of what convict IS. PHOENIX.
Model TurV.