The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-08
An Agreeable Change.

Al ASfeeaDle CnanSes
Now is the season of the year when the
farmers bring to market their cabbage.
green corn, early potatoes, turnips, etc.
This fact is brought to mind by the change
in the variety and quality of the prison diet
usual at this time of the year. This change
is fully appreciated by the unwilling guests
Of the state who sOjourn in this vast
hostlery. Anything that tends to vary the
monotonous routine of prison life is eagerly
welcomed by men in our situation. This
assertion was practically demonstrated last
week upon the occasion of the examina-
ton OF candidates for transfer to the state
reformatOry. Although by the terms of
the bill providing for the transfer, only
seventy-tive men were made eligible. there
were in the neighborhood of one hundred
men, all under the age OF thirty years. eX-
amined, and very few were found unwill-
ing to to avail themselves of the benefit of
the law. Had the bill been more compre-
hensive in its terms, and been made to en-
brace those of more mature age, the
chances are that our present abode would
soon have presented all the appearances of
deserted citadel
Now, | only cite those facts as illustrat-
ing the general desire for change OF any
sort upon the part of the convict. Unless
very liberal construction is made of the
law governing the transfer, those who avail
themselves of it will not abridge their SEN
tence by single day; and yet, with a full
knowledge OF this fact. there are hosts OF
volunteers and no occasion for a draft. But
our friends who make the journey will
have their hearts desire gratfied by a
change. To begin with, they will have
change of misunderstanding the ObnOX-
ious stripes-they will array themselves in
the more becoming colors of our nations
defenders; they will form in double file. and
by means of connecting link, will manage
| to keep together. Under the escort of a
guard of honor they will take up the line
of march for their new residence, where
they doubtless will be welcomed by the
citizens en- masse, which will be another
change. They will have change of Off
cials, a change of employment, probably
experience change of heart, and may be
gratfied by what they so confidently antc
pate-a change of menu. And this brings
Inc back to the starting point. While our
Juvenile friends are having everything to
their liking. what, oh, what is to become of
us who have borne the heat and burden of
the day? Although old age and it's attend
ant ntirmities have made sad havoc on our
once robust constitutions, we still banker
for the good things of this life. and it is to
be hoped that the change in our dietary
arrangements so auspciOusly begun by the
coming in of the harvest. will go bravely
ON.
The experiment of furnishing a better
article of diet than the ordinary prison fare,
to those who are found to be deserving. has
met with the most signal success in the
prisons of California and other states, and
wherever the experiment has been tried, it
soon developed into permanent feature
The additional expense involved in change
of this kind is found to be trivial, and is
more than cOunterbalanced by the increase
in quantity and improvement in quality of
work turned out. Its efficacy as reforma-
tory measure has been placed beyond dis
pute. and it is now generally conceded. that
one of the most direct avenues OF approach
to the cOnvicts heart is via his stomach.
DUN vivimus vivamus.' TAMMANY.