davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
Saltwater, Mnn. Thursday, April 1s3, 1889.

them to their senses. The dungeons were
long ago condemned as unhealthy and
have never been used since. Ii man
shows signs of insanity he is not put in
solitary confinement, but is treated the very
reverse: he is sent into the bright aud
wholesome sunlight and has an iDtelli-
gent companion to converse with. That
building you see at the west end of the
yard is the schoolroom. Those who are
wholly illiterate must go to school every
day. Others whose education is limited
60 half of each day; and those fairly adj
vanced go four nights week and may take
any course of study they wish Sunday we
have service morning and afternoon, which
is highly beneficial morally and greatly al
leviates the tedium of confinement. Tues
day night of each week we listen to lect-
ure on some popular study: Thursday night
we are entertained with concert by home
talent and some volunteers from, the out
side. We have four holidays each year
when we are allowed to mingle together
with our friends in the cellrOOm.
Fourth of July and Christmas we always
celebrate OH the day following. thus giving
the officers and their families chance to
enjoy themselves and ensuring us in return
the full benefit of the whole of the next
day instead of couple of hours as for
merly. The people have at last come to the
conclusion that it is easier to govern men
by kindness than fear; and this accounts
for the doing away with the dungeons and
solitary. The men feel that they are trusted
and are careful to honor the confidence
placed in them"
When 1 awoke from my reverie felt
greatly impressed by what had passed and
wOnderingly wished for the time to come
when prisons would be managed on this
principle. That the results would be highly
beneficial there is hardly room for a doubt.
1t has always appeared strange to me that
such harsh methods are used to bring men
to sense of their duty. If you wish to
train horse. dog or other animal to respect
and obey you. the kindest means you could
think of would be used, but when it comes
to human being the idea seems to be that
the most ancient and barbarOus methods
are good enough Let us hope that ere an
other decade passes we shall see as much
intelligence exerted to help weak and un-
fortunate human beings as is now lavished
on the lower animals. RONDA.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
The Professional Tramp.

1t would certainly be a fragrant over
sight were l not to take notice of another
class who add large percentage to the
population of the penitentiary. l refer to
the too well known professional tramp fra
ternity who may we'll be termed the refuse
and OffscOurings of humanity. The vast
multitude of detestable vagabonds who
come under this head secure miserable ex-
istence with "beg, borrow or STEAL" as
their motto; they infeSt the country from
Maine to California. and are to be recOg-
nzed as veritable nuisance and an ever
lasting source of annoyance to everybody;
their lives are lies from beginning to end,
and it is a matter of regret that the va
grancy laws are altogether too lenient.
They ransack the northern states during
summer and are to be found in organized
gangs in the wheat growing states during
harvest time, asserting as an apology for
their presence, their willingness to wOrk-a
barefaced and manifest lie. If the gathering
in of the crops was left in the hands of this
utterly worthless crowd there would soon
be a bread famine in the land. The object
OF tnelr cOngregatlng III agricultural dis
tricts. is to hold high carnival at the ex-
pense OF the unsuspecting farmer. Chicken
roosts are pillaged and everything which
will add to prolong their boisterous reveIry
is purloined; the industrious farm laborer
is robbed of his hard earnings by these
unprincipled and unscrupul0us blackguards.
The police of the rural towns in Mime
sofa and Dakota have busy time of it at
tending to this diSreputable class; and it is
not to be wondered at that the communities
call for the extirpatiOn of these confirmed
loafers Those OF this multitudinOus re-
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
81 Told You SO!c

1t matters not how many outside the
prison walls go unpunished to those who
are confined within them. We ourselves
are receiving punishment and that is suf-
ticient for us to contemplate now, and not
to recall that this or that one is equally
guilty or even more so than we and still
goes unpunished. No doubt there are some
confined here who are victims of circum-
stances and to release them would be an act
of justice. Still, to those wish to say. did
not your former life-acts and associates
tend to lead to the fact that you were con-
nected with the crime either directly or in
directly. You were associated daily with
those who committed the act and so it was
believed that you were either connected
with it, or knew of it. just so long as you
continue to live with. and associate with
that class, you will be in more or less
trouble.
While here you have the time and oppor-
tunity to thoroughly dissect your past life
and see wherein you failed; and then set
about to redeem yourself, and look forward
for the time when, with good resolutions
and intentions, you will again be called to
face the cold stern world Do you really,
down in your heart, mean to keep those
resolutions. and build up for yourself good
and honest name. or are you only playing
the hypOcrite, and working on the feelings
of those who are interesting themselves in
your case, just to get released. and re-
turn to your wayward lite? just stop
and think how your future actions are 60
ing to reflect on those whom you leave be-
hind.
Can you blame the good people outside
for feeling little shyness about befriend-
ing the ex-convict when the hypOcrites leave
here and Immediately return TO their evil
ways and associates. If you belong to the
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18

tinue OF buns who evade the officers of the
law. migrate to the southern cline to pass
the winter. but there are some of them who
are so cOntemptibly lazy, that to avoid the
trouble of going south. they commit some
petty theft in order to secure the food and
shelter of a Jail during the severe weather.
They very frequently over reach themselves
and appear as candidates for the penitentary
and when they arrive behind the bars even
then they are a source of unlimited trouble.
l his is the class who are always grumbling
and growing. expressing words of cOndem-
nation of everything that is said or done
for the improvement of their minds or wei
fare. The obscene and trashy literature
indulged in by these disgusting reprObateS.
when breathing the air of freedom. is of
such vile description that nothing but low
and degraded ideas can be expected from
them.
TO Overhear the conversation of these
imbecileS, when on the outside, who belong
to the ''never work and never will' frater-
nifty, one would infer that there exists class
who are lower than the. brute creation.
They evidently soak in alcohol the imper
ceptible quantity of shriveled brains they
possess to excite them to crimes that would
put to shame the ancient inhabitants of the
Cities of the Plain. There is surely a day
VI iCti dNdillIS StCu CldSN vi III
human monsters and the sooner it arrives
the better
If society had the faintest idea of the ex
iStence of such mOnstrOuS wickedneSS it
would cry out in horrined amazement.
Were it possible to send this demOniacal
class to some place similar to Siberia and
keep them there, it would be one of the
greatest blessings ever granted society. The
majority of them are so horribly depraved
and incOrrigible that sympathy is out of the
question. An endeavor is occasionally
made by some kind philanthrOpist to assist
one of them to lead different life, by
stripping him of his filthy and tattered
raiment and making him wash his fetid
body which is generally crawling with ver-
min; clothing him anew and giving him a
start to do better, but in ninety-nine cases
out of hundred the reward for these be-
nevOlent actions is to be deceived by the
ungrateful and villianous scOundrel. who
returns, like the dog to his vOmit, to the
degraded and communicating haunts of him
self and associates.
Such bestial creatures are unworthy the
name of human, and deserve no sympathy,
but merit well deserved and rigorous
punishment. FAIR PLAY.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
Five Gents.

former class you must avoid all that has
any appearance OF evil. and your former
associates. Keep your mind steadily en-
plOyed with thoughts that are pure and
good, aid above all leave whisky alone and
yon will succeed with the help of kind
friends, which one can always find when a
disposition for good is shown. No half
and half goes in this, or false pretentions
either. Now for the latter class: l say
if you care not to reform, for heavens sake
go some where else to carry Oh your evil
ways. Remember that every act of yours
is watched and there stands ready those
who will point and say: II told you so;"
mo use trying" and such remarks, and
this all reacts to the detriment of the de-
serving. REFLECTION.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
Tor ginal
THE STEPS AROUND THE THRONE.

JOSIAH.
l wonder what the steps like around the
heavenly throne,
wonder they diamond other prec ious
stone;
l wonder they made of pearl white vir-
gin snow,
Or they gold some day pray that in heaven.
may know.
Or are they banked with roses, yellow. and
sweet.
Or do the lowly lilies grow about my Saviour's
feet!
Or may not heavenly vioets give forth their per-
fume rare!
want to know. want to go. to see if these are
there.
want to hear the music, and smell the
sweet.
want to sing an anthem, kneeling low at Jesus
feet;
want to feel the heavenly joy-the sweetest
ever known,
want to worship Jesus on the steps around the
throne.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
An Ideal Prison.

To-day, while enjoying that sweet but
feeting pleasure. day-dream, l felt
myself imperceptibly changed into another
existence. l was a prisoner still, but no
outward appearance trumpeted my disgrace.
Instead of that relic of barbarism-the
stripes-I was dressed in plain suit of
dark colored material. AS seemed to pass
many days in this new existence, l will note
the incidents as l saw them, or as they
were related to me: ...-
On entering the shops everything was
life and hustle. The very machinery re-
volved as though imbued with a sentient
power. The faces were all strange to me.
l could not see single convict had form
erly known. The men kept busily at work,
but when they had necessity to move around
or speak to each other, it surprised me to
see them do SO without making the usual
gesticulations of the arms for permission.
The officers did not have a raised das as
formerly but were kept busy at desk.
Their name of guard was now mere for
mula as their principle duties were to keep
account of each mans work, and instruct
beginners. When the dinner hour arrived
we marched into large dining-hall where
plain but warm dinner awaited us. I'M
medately after dinner the men joined in
groups and laughed and chatted in decor
Gus manner, When the signal was given
to fall in'' again, the laughter and talking
ceased-apparently out of respect for the
O,olOoly ,narohQd in fo
supper which was taken in our cells
On entering my cell l noticed sort of
small sliding door in the wall and before l
had lost many moments in cOnjecturing its
use l had it open in answer to knock from
the next cell. Here was indeed mystified.
Just think moment. COnvicts allowed to
talk in the shops and in their cells. Where
were the old fashioned discipline and cast
iron rules? Being stranger in such place
IaSked this man to give me history of this
prison, and give below summary OF his
sayings:
1T is three years now since stripes were
worn in this prison. The men are allowed
to speak at will, but as you notice, they do
not lose any time in idle chatter during
working hours. Each man is paid accord
ing to the amount of labor he performs; out
of this a small percentage is taken as a
reserve fund for sick and disabled men and
those employed about the cellroom. To
those who are sick or not employed in the
shops. the state gives an amount equal to
half what they could earn, and the other
half is taken from the reserve fund before
mentioned. SO that each man has a reason
able sum to start life anew with. A man
can easily earn from seventy five to one
hundred dollars a year. Men are sentenced
to definite term of years, but can regain
their liberty when they show themselves ca
pable and willing to work for living. We
have had some pretty hard characters here.
but the unvarying good treatment and faith
erly advice they receive generally brings
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
Who Is at Fault!

Is there greater curse on earth to man
kind than intemperance; or is there
greater promoter of crime, sin, sorrow,
shame and suffering than the demon. King
Alcohol? What causes more wretchednesS
and poverty than intemperance? What can
more Thoroughly destroy the confidence and
forever blast the hopes of loving parents in
their child; or the love and confidence of a
wife in her husband, than intemperance?
Who is a greater enemy to the poor man
than King Alcohol. who first robs him of
Ills money and intellect and finally destroys
journals and the public press, the ap-
peals to the workingmen to awake out of
their sleep and oppose the unjust Uppres-
sion of the tyrannical mOnOpOlist. But let
us first awake from our indifference and
join forces with the advocates of temperance
to remove this enemy of God and man from
among us.
The phianthropic public speaks about
reforming criminals; let them begin by de-
stroying King Alcohol. and seventy five per
cent. of the criminals will reform them
selves. Under the present system in nearly
every city and village in the country, IL
cenSe is issued to the SalOOnkeeper per-
mitting him to sell strong drink. Abolish
these agencies and great step will be ia
ken towards reform.
The narrowing details of crimes and mur-
ders committed by men while under the
influence of strong drink should be a suffi-
cient cause for wide spread indignation,
and an urgent call to every member of the
human race to work for the temperance
cause. There is great need to work ener-
getically and not allow the burden to- fall
upon the few who are struggling under dis
advantages but still, never waverng from
the determination to conquer.
The motto of every individual. young and
old, should be Zone for all and all for One'
in matter of such great Importance to the
human family. Destroy the agencies of
King Alcohol and his power will depart
Do this. and you will have done more
towards reformation than any amount of
exhOrtation to the criminal will ever ac-
cOmplish.
Why not prevent crime rather than pun
ish the criminal?
Temptation is placed before young men,
and if they fall into the snareS of the
tempter you shout. ''ImprisOn him." if he
becomes intoxicated by indulging in what
you have placed upon the market through
your authorized agents they are victims TO
the allurements of the saloon.
People may well say they are awed and
amazed at the rapid increase of crime; but
if they would take notice of the large num-
Der of saloons, they would not have much
cause for amaZement
Take, for example, the village of North
ern Pacific Junction, place of about two
or three hundred inhabitants; with nine sa-
looms, the license of which amO.nts to
81, 500, besides all other expenses ,Iertain-
ing to the saloon. that must be realized
from the citizens of the village and the
travelling public. There are many such
places throughout the country. l am not
trying to find an excuse for the criminal.
but simply trying to expose to the public
the existing cause. G. A.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
YOUTH AND AGE.

FRANCES a. X. BUTLER.
Youth with swift feet walks onward in the way
The land of joy lies all before his eyes;
Age stumbling, fingers slower day by day,
Still looking back, for it behind him lies.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-18
POWER OF TRUTH.

Man loves knowledge and the beams of truth
More welcome touch his understandings eye
Than all the Establishment of sound his ear;
Than all of taste his tongue. -Akenside.
The Delta independent., 1889-06-18
The Seattle Disaster.

PORTLAND, Or. June S--Thc latest
dispatches from Seattle fail to confirm the
previous reports of loss Of life during tn c
fire. While the flames were raging a man
was seen carrying a fire-brand across an
alley to house that had escaped the flames
when special policeman began shooting
at him. To avoid the shots he darted into
the house he had fired and never came out
alive.
While the Occidental Hotel was burning
Officer Campbell saw man attempting to
get into the Puget Sound National Bank
by the back entrance. He ordered him 10
stop and the man drew n revolver. The
officer took it away from him and led him
toward the county jail. The man struck
the officer in the face, knocked him down
and ran. The officer fired three shots at him
bringing him to a standstill.
Among the heaviest losers are: The DC
cidcntal Hotel, $4,000 the San Francisco
Store, 100000, coal bunkcrs, sl5O,0D0;
roklas, Singcrman s. Co, $50, 600 Chester
Cleary, Saoo,ooo; Geo. F. Frye, $4,000;
Schwachcr Bros. & Co., Saa5o, 900; H. Her
silbcry, s75,0)); the Seattle Hardware
Company, $4,000; Frankcnthal Bros, SO,
600, w. p. Boyd, $4,000: Watson c.
Squire, sa3, 600; Mcdonald !S Co, s.5, 1000;
the Seattle Improvement Company's coal
bunkers and onicc, $4,000; tho opera
house, $4,000.
The Delta independent., 1889-06-18
Texas Wagon Train Intercepted e,
Route for New Mexico.

SANTA FE., n. NJ. June 1O.-Gov.
Prince has received a statement under oath
made before Justice of the Peace OF
Rcaves County, Texas, and signed by J.
*. Dempsey, j. H. Rodriqucs, Vedal
Jacques, Susino Valles and others, to the
effect that they started with n train Of five
wagons belonging to Augustin Hernande,
for the purpose of transporting freight
from Pecos City, Texas, to Lookout, n. NJ.
20 miles distant They carried 5000
pounds of freight.
While still in Texas, about 30 miles dis
tant from the New Mexico border, they
were met by an armed body of ten men who
halted their train and demanded, under
threats of violence, that they retrace their
steps, saying that no Mexicans would be
allowed to freight on that road. Fearine
trouble the freighters turned about md
started back, and were escorted by this
body of armed men for more than mile.
They warned US not to try and haul
freight over that road again." says the
statement, land we firmly believe that il
we did not do as they demanded they would
have done us bodily injury"
Gov, Prince has taken steps to investi.
gate, and if tho frcighters arc found TO be
residents of New Mexico, he will lay the
matter before the Governor Of Texas.
The Delta independent., 1889-06-18
The Berlin Treaty.

WASHINGTON. June 1.-The procto-
col of the Berlin Conference reached Wash
ington at an carly hour last evening, ar
riving IN New York via the steamship
Wcrra, which left Bremen on June l. 1t
was not opened by Secretary Blaine until
this morning. A little later. when the
Secretary drove around from the State De
partmcnt to the Cabinet meeting ut the
White House, he carried the document
with him. He also carried several books
containing diplomatic correspondence re
lating 10 Samoan matters. Pending the of
fetal consideration Of the complications
which appear to be involved in the text of
the proposed agreement, nothing definite
can be learned about the ultimate instruc-
tions to our Commissioners.
Mr.. Blaine spent several hours in con-
versatior with the President to night upon
the subject, but the conference ended with
,ut tho President having reached con-
:lusion. Tho more the Presi-
dent reflects upon tho cxac-
ton of tho German Government in re.
gard to Mataafa the less disposed is he to
approve it. Our government has Just re
solved to acknowledge the heroic zeal of
Mataafa and his subjects in giving aid to
our ship-wreckcd sailors ut Apia, hence wo
do not feel disposed to commit tho United
States to declaration that this same king
should DO humiliated for defending the
lives Of his own people, as would be the
case IL this country Joined in oxaoting an
indemnity, no matter however small it
might be, for the killing of the German
sailors. As already stated in these dis
patches tho result of tho conference may
DO accepted by the President, leaving the
responsibility for their ratification, not
only with tho Senate but tho assumption
by that body Of the position madc sine
qua non by the German Government.
The Delta independent., 1889-06-18
EXTENDING THE RIO GRANDE,
Work on the Line from New Castle to
Grand junction Actually
Commenced.

From the Denver Republican.
General Manager S. T. Smith, of the
Rio Grande, arrived home last evening
from a trip over the road, the greater por
tion of the time being spent at Glenwood
and New Castle. He was seen bya Rep,tb-
ticdn reporter just after stepping from his
special car, and questioned as to the re-
suits of his trip and the truth Of the exclu-
sive telegram from Glenwood announcing
that the Rio Grande would build down the
Grand River from New Castle to Rifle
Creek.
He stated that this was one of the princi-
pal objects of his trip, and affirmed the
statement as to new construction. The
grading is nearly completed and in two or
three days track laying will begin. This
part of the work is expected 10 be finished
and ready for trains in a week or ten days,
as it will be pushed as fast as possible.
The distance is 15 miles and is part of
the talked-of joint track between the Rio
Grande, Midland and the Rio Grande West
ern to Grard Junction. Just why the Rio
Grande started OF on its own hook down
the Grand is not known. One official sug
gcsted that the cattle business from the vi
cinity of Mecker was the great drawing
card. Another man not connected with the
Rio Grande, stated that he believed the
move to be bluff on the part of the Rio
Grande. 1t is a well known fact that both
the Rio Grande and Rio Grande Western
are very anxious to have the joint broad
gauge track built. The Midland seems to
be equally anxious, but while the other
roads have their money all ready for the
work the Midland is holding of. The gen.
tleman referred to intimated very strongly
that this move to Rife Greek was only in
tended to hurry up the Midland folks.
However this may be, the road is now un-
der construction, and it is safe to say that
before the close of the year the road to
Grand Junction will be completed.
The Rio Grande is about ready to broad
guagc its line from Canon City to Lead
vile, and all that will be necessary will be
to lay the third rail and widen the tunnel
near Red Cliff. The grading and tic work
is all done.