Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-08-17
POLITICAL PRISONERS.


The Many Unasaat Liner los and Favsrs
They Enl"y In Fr@ae..
In France. during the empire and
now during the republic, politica pri--
oners enjoy special and separate treat
meni. At Paris they are generally con-
tinsd In The Ste. PeIagie prison. Here
they occupy a wing apart from the rest
Of the jail, which Is known AS the 1
Pavilion des Princes. IL is n common !
saying that the Pavilion des Princes is !
the first stage on the road 70 seat Ia
the cabinet; and certainly. ! should say,
the majority OF French ministers of
state have at some time or another
been imprisoned at Ste. Pelagie. Some
/ few years ago went TO see NJ Paul
Lafargae. who was then confined In
/ this prison under sentences OF six
months. he had been guilty OF some
revolutionary speech. or had written
violent newspaper article. The prison
bore the usual somber and threatening
aspect There were sentinels pacing
up and down with bayouets fixed 70
their guns and iailers with great
punches OF keys. After passing
long number OF windows I was AZ
last introduced into n large. lofty
room. The first object that attracted
my attention were a number OF doll.,
tin soldiers. and other toys that lay
strewed on the floor. Then I noted q
very handsome carved oak writing Ia
BILE with comfortable arm chair. The
table WAS covered with books and man
uscripis. Ga the wall close by were
numeron. charts illustrating the nuo-
tuaiions IN tho price Of grain In differ
snt countries. Yes" remarked NJ.
, l.afargus. noticing my look OF aston
lshment. ii am studying the price Of
breadstuffs aud all the social problems
Involved In the corn trade. II Is a very
!, important subject and hope 70 treat
IL In n series Of articles" But surely.
!. reioined. 1.-THE prison authorities do
not supply carved oak writing tables''
!, Al this remark NJ. I.afargue fairly
: laughed. The prison furniture. he ex-
: planned, was OF the most modest char
= ac;er. A plain. but comfortable bed.
with spring mattress, the simplest ol
10 t1oAf1s anu W0sh1eAA&Hs 0Aei
, then. II "a person was not satisfied he
= could always have his furniturt
/ brought 10 him from his own house
and could thus continue his studies ant
his work with considerable comfort
Al this moment sounds OF laughte
/. were heard on the stairs. aud two OF
n three persons came bouncing in th'
4 FIN. fIba.,
:, we're other prisoners. al sentenced 10
some political offense. They wer'
quite free 10 go into each other rooms
and made u merry time OF IL. Blu
this Is not the only society
n. the prisoners enjoy. There Is hardl.
any restriction placed on the visit
!. they receive from the outside. NJ
m Lafarguc hal his wife and childre
N 70 call on him every day. and 1t wa
Of his ehildran's toys ! noticed on tn
door. Thus. in common with the othe
n political prisoners. he was able :
"a select what company. what books
what furniture suited him best /
A. respect to food. II the prison ALLOWANCE
X. vas not 20 his taste. he could send on
for any delicacy he might fancy. The
"A there we're prisoners. common la'
n. offenders. who. as n reward for exceE
IA tionally good behavior. were allowe
!. TO go and offer their services 10 u
!. political prisoners. TO help TO elea
:, their rooms, coos their dinners. ets
hi Even all these indulgeRees, | was sub
seqnently told. did not satisfy NJ
,a Lafargue. He found the daily exei
ne else In the prison yard too monotonoul
a. and therefore peiitioned the Governo
a, Of the prison to grant him some Vi
ho rlety; and nothing but the boulevard
hv with It's trees. is throngs Of gay. vel
:. dressed people. and its brilliant cafe
he could satisfy him. Consequently n
governor of the prison ordered tw
Ia. allers 10 put on civilian clothes All
L. accompany NJ I4afargue for a tw
hours stroll on the bonleyards. Fo
M lowed by his two guardians NJ. Lafal
20 que, | Was told. won't to his fayori
q, cafe. drank an absinihc with h
I'm friends. and then walked quietly bac
mi TO prison. Needless to say that whe
,co the six months Imprisonment wei
lin over n. I.afargue aid not feel al
nv the worse for the persecution. he ia
I'm endured This did not prevent n
"a, claiming the honors Of political ma
90 tyrdom. Paris Cor. Philadelph
ala Telegraph.
re- a Gam and Vel a Danger.
l.