davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21

In case convict is guilty of any violation Of
rules he forieits certain portion of the good
time he has earned viz: For the first offense
two days, and many days he was in the pun
ishment cell-less one, and for the second offense
four days. third offense eight days, and for the
fourth offense and each after that, sixteen
days. that it does not take long for the unruly
convict to use up any portion of good tine that
may be to his credit
For than four recorded offenses against pris-
on rules the warden has the power to deprive the
convict of all the good time he has earned. Some
times convict will serve seven or e ght years on
a long sentence, and get along without being re-
ported, then something will happen, and he is
punished and loses portion of his good time. In
such a case if the convict shows the right spirit
and behaves himself afterwards and makes ap.
plication to the board Of commissioners, they can.
if they choose restore to him part or even all of
the time he has lost.-Chicago Tribune.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
Sunday Services.

The Gospel for the morning the parable of
the house holder who hired men at various hours
during the day and at night paid them equally.
After dwelling for a few moments the salient
points Of the parable Father Murphy spoke at
length on the subject of charity.
lone of the chief charms of the gospel is it's
charity 1t runs through every thought and word.
God is good He is generous. if may use the
term to fault; and above all He has rev called to
us His Son, our Divine Lord One of the
most prominent of the many virtues of Christ was
his charity. He raised the dead, hea ed the sick,
comforted the afflicted and ministered unto the
suffering. In fulfilling the great object of his life
Christ not confined. He knew no time, no
place The life of Christ is the life of man; not of
certain kinds but of all kinds. His charity is all
embracing None excluded from his blessing.
The participation in his charity means the par
ticpation in eternal glory. Gods mercy is over
all. This universal charity is declared to all by
Jesus Christ. We cannot conceive of the extent
of His charity, except by analogy. 1t is difficult to
comprehend. The charity of Christ is what makes
the world glad. He governs nature and nations.
All political and social relations come from Him.
His redeemng love takes in all men, Not only
the good but the froward and sinful. Not only
every member Of the church. but every member
of the human family. Nailed to the cross Christ's
love embraced all mankind We must do what we
can to spread charity; by instruction. by advice,
by example. We must forgive. We must be COM
passionate. We must love our enemies. We must
love those who prosecute us. On the cross Jesus
said: Father forgive them, they know not what
they do Let us pray to God to give us charity"
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
He Didn't Know What To Say.

A blunt old German member of the Illinois Leg
iglature, Mr.. Plotke, one of the committee ap.
pointed to investigate the state penitentary at
Chester. While there he was called on to make
speech to the convicts. 1t was certainly speaking
under difficulties. He said: II hardly know wOt
to say to you. 1 cannot call you shentlemens, be-
cause you is not shentlemens; and again l can't
call you friends, because dot might gift minesilf
away. vot shall call you den2 Will call you
members of the Illinois Penitentiary, shoost the
same as we are members of the Illinois Sheneral
Assembly. You have been unanimously elected
to fill the places you have widin desc walls shust
the same as we members of the Sheneral Assembly
have been elected. cannot say dot am glad you
is here because dot might make you feel bad, and
den again connot say dot l is sorry dot you is
here because dink 1t was goot dot you was here
now because you is here, and hopes you will do
your duty shOost the same as We do our duty for
de term tor which you is elected."-Texas siftings
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
Teaching Her Il Lesson.

Uncle 'Rastus (who had caused the arrest of his
wife for assaul): Il want yo' ter glib it to her,
jedge; glib her de limick OBJ the law. Dis amt the
first time she 'saulted me-.
Judge: I'm fraid aunty, I'll have to fine you ten
dollars
Aunty: well yo' honah amt got ten cents"
Judge (to Uncle 'Rastus): It'll be ten dollars.
Uncle 'Rastus.''
Uncle 'Rastus (handing over the money with
bewildered look as if to say, this may be right
this may be wrong): "All right, jedge dere's the
money" (To wife as they leave court together)
Oar ole woman trus' dis yere sperience I'll
Farm yo' a lesson yo' won fergit."-Ex.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
ECHOES FROM THE PEN.
Turned States Evidence On Him.
BY A PRISONER.

BY PRISONER.
Capt. Bates had another queer customer the
other day II bright of the Emerald Isle, who
claims that his lawyer caused his conviction.
The prisoner was tried on an indictment charg-
ing him with assault and wounding with the in
tent to murder. He had no money to engage the
services of lawyer, the court assigned him
one. The attorney was a young man to whom the
term Briefess Barrister'' could be applied without
fear of damage suit for libel; he took great
terest in the case. probably because it a had
one, or he didn't know how to care, as he put
questions to the jurors or witnesses, whom he dis
posed of b! saying. I'VE have no questions to ask,
or I'VE admit that" This angered Pat. who de-
scribes turtle proct eding> himself thus
II had no great confdin, in the dude the Judge
tould to defind me, and shure if knew there was
no law compelling me to take him. the divil bit
of me would have him at all. Oh, you ought to
how purity he was he Elegantly fixed up in
nice clothes, his hair futed and banged in
Langtry styhle. and lie sphorted gould rim eye
glasses. am shure he sphinds more time Dress
ing himself than in his sthudy at law.
xviii sor would you b'lave it the omadhaum sat
there loike dummy in a show case and whin each
witness finished he say, We acmt that
"Whin the closed, tine judge axed if
there would be any argymint, an me foine dude
said. yes" This angered tie district attorney.
and he said my lawyer must be fool. Up jumped
then and said We adm that
"Shure everybody roared with laughter but
dude. an whin quiet was resthored said. Judge
your honor want to shpare the gintlemn of the
jury from the intliction of argymint from
counsel; shure he has turned shtates Evidence
me already, an matters are bad enough now with
out a speech from him. Let the jury decide if
am guilty charged, or Of being badly dehnded
When the uproar subsidized the jury had loike to
acquit me; as it was they found me guilty of the
lesser offince, an recommended me to the mercy
of the judge. who-God bless him only gave
six months. Begorry if me dude lawyer had made
a speech. I'd got tin or fifteen years shure.'-
Baton Rouge Advocate. .-.. --'.-. -
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
Expressed His Opinion.

Prisoner" said the judge, "have you anything
to say before the sentence of the court Is passed
upon your"
Il have. your honor" Turning to his lawyer.)
You slick-fngered. smooth-Jawed puddn.head!
You billy. be- dad-slammed hunk of soap-fat!
You said you could clear me for $685. and took your
money in advance. You haint got sense enough
to be assistant janitor Of corn-crib. you don't
know as much law as Texas horned frog. and
you hav emit tho moral principle Of blind owl! Go
ahead, ."-Chicago Tribune.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
The Female DeDartment.

The prison proper is all under One roof and ex.
tends from east to west $50 feat. One hundred
and fifty feet of the east end is cut off from the
main cell-ro m and here on the second floor is
situated the female department occupying II space
75xS0 feet, divided into four compartments-cell-
room. sewing ROOM kitchen and dining-room. also
bathroom. There ID cells 9 of VIII CHI ale
for rent" and it hoped they will never find a
tenant. The cells are larger than those in the
mems department and are simply furnished. The
cots are covered with snowy spreads and every
thing about them shows the love of women for
neatness and beautiful surroundings. The sewing
room answers lso as drawing room and parlor.
Plants and flowers scattered about all the
rooms Pure air and sunlight are no strangers
here and there is every fac lily for their admit
lance.
The rising bell rings at $50 and at Z the doors
are opened. Breakfast is sent up through an ele.
vator from the guards kitchen and is served in the
dining-room. Tea and coffee is concocted in
manner very cred table to the skill of s. who
has charge of the kitchen and lining room. Dinner
is served at noon and supper at 4:30.
stairway leads from the dining-room down to
the yard from which the laundry in the basement
is reached. Here the table and bedroom linen of
the guards is laundried. The washing is done
from to II Monday and Thursday forenoons. The
ironing is done Tuesdays and Fridays Wednes-
days and Saturdays are given up to house clean
ing. The afternoons passed in the sewing.
room making and mendng
At P. M. all are in their cells and the doors
locked for the night. At they retire to rest from
the monotonous rounds of prison life and shortly
after the electric lights turned off. The time
from 9 to 10 Sunday mornings is spent in the
chapel. THE remainder of the day" says one
Of tine women. lis spent in lshing it was Monday"
The good order and neatness everywhere in
this department shows that Matron Cayou is the
right woman for the place. Everything is as coy
and homelike it is posi- ble to make prison.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
PRISON MANAGEMENT.
The Illinois GOOd.Tfme Law and
Some of Its Beneficial Results.

One of the greatest ads of good discipline in the
Illinois prisons the passage of the Good.
Time' law in 1872. 1t provides that every con-
vict who sente need to term of years. and who
shall have nfraction of, the rules recorded
against him, and who performs in faithful man
ner the duties assigned him. shall be entitled to
diminution of time from his sentence as appears
in the following table viz:
Sentence Good time granted Time to "a served
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
The School.

Improvement is the rule. Two members of the
primary class have during the week been advanced
to the second. Writing spelling and mental
arithmetic is now the daily routine and the schol-
ars take deep interest and show a commendable
desire to learn. Some new spoilers have been pro-
cured and it won't be long until the boys can spell
phalanx and phthisic without taking a breath.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
LOCAL PICKINGS.

The prison knows Our Eddie no more.
ter again.
Wanted: Some one of the boys working with
the outside gang to act as reporter for this paper.
Doc will oficate at the organ from now on.
and though his voice will be missed from the choir
Pat Flannery, with his nice genial smile mott
ies the boys to " look out, I'm a coming, and two
or three of the dungeons unoccupied."
"A few of the inmates wish to extend thanks
to the kind visitor Of Thursday last, who was in
strumental in furnishing an excellent orange
feast.
The prison artist has been engaged the past
week in putting up new shingles on the cell-doors.
They make wonderful improvement in the ap-
pearance of the cell-room.
Amos w. Rowe, the popular and efficient night
cell room guard has been confined to his room the
past week with cold. and general debility.
he is the right man in the right place.
--Boreas wintry blast kept the boys indoors
Thursday last, and gave them time to instruct
themselves and mediate to their future well
fare. Its an i'll wind that blaws naebody gude."
THE MIRROR has new reporter on its staff.
He is located at the "bank' and items of in
terest in that neighborhood will escape his eagle
eye. Notwithstanding his name is A-meri-cus you
want to look out for him.
Eddie has left and desires to pay his
adieux through THE MIRROR to those he
unable to see personally. He leaves the wild and
woolly west for the effete east. When last he
said he felt like little boy on Christmas morning.
Business at the 'bank'' is booming. there was
day had it happened during the day there might
have been few cripples. the boys can't be to
careful in manipulating on such treacherous
ground.
Mrs. j. M Lichtenberger and Mrs. j. b. Hub
bell. of st. Paul, accompanied by Deputy Westby,
visited THE MIRROR Office one day last week.
Mrs. Hubbell re-entered her name sub
scripton list, and will hereafter keep posted
prison matters
If those woud-be "Phanthropists' who i'm
agine we are addicted to idleness would come and
see the boys, when they load the cars at the
blank. excluding the SUM- rays from their III. list
with shovelsful of earth, they would play their
ancient and well-worn tune another string.
Bishop Gilbert is announced to hold services
in Ascension Church in this city on the evening of
Easter Sunday. 1t is to be hoped that he may be
persuaded to deliver address in our chapel
either in the morning or afternoon. The words
that he spoke last Easter, nearly year ago. are
still fresh in memory.
r.. G. Rhodes has been standing guard the
wall in place Of j. s. May who is the sick list.
and consequently the choir did not get their regu-
lar practice last week. Added to this the fact that
there is a large amount of new material. VIII oh
ouly repeated practice mould into shape,
the rather shady singing last Sunday can be
accounted for to great extent.
Those of our readers who may have an OPP
portunity to visit the state carpenter shop. and
who wish to see piece Of really ingenious work
manship. should take q look at the wooden safe
that Jimmy Mac has just completed. 1t has all
the modern improvements. combination lock.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
Kfnd-Hearted Legislator.

Legislator (at cell-door): How do you do?
Convict: How do you do, sir?
Leg: How long have you?
Con: Five years. s,..
Leg: Isuppose you are getting pretty tired and
would like to be out?
Con: Yes, sir, but don't see much show for
me at present.
Leg: oh WE'LL don't get discouraged. We will
try to do something for you prett, soon. 1 don't
think you will remain in here much longer.
Con: Well. sir, if you will interest yourself in
my behalf will be very grateful
Leg: Well we will do all we can to provide
work for you boys as soon possible. Good day
Member Of Legislature to Convict: And what
are you here for young mann"
Convict: Stealing water melons,"
Astounded member by George if was to be
locked UP for all the melons I've stole would be
in for ife."
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21

The number of inmates in the prisons and
refOrmatories of the United States is esti-
mated at 80. 900, and the cost Of maintain
ing them. including buildings and repairs
is sixteen million dollars.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-21
Willie RiIey,s Restaurant.

Willie Riley of Adrian, who when youth of II,
killed his father and has been recently pardoned
out of saltwater penitentary says ne Is going to
Ohio to start restaurant. -Minneapolis Journal
, 1889-10-09
UNCLAIMED LETTERS IN CHRIS.
TIANSTED'S POST OFFICE.
pam

Eleanor Cornelious, Elisabeth Christie
pher, Jane Forster; Martina Francis, Est.
Contentment; Allen Jackson, Elizabeth
James, Daniel Lee, DruSilla Martin,
Frederick Pretorius,. Mary William.
UNPAID,
Mary Andrew, Alice Grow Est Castle
Coakly, Richard Frances, Julia Govern,
Samuel Isaac. Herbert Knight, ]. Y. Nude"
Jnnnat Nephton, Abigail Petersob, Hen
drater Rabats, Amelia Wiiliamsoj 1aj
presented to AddresSee and refused.
Christiansted's Post Office, St. CrOix, the
3Oth September 1889.
PETER LEMMING.
est.
, 1889-10-09
aTHE AVnSO
Is published Fee

I8 published ECery
wedne@day cs Saturday.
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in. advance.
Parties dssirouS Of Withdrawing their subsGiptisn b
ts FUis are required to give 5 menths' notice.
Terms OF Advert1@1nS,
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For an advertisement of 8 lines or under, L to 8 inser.
TONS
Small Type (Brevierj L to 8 lines. S1.oo
over 9 lines, pr. hne...... ........ 40
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over 3 lines, pr. line $500. $500. 10
For a line OF the largest type .19
For one to three subsequent insertions tho half amount Of
these charges will be made. II
n All advertisements for insertion muat be delivered At
one O'clock p. m. The postage on letters TO
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or no notice will be taken of them.
" Special Contracts will be made with parties who may
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To cannot pay any attention
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l0R pRlN1INE executed at this Office with nsatness
"V" ~iNli and despatch.
, 1889-10-09
i'rOklarna.

ALLIE og Enhver, som MATTE
A have noget at fordre i Boet efter
afgangne NIELS PETER MEL
SEN og efterlevende Enke Sophie
Julie Nielsen, forhen. af ST. Thomas
indkaldes herved med 3 Maaneders
Varsel til for undertegnede Skifteret
at anmeIde og bevisliggjGre deres
krav,
Endvidere indkaldes medaA ar og.
Days Varsel Afd0des Arvinger til at
mode 90 legitimere sig.
ChristianStpds Skifteret. ST, Croix, den
4de Oktober 1889. q
HALVOR HANSEN,
est.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-09

Whenever tackle n plate of beans,n said
the advance agent as he leaned back in his
chair, my alleged mind and memory revert
TO n season put in with road show, other
wise circus, travelling by wagon. One Sat
urday afternoon dropped into little town
called Saccarappa, in the state OF Maine.
There was but one hotel in the place, and not
having the entree to the society columns, as
il were | placed myself beneath its roof
When supper time arrived was seated in
the dining room ere yet the coatless landlord
had ceased to agitate the bell that called the
victims to feed The prosecuted heiress that
plloted the provender asked me If / would
have tea. | realized the hopeleSsness of my
case, and said | would. She retired, reap
peIred, and placed before me dish of hot
beans. plate of bread and butter and a cup
of tea.
''One Sunday morning l broke my fast
with 4 boiled potato, a cup of something, and
some cold beans. The midday meal was an
Improvement, and consisted of u piece OF
corned beef, boiled POTATOES and baked
beans. For supper We had tea and cold
beans, and for breakfast Monday morning
dallled with cup of something and disl
Of hot beans. When | left expressed my
regret to the still coatless landlord that haC
not been able to enjoy the beans for which
his house was noted If live to be thou
sand years old I'll never forget the expires
sion on his face as he started back and said
What! y didn't git no beansl Well, by
gosh, I'll see about that .'"-Ol City Biz
zard
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-09
How a Toad Removes His Skin.

1t is safe to say but few people have ever
been fortunate enough to catch a toad in the
act OF changing his skin.
, \ man who processes to have been an in.
terested eye witness to such transaction de
scribes the novel operation as follows: j OBJ
served him pressing his elbows against his
sides and rubbing downwards. His move
ments were so singular that / resolved TO find
ont, if possible, what he was up to. After d
few smart rubs his skin began to burst opeI
along his back. Now" said 1, ''old fellow
you have done it," but he appeared to be un
concerned, and kept on rubbing until he hat
worked his skin into folds ON his sides anc
hips; then, graspiug one hind leg with hi.
fore paws, he pulled the skin from the leg a.
slick as a man would remove a pair of pants
then stripped the other hind leg in the sam,
way.
He next took the cast-off portion Of hi
cuticle and pulled it forward between hi
forelegs until he could catch it in his mouth
whereupon he forthwith began to swallow
it; then, by raising and lowering his head
swallowing as the head bent forward eacl
time, he stripped off the skin underneath
until it came to his forelegs at this stag,
of the curious proceedings he grasped one o
the forelegs with the opposite paw, and b,
much pulling stripped Off the skin; changing
hands he stripped the other, and by Sigh
motion Of the head all the time swallowing
he drew it from the neck and swallowed til
whole. The entire operation occupied but
few minutes of time.-St. Louis Republic.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-09
How Dimes Are Made.


The process of dime making is an interest
one. The silver bullion is first melted and
run into two-pound bars These in turn are
run through immense rollers and fiattened
out to the thickness of the coin These silver
strips are then passed through a machine
which cuts them into round discs of the ex-
act dimensions of the coin, ready for the
presses, the strips first having been treated
with kind of talow to prevent their being
scratched in their passage through the cut
ters The silver blanks are then put into the
feeder of the stamping presses, and are fed
10 the die 10y automatic machinery at the
rate of 100 per minutes, 900 being turned
out in regular working days of twelve hours
As the smooth blanks are pressed Detween
the ponderous printing dies they receive the
lettered and figured impression in a manner
similar to tina; of paper pressed upon a form
of type; at the same time the piece is ex-
panded in a slight degree, by which the mill
ing Is formed ON its rim The machine drops
the completed coin into receiver, and it Is
ready for the counters hands. The instru
ment used by the counter is not a complicated
machine by any means, as one might suppose.
II Is simple copper colored tray, having
raised edges running across the surface at a
distance about the exact width of dime
From the receiver the money is dumped on
the board or tray, and as it is shaken rapidly
10y the counter the pieces settle down into the
space between the ridges. All these spaces
being filed, the surplus coin is brushed back
into the receiver, and the counter has exactly
1 30 silver dimes, or Sl25 on the tray which
number it requires to fill the spaces. The
tray is emptied INTO the boxes and the money
is then ready for shipment. The dime does
not pass through the hands of the weigher, as
does the coin OF a larger denomination. One
and one-half grains are allowed for variance
or Tolerance" in all silver coin from 81
down. and the deviation from the standard
in the case of the ten cent pieces is so trihing
that the expense of weighing the coin of thi:
denomination is dispensed with.-Manufac
turer and Builder.