The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-06-27
Light After Darkness.

the larbnger of light; the black curtain of
night is rung up upon the busy scenes of
life;the players on this expansive stage are
to b seen battling with the world-sOme in
property, others in adversely. Since the
curtain was rung down on the act of the
preceding day. new lives have been
usheed into the world; others again have
gonetO that undiscovered country from
who's bourne no traveller e'er returns" Day
aftelday and year after year the tragedy of
life enacted with all its changing vicissi-
tude. During the short interval between
sunrise and sunset. the poor and struggling
ming is raised to the pinnacle of Opulence.
whie the wealthy speculator, through
sone unfortunate move. has tumbled from
his Elevated worldly perch and is wallow-
ing n the snkhOle of penury
The first streak of day brings forth the
nelsdious call of the chanticleer. which is
echoed from homestead to homestead; the
featered MINISTRIES of the forest make the
welkn ring with a concert of song. and fly
awayin search os their daily subsistence, to
return and sing farewell melody before
retiring. How is it with the unfortunate
convict? The light of another day brings
him so much nearer his liberation; there is
no service of song attending his arising and
refining, nothing but the dismal rattle of
bolts and bars.
Let us picture the young man, robust in
health, endowed with all his faculties,
busting through the world and bringing
all IDS energies into play to keep on top,
but in consequence of the various tempta
tiOnS and avenues of vice and immortality
which are legalized and thrown open to
him. he falls from the path of rectitude, and
is hurled into the penitentiary. encased in a
temporary sOmbre- e-strped casket, tagged
and laid away in a substantial sarcOphagus
Oh one of the tiers in the state nausOleum,
to be forgotten by the busy world until the
term of his torpidity expires. You say for
gotten. Yes. except by his relatives-f he
have any. The world has no use for those
virtually buried; only the active members
are required.
How society does howl with derison
when some one of their number makes a
misstep. Consign him to the penitentiary
is the verdict. With what object in view
l would ask? Reformation? If that is ex-
pected, he must be treated in such man
ner that satisfactory result can be at
tanned. Reformation can never follow in
the wake of brutality and Over-rigOrOus
treatment. There are men sent to the pen
itentiary who can be renstated into society
and are capable of becoming good. honest
citizens, but an incentive to do well must
be given them. By careful scrutiny and
attention. the nature and sensibilitieS of
each individual in a pententiary can be
learned, and by introducing system of
grading. each convict can be treated accord
ing to his merits. If his natural instincts
are such that treatment of a salutary nat
ure does not produce the desired effect,
submit him to treatment applicable to his
case; if he assumes the aggressive. treat
him accordingly. However, cases of the
latter description are seldom found.
do not believe there is a man within
these walls devoid OF a soft spot in his heart
that can be touched. How to touch it to
have refOrmatory results, is the grand Ques-
tiOn. The system now in operation does
not give an opportunity to bring out the
good qualities of a man. and a proper dag
nOsis of each individual case cannot be got.
By introducing system Of grading, the
obstacles in the way of arriving at salts
factory inquiry into every case will be re-
moved.
Give an incentive to do well. and refor-
nation may be expected to follow. A sys-
TEN Of three different grades would be de-
cided step in the right direction. Every
convict would exert himself to be discharged
with an A 1. or first grade certificate. and
would 90 out into the world thoroughly
buoyed up with his own endeavors and the
treatment Of his guardians.
On the other hand. let US suppose that a
man five years ago was an industrious and
respected member Of society, but through
some unfortunate cause got behind the bars.
and was put to work with no prospect
OF promotion should his conduct merit it: