The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-05-09
Home.
Backward, turn backward
Oh Time in thy flight,
Make me a child again
Just for tonight.


and manliness. Every generous impulse
that marks our lives may be traced to the
influences of home training What pleas
ure it is to stranger in a foreign land to
meet native of his own city or country.
there is no formality in their conversation
they sympathize with each other as
brothers in exile. The fact of their being
born in country that is sacred to each,
joins them in bond of the closest brother
hood. Their cordial welcome is proof that
the possibility of human brotherhood is
something more than mere poetic fancy.
If YOU speak to the most depraved in
kindly terms of their childhood and homes,
you touch a chord in their hearts that re-
spends in tones altogether foreign to the
ribaldry OF their present degradation. How
often has simple story Of the child-life of
the world brought tears of affection and Joy
to our eyes AS the mothers lullaby SOOtheS
the babe into angels dreams. so these
tender memories calm us into happy recOl-
lections of the sunshine of our homes.
Only few days ago | heard several
well known members of our community re-
count in most animated manner how they
used to fly kites. and other bOyish pranks
they INDUCED in. One Of the number had
to laugh outright as he mentioned how he
and other boys played soldiers" at the
time of the war. The conversation was
cOngenial to the cOterie, as they entered
into the details Ofkite making with as much
interest as though they were boys again
and were preparing one to fly on the NOR
row. TO straight laced. 'strictly bust
ness person. such conversation might
appear foolish, or childish, as they would
politely call it. But there is not doubt
in my mind that this ''chldiSh'' talk made
those men feel happier and better disposed
toward the world generally. than the most
logical essay ever written. 1t is an oasis
in the desert of their misfortune that
thriveS despite the biting sands of fate and
the ScOrching rays of public stigma. It
serves also, to illustrate that the influences
of youth are so deeply impressed upon us,
that they form a SOlace and guiding
power throughout our earthly existence.
would prefer to have my way in life al
ways cast among men who can take such a
real pleasure in the memories of their
youth: it is sure evidence that they are
good at heart-even though they are now
in what is pOpulary supposed to be the low
est grade of men.
Devotion to home is not confined to any
particular class. The ESqulmauX of the
nOrth-in his simple manner-is as strongly
attached to his abode of snow, as the mill
ionaire to his brown stone front. AS the
inhabitants of this. and adjacent states we'll
know. the Indian loves his star studded
home no less than the prince his castle.
The same instructive love of the native
heath is manifest in the Pagan and Chris
tian-in the civilized and uncivilZed. Even
the lower domestic animals cling tenderly
to the home in which they were reared.
But we sometimes meet with unfOrtu-
mates who have nothing but curses and NAL
edictions for the home and parents that
gave them birth. Such hatred of what
should be the strongest earthly ties is
dreadful to think of: STILL the cold facts
too often brought to our notice. show us
that such conditions are possible. | re-
member once reading of youth who was
about to pay the death penalty for a crime
he had committed. When asked on the scat
fold if he had anything to say, he pointed
to his mother, who was present.. and Missed
out in the btterest tones: You, curse you.
are the cause of my being here to-day
What that mothers feelings must have been
is horrible to surmise. If the son was
Justified in such a denunciatiOn of his
mother, it is a terrible commentary on the
hayward life she led him.
1t is happy to reflect that such case is
of rare occurrence, yet, there are many eX-
amples. which, though not reaching such a
solemn climax, should be warning to care
less parents OF the duty they owe to their
offspring.
In the tenement houses of large
cities the degrading influences that exist are
OF the most revolving nature. Whole fam-
lies are packed into single apartment that
Is not large enough for the drunken wrang-
lngS of the parents. The children when
barely able to walk. are sent to the lowest
dives for the beer that is stealing the bread
from their mouths. What these children are
expected to be when they grow up. the world
does not seem to care much: so Let lis draw