The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-06-13


In the great west, as well as in the east.
the time has come when a person can
hardly look at newspaper but what he
will see that some charitable society has
rescued a mOtherleSS child and saved it
from the i'll usage of a diSsipated father.
Or of some humane society defending a
dumb beast from the hard treatment of
brutal master. Every true Christian has
had something of that kind to do. either di-
rectly or indirectly, until societies for the
purpose have been organized in all the prin-
ciple cities of the world. We know very
well that their work has included number
of good deeds, still, it is yet unfinished.
Not only have they protected the cripples
and orphan children OF large cities, but have
protected the beasts and birds. and even
made move towards helping men who have
fallen in life and are now behind prison
bars. One instance of the latter which
read not long ago, was when the people of
a northern state pettiOned the authorities
to provide its prisoners with better food.
Even our own state of Minnesota has
come to the conclusion that using man
the past few years has taken slow and eau
ti0us steps to civilize (if may use the
word the prisoner BY the active work of
those who hold the welfare of their fallen
brethren at heart, laws have been enacted
that will 20 far towards reforming the
criminal.
1t lis self-evident fact that you can con-
Quer beast great deal easier by cOaXing
than by driving; so it is with human be-
ing. You can work on mans heart with
kind words and realize great deal more
than by working OIL his back with a stick.
But let us return to the subject. There
rs one thing the legislature did not look into
regarding this institution, because it rather
belongs to the board of managers, and that
lis. to say whether or not we be given the
privilege of using one of the senses which
God gave to the majority of humanity. and
the greatest boon he could give to mortal
man, his tongue. OF course. it is discretion
AIRY with five or six men to make rules de-
privng us of the natural instinct to talk,
so that we go through our labor like the
beasts of the field; cut us off from assOc
ating with OurfellOwmen until our tong ues
are paralyZed and our brains become SO
small that we would not know enough to
give sensible reply when spoken to; I'M
til there are SO many of us cranky that an
addition to the Solitaire will have
to be built. Or it is in their power
to make rules allowing the natural
use OF our organs of speech. do not mean
that we should be allowed unrestricted con-
verSatiOn-tO converse of rObberies, prize
fights, etc.. but that we should be permitted
to discuss such matters as tend to enlighten
us. OF course there should be limit and
L do not ask that we should be allowed to
go so far as they do in some southern COLI
vict camps. where they have ''shindigs"
and dances, and invite all the people within
a radius of ten miles to attend them but l
do ask in the name of, and for the refOr-
NATION of my fellow unfOrtunates. that we
be allowed this privilege as long as we con-
fine ourselves to rules not detrimental to
our work.
This is a subject which if voted upon by
the people OF this state, there would not be
one hundred of them oppose it, for any
one who has the reformation of the con-
vict in view would be sure to favor it,
hope the new board will give it a trial of
one month, for | am certain that no cause
to return to the silent system would be
shown upon such a trial FOrbiddng us to
talk is only throwing temptation in our
way, for man is certain to diSObey the
rules as soon as the guards back is turned:
and thus not only do we learn to disobey
the rules, but also to deceive our guard
and in some cases when caught in the act,
lie in order to avoid punishment Forbid