The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-02
POLITICAL PRISONERS.



The Many Unusual Liberties and Fsvers
They Enjoy In France.
In France, during the empire and
now during the republic, political pris-
oners enjoy special and separate treat
ment. At Paris they arc generally con-
fined in the Ste. Pelagie prison. Here
they occupy wing apart from the rest
of the Jail. which is known as the
Pavilion des Princes. 1t is common
saying that the Pavilion des Princes is
the first stage on the road to seat in
the cabinet; and certainly. l 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 M. Paul
Lafargue, who was then confined in
this prison under a sentence OF six
months. He had been guilty OF some
revolutionary speech, or had written a
violent newspaper article. The prison
bore the usual sOmber and threatening
aspect. There were sentinels pacing
up and down with bayonets fixed to
their guns and jailers with great
punches of keys. After passing a
long number of windows l was at
last introduced into a large. lofty
room. The first object that attracted
nv attention were number of dolls,
tin soldiers. and other toys that lay
strewed on the floor. Then l noted a
very handsome carved oak writing ia
BILE with comfortable arm chair. The
table was covered with books and man
uscripts. On the wall close by were
numerous charts illustrating the fluc-
tuations in the price of grain in differ
ent countries. YES" remarked M.
Lafargue, noticing my look OF aston
ishment 81 am studying the price of
breadstuffs and all the social problems
involved in the corn trade. 1t is a very
important subject, and l hope to treat
it in series of articles" ''But surely"
l rejOined, 1.-The prison authorities do
not supply carved oak writing tables?'
At this remark NJ. Lafargue fairly
laughed. The prison furniture, he ex-
planned, was of the most modest char
acter. A plain, but comfortable bed.
with spring mattress. the simplest of
tables. chairs and washstands. But,
then. if person was not satisfied he
could always have his furniture
brought to him from his own house,
and could thus continue his studies and
his work with considerable comfort
At this moment sounds of laughter
were heard on the stairs, and two or
three persons came bouncing in the
room with loud exclamatins. These
were other prisoners, all sentenced for
some political offense. They were
quite free to 60 into each other rooms.
and made a merry time of it. But
this is not the only society
the prisoners enjoy. There is hardly
any restriction placed on the visits
they receive from the outside. M.
Lafargue had his wife and children
to call on him every day. and it was
his chiidren's toys ! noticed on the
floor Thus, in common with the other
political prisoners. he was able to
select what company, what books,
what furniture suited him best. In
respect to food, if the prison allowance
was not to his taste, he could send Out
for any delicacy he might fancy. Then
there were prisoners, common law
offenders, who, as reward for excep.
tionally good behavior. were allowed
to go and offer their services to the
political prisoners, to help to clean
their rooms, cooR their dinners, etc.
Even all these indulgences, was sub
sequently told, did not satisfy M.
Lafargue. He found the daily exer:
else in the prison yard too monotonOus
and therefore peiitioned the Governor
of the prison to grant him some va
riety; and nothing but the boulevards
with it's trees, It's throngs of gay, we'll
dressed people. and its brilliant cafes
could satisfy him. Consequently the
governor of the prison ordered two
jailers to put on civilian clothes and
accompany NJ. Lafargue for a two
hours stroll on the boulevards. Fol
lowed by his two guardians M. Lafar
que, was told, went to his favorite
cafe, drank an absinthe with hi.
friends, and then walked quietly back
to prison. Needless to say that wher
the six months Imprisonment were
over nj. Lafargue did not feel any
the worse for the persecution he had
endured. This did not prevent nj.
claiming the honors of political mar
tyrdom. - Paris Cor. Philadelphia
Telegraph.