The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-09-05
Retrospective.

Seeing that my release from exile will
take place at an early day. I thought re-
view of few traits of character l have no.
ticed since l came here would, perhaps, not
be out of place.
There are class of men in this institu-
ton, as we'll as outside, who never seem to
be contented they worry and fret them
selves from week to week, and month to
month. on matters OF an imaginary nature.
which never can be remedied. If it is not
one thing, it is another that seems to be
forever troubling them. They are not sat-
isfed with carrying their own burdens,
but must assume those of others. 1 admit
there is no place where discomfort is more
liable to be fostered than i'll prison; but it
should be distinctly understood by those
who are unfortunate enough to get behind
the bars, that they must make up their
minds to be submissive to the rules which
regulate penal institutions. There are
quite number who seem to overlook the
fact that they are in prison. and imagine
they are being harshly treated. If such
persons will take a common sense view of
the matter. they will find that their being
forever discOntented not only is source of
annoyance to those around them, but very
materially Injuries themselves. physically
and mentally. If those unfortunate per-
sons will look around them, they will see
that those who get along best. and are
most free from oppressive trouble, are those
who have realized the fact that. in order to
undergo the sentence pronounced upon them
with any degree of comfort. they mnst Go
what they are told with alacrity and pleas
antness take what they get, and say moth
ing. The fact of their pointing to Tom,
Dick and Harry, and asking why they get
this; why they get that; or, why they are
allowed certain privileges. does not help
their cases one particle. In prison every
individual convict stands out prominently
by himself and it is usually his own good
conduct and general department that regu-
lates the treatment he will receive.
Some men, on entering the penitentiary,
begin to find fault with everything in gen.
eral. In the first place. their clothes don't
fit them. and this, that, and the other thing
doesn't quite suit them. Now. persons of
this description are not very likely to get
positions in the prison that will be the
means of making their heads too large for
their hats. Envy. to great extent. nour-
ishes this feeling OF discomfort. If Jack,
Tom, and Joe happen to be allotted duties
which seem to require less physical exertion
than the ordinary prison work. there are
others who are always ready to brand them
as tOadies or sycOphantS, and Immediately
take means to wreak vengeance upon those
individuals who may be reaping the fruits
of their own good conduct. In order to
undermine or injure Jack. Tom, or Joe,
base falsehOOds are fabricated and circu-
lated, that never attain the object for which
they were intended, but are invariably
sifted to the bottom. and rebound with ad-
ditlOnal force against those from whom
they emanated. Instead of the mischief
makers deriving any benefit. they only in
jure their own chances OF promotion.
There seem to be some very erroneous
by those who sing in the choir.
work in the Office. or have been
assigned to duties around the prison
which call for their having a greater
amount of liberty from their cells. In
order to show the utter fallacy of those
ideas. will give my own experience, which
may be accepted as the general rule in the
cases referred to:
On coming here 1 joined the choir for
my own amusement and instruction, and
to assist those who were endeavoring to en-
hance the chapel services. l voluntarily
became contributor to THE MIRROR,
thinking it might be instructive, and be an
enjoyable mode OF passing away the time;
but above all, to keep my brain from be-
coming torpid or petrified. l have received
no favors or privileges, asked for none, and
never expected any.
Convicts may often be heard asking,
Why the legislature does not do this or do
q oil nf 1nf WI n W
the prison administration does not take
steps to have so and so done. If the con-
vict will study this matter thoroughly, he
will find he has great deal to do with the
subject himself.