The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-06-27
The Future Friend.

The future Friend.
By perusal Of the newspapers of the
country, it seems that the general impress.
sion is that the inmates of the prison are
great admirers of THE MIRROR. As ap.
piled to the whole number or even major
ity this is very ERRONEOUS impression
AS has been intimated by other writer's
in the past. the predominant characteristic
of the criminal is seliishness-I mean self.
ishness in its truest sense They are gener-
Gus to fault in petty way, but they care not
one iota for anybody or anything that does
not in some way. contribute to the better
ing of their surroundings. They fail to see
the benefits to society and the prisoner.
which THE MIRROR will eventually work
OUT because these benefits are not THEIRS
now; and. as the average convict knows of
no future uncOnnected with himself. he
cares nothing for those to- come after hence
his indifference concerning the paper
VIII venture to say that there is not a
state III the Union where the people have
as true an idea of the manner of men who
ill our prisons. and the causes of crime. as
the people of Minnesota; and will further
venture to say that the people of Minnesota
two years ago, were in no wise superior in
this respect to those of other states. and it
is THE MIRROR. principally. that has made
| the change.
Now l am writing this letter not for the
people of the stale 50 much as for the pc
ruSal OF the cOnvctS themselves. that they
may be led to take greater interest i'm the
paper. so that we will see new names at
the END OF the articles: not that the old
writers are to drop out, but that new ones
may be added.
Society has had long and desperate
struggle with the criminal; and the strug-
gle is not yet finished. for the reason that
society has never understood the criminal:
and society never will understand ham with
out his help. 1t is the business of every
man in this prison to aid in making clear
what the criminal is and what are his
needs
l do not believe there is man in this
prison but would like to see all crime
driven out of the world. not excepting
those who will 60 back to their Old ways
when they leave here
Let us take the men who are innocent.
ANY OF this class who are OF ordinary i'll
telligence can write down more solid facts
regarding the criminal classes than nine
tenthS OF the prison congress speakers who
have at most only got to the outside of
cell uOOT, are aDlo 10 DO: ana certainly this
class are. or should be- interested in the ref
ormatlon of the criminal and the best de-
vel0pment OF society in general.
Now. you who are criminals and who see
no other life but a criminal one in the fut
ure, when you think of the present state
of society, you do not prefer the life of
criminal. and you have ideas which if society
would adopt. you could see your way clear
to leading an honest life. Then | say to
you. put those ideas on paper and give
them to the world to digest. The world
will not accept them-dOn't expect it--but
in all you write there may be one little idea
that will appear good and in time will force
its way to the front and society will be
compelled to consider it,
In time? On we want these things
now.'
1T those are your sentiments | can only
say:
Sow in faith.
Sow the good seed another after thee
Shall reap. Hast thou not garnered many fruits
Of others sowing, whom thou knowest not?'
l.. b.