The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-01-09

lnaDle haOlt faSton ltSel1 upon MIN! IL lie
gave any thought to the subject he could
not fail to see that continuance in such an
abomination would be his ruin, and would
necessitate his becoming an exile or the oc-
cupant of a felon's cell. This man was
competent to demonstrate the laws of
logic to his pupils. but he could not practice
in his own life the simplest of those laws.
While this may be an isolated case in its
Nervousness, we are not in want of proof to
show that even learned men are often lack
ing in the most essential part of knowledge
the wisdom to put into practice the simple
truths which they know are necessary to
the preservation of their liberty and happi-
ness. The newspapers of the day only too
often herald the degrading downfall of men
from high places. who, as the papers put it
fought to know BETTER"
The ignorance which Victor Hugo spoke
of was certainly illiteracy. At the time and
place he gave utterance to his grand Senti-
ment illteracy was the great cave he
deemed necessary to destroy. 1t is so yet.
About ten per cent of the inmates of this
prison are wholly illiterate. and five per
cent of the balance are barely able to read.
This is conservative estimate. and it is safe
to say that but few other prisons can make
as favorable ashowing-if the limited stats
tics we already have at hand are reliable.
What are men of this kind to do when they
are liberated? Can it be expected that,
handicapped as they are, and mayhaps with
very low moral instincts, they will make a
desirable addition to any community? Not
likely; if they are already in criminal rut
they will probably remain So 1t cannot be
otherwise. They are shrouded in mental
darkness even worse than physical blind
ness. They are helpless, and it is not en-
tirely their fanlt if they continue to prey
upon their fellowmen. Their only guides
are instinct and necessity.
The only alternative in this case is to re-
deem these men from the stygian cloud of
ignorance that hides the higher perceptions
and capabilities of manhood. Let the bright
beams of the sunlight of knowledge enter
! into their darkened intellects. Arouse
| them from the destroying stupOr of mOnOt-
OnOus repetition that is gnawing away their
mental and moral vitality. Let them see
| that there is something more in life than
eating. sleeping and animal pleasure. The
majority of these illiterate men are fully
aware of their helplessness and will jump at
the chance to become the equals of those
| who are fortunate in the possession OF the
lesser accomplishments of life.
Educate the criminal is the keynote to
the reformation of the wrong -dOer. Facili
ties for giving prisoners a good, common
education and moral training should be a
principal part Of the equipment of every
penal institution. 1t is senseIeSS to attempt
to force profound religious doctrines upon
men who are incapable of cOmprehending
the simple laws essential to their own well
g., h,,t fnu, i,,cfi
tutions-aside from reformatOries-have
any systematic method of improving the in
mates in an educational sense. And this is
the very thing that is necessary above all
others. Start schools in the prisons; let
religious teaching take a second place in
this regard-religiOn will follow as a nat
ural sequence to mental enlightenment 1t
will not pay to be parsimOniOus in the in
PRODUCTION of educational facilities into
prisons. The amount of money expended
yearly in returning second -termers will
more than defray the cost of keeping up an
educational system in every prison.
All those, past and present, who have
given any thought to prison affairs maintain
that education is the lone thing needfuP' in
every prison. The highest authorities on
the subject demand that useful. practical
knowledge be instilled into prisoners if ref
ormation is the end sought. And why has
not this idea been acted upon long ago?
Economy is the principal reason given. 1t
will appear to thoughtful person that this
kind of economy is similar to that which
actuated the old woman to burn away a
three cent candle in the search for one cent
she had lost There IS no economy in re-
trenchment of this sort. The only truly
economical side to the question is to spare
no reasonable expense in following out the
admirable precept of the immortal Victor
Hugo, and thus rend the cimmerian cloud
that impells so many to the committal of
crime. RONDA.