The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-12-11

table. or stand, small lamp, mirror, comb,
wash basin, water measure, broom, bed,
chair. pen and ink, library book and a
Bible. Those are the things with which
the prisoners room is furnished when he is
first admitted to the state hotel, but he is
privileged to add. at his own expense. many
other little things for his own comfort and
-cOnvenience; such as carpet. pictures,
table covers. etc.
The upper tiers of cells are reached by a
stairway at the north end of the cell block
The galleries in front of the upper tiers are
3 feet wide and are protected on the out
side by two iron rails The cell doors are
secured by box-locks. besides there is on
each tier of cells bar lock which closes
them all by the turning of a wheel. The
width of the east and west corridors are IA
feet each; the north and south corridors are
II feet each.
The prison is heated by steam on the
lOw-pressure system by direct radiation.
The coils for direct radiation are placed in
the corridors. Indirect heat Is applied to
the cells. In the east corridor of the prison
the prisoners tables are placed at meal
times. The tables are adjustable and
when set in full make table about rs feet
long. They are placed in the center of the
corridor and the prisoners sit face to face;
CL0 pIlSOuOIS lIOil Cuc CdSC olUC VI tIlc CclI
block occupying one side of the table and
those from the west occupying the other.
During the forenoon and afternoon the
tables are stored away in the south corridor
one on the other. And the task Oe remOv
ing them from place to place is assigned to
the two boys who take care of the hall. and
it requires just minutes for them to carry
those tables around to the east corridor and
get them ready for the dishes. After the
meal is over those tables are cleaned as
white as wood can be made. At meal time
the doors are unlocked and the men are
called from their cells by the second sound
of the cellrOOm gong. At the third sound
they close their cell doors and march in
single file to the tables. When the meal is
over we are guided by three sounds pro
duced on an instrument made for the pur-
pose. At the first sound we rise from the
table; second sound take up our chairs;
third sound march in lock step to our cells
Our tables also serve another purpose.
After supper they are cleaned off and left
stationary for the night, and during school
hours we use them as writing desks and
places for our books. For during the win
ter season we are favored with good night
school, our school hours being from g. to
S:45 P. NJ. Our studies are arithmetic
geography. history, grammar, reading.
writing and spelling. The school is devided
into two classes. and is taught by Mr.. r.
Ullum, of Bismarck. Our teacher last win
ter was Mr.. w. A. Falls, of Milton, N. D.
Our educational exercises are closed each
evening by singing a few pieces in the
Gospel Hymns. The school is highly ap-
preciated by all of the prisoners, and as an
example of what it is doing we will refer to
two young men who were sentenced to this
institution about year ago. Neither of
them knew the alphabet when they came
but after attending the prison school last
winter they could read we'll and write
good plain hand and were fully up in the
four fundamental rules of arithmetic.
We have library of about 400 volumes.
The books were purchased with money de-
rived from funds paid by visitors. and from
the contributions of benevolent persons.
Each prisoner receives on an average about
eight newspapers week. The prisoners
are permitted to subscribe for and receive
weekly papers. Religious services are held
by the chaplain or invited clergymen every
other Sunday at 5 o'clock P. M.
The inmates are all furnished with dark
jeans suit of clothing for Sunday. When
at work they wear, in winter, heavy lined
ducking with heavy cotton flannel under
clothing, wOOlen cap, felt boots and rubbers,
and heavy ducking OvercOat lined with
flannel when driving team or employed at
any work at which they cannot keep them
selves warm.
will now tell you how we spent Thanks
giving Day, which0 will probably in
terest the readers of The MIRROR. Here
We are favored four times year with what
we call liberty days." These days are
New Years Day, Fourth of July. Thanks
giving Day and Christmas. We look for
ward to those days with joyful anticipa-
tions, for they are the only days of pris
oner's life which he can look forward to
with the assurance that he will enjoy extra
privileges. But here we have just enjoyed