Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-17
THE GRAND R0QBETTE.
LIFE Or FRENCH CONNECTS IN THE.
GREAT PARIS PRISON,

IL rests with the pubic prosecutor ana NOT
with the judge to determine in what prison
delinquent sentenced by the courts shall be
confined. Prisoners condemned for crimes of
comparatively minor Importance may obtain
permission to pass the time Of their sentence
in the Grand Roquette prison on condition Of
paying twelve cents day, or little over
S43 year, to the state. But owing to the linn
tied number Of trades pursued IN the estab-
lishment few Of the prisoners there are set to
the trade they have been brought up to, SO
that they are generally obliged to learn anew
one Nor Is there always work sufficient for
all the inmates, as that depends upon the de-
mand in the markets; owing to this circum-
stance, there are often upward OF $50 men
without work, who lounge in the yard, or
crowd in winter to the chauffoir, large
heated room on the ground door. A prisoner
OF the lower classes, having no respectable
connections, will seldom get the option of
serving his time In solitary confinement, and
thereby earning a remittance, as the cells are
scarcely ever vacant; and he is removed else
where.
RULES OF THE PRISON.
1t is strange sight to see the men shuttle
and shamble with slouching gait round the
exercise yard One has only to look at them
GUS repression Is not calculated to deter men
from crime, and that there is some virtue In
solitary confinement from the first
Four hundred men come out at time
Speaking is strictly prohibited, but it would
seem as though nothing could prevent this
rule from being infringed AS the prisoners
walk round and round there is buzzing
lnurmurlng sound like the humming OF top,
fha
defiance Of the warders, who walk round in
an opposite direction to that taken by their
charges.
Close to the chapel are two stalls or booths,
one of which commune ties with the kitchen,
under the management of a prisoner who
holds the post of cantinier or sutler, while the
other is used by marchand de COCO, who sells
cocoa or licorice juice to his customers, each
Of whom, ca payment of the sum stipulated
In the tariff, can also purchase demisetier
or the fifth Of liter of wine. The prisoner
is not permitted to buy more than that guam
tity, as drunkenness makes the men danger
GUS.
The things to be bought at the prison can
teen, besides wine, are cafe au lait, chocolate
butter, cheese, ham, sausages, eggs, salad
fruit, timed meat, biscuits, stationery, to-
bacco and snuff
The Cafe Richie and the Palais Royal, as
these two booths are called, play an impor-
tant part in the life of the inmates. Prison
ers are allowed to smoke in Partisan jails,
and very sensible provision this is, for ii
prevents that Illicit traffic in tobacco which
brings SO many prisoners and warders to
trouble in foreign prisons and it also sup
plies ready means Of furnishing a refractory
iailbird. Order cannot be kept in a prison
without corporal punishment. AS a rule the
prisoners behave exceedingly well, because
they know that they can greatly alleviate
the hardships of their position by so doing.
For first offense a mans tobacco and wine
will be cut off for a week, for second he
may be forbidden to purchase anything at
the canteen for a month; il he perseveres in
his folly he will be prohibited from working
that is, from earning money, and will be
locked up In CELL to endure the misery of
utter solitude and idleness.
TUE DARK PADDED CELL.
Ii this severe measure fails and the man be-
comes obstreperous, he will be strait waist
coated and put into a dark padded cell, where
he may scream and kick at the wall to his
hearts content To these rational methods of
coercion the most stubborn natures generally
yield. 1t must be confessed, however, that
there are certain desperate characters who
delight In giving trouble, and who, untaned
by repeated punishments, will often commit
murderous assaults upon the warders. But
In most instances, as say, the lighter means
of restraint are sufficient to bring the prison
ers to their senses. They cannot endure the
idea of being debarred from presenting them
selves at the canteen, or from paying visit
to the vendor of licorice juice, and the incen-
tive thus provided for industry and good be-
hayior has q salutary effect even upon the
most hardened among the criminals. Now
and then some revolt breaks out in the lock.
smiths shcp, where the prisoners have sharp
tools confided to them; and there Is more than
one instance where prisoner has attempted
the life of warder, in order that a sentence
of FIVE or ten years may be increased into one
Of transportation for life to New Caledonia,
the land of promise for the criminal anxious
to break away from old associations.
The cells, capable Of holding over six hum
bred prisoners, are above the workshops and
occupy TIRES whole floors Each compart-
ment has its bed, with paillasse, good
mattress, sheets changed once a week and
blanket such as many an honest workingman
would be glad to get, and far better than the
shakedown Of tha llnousin and the Auver-
gnat who have come to Paris to seek font
une. The door OF each cell contains spy
hole through which the warden on duty can
see what his charge Is doing at certain inter-
walls OF the day and night, Separate and
narrow cells are provided for those whose
| demeanor and general conduct give rise to
the impression that they are mcditating sui
eide
The criminals at La Grande Roquette have
| no complaints to make, They are treated
| with fraternal solcitude, and legend says
that those who have grown old in houses Of
| detention and have made the round of every
prison in France have shown tho greatest
upwilllngness 10 leave this place when the
law has declared them free. There are several
old men about the place without family ties
who, forgetting the world and forgotten by
it, have managed to obtain some kipd Of em'
ployment, so as not to be compelled to leave
the prison, and to warrant their being fed
ANA lodged at the expense of the country.
The name of oHs of them Is mentioned as a
terror to any who might be tempted to boz
tray the secrets Of the prison--a certain lib
Grated criminal who had some small duties
assigned him, so that he might not be thrown
on the streets with his gray hairs and i'm
Armlty, He made q good living by giving
Items OF information 10 journalists when any
special criminal occupied the condemned cell.
He announced the appearance of the mounted
municipal guard, who is always deputed to
bring from the ministry OF justice and the
public prosecutor that sealed notice which
leads to the guillotIne being put up on the
Place de La Roquette. Boston Tran
script.
An editnr Al l@eorria has thIs notice nnstad