The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-07-17
Five Gents
As Others See Us.

As Others See Us.
Judging from the appearance of the
great somber buildings and massive walls
of the prison at Saltwater. it is apparent
that Minnesota. like her sister states. began
at a very early period in her existence to
WELD the retributive rod. | have visited
this prison several times within the past
eight years and have observed that it's lOca-
tiOn is monstrous. Hemmed in as it is on
three sides by high bluffs that shut out the
pure air and almost the light, it must be and
is extremely unhealthy. Again, every time
[ come here | find new administration.
But | am confronted by the same old build
ings. the same old cells, the same old dun
geons the darkness of which. by the way,
is so thick that it might be stirred up with
a spoon; the same pale, weary long drawn
cOuntenanceS meet me in the corridors, on
the stairs and in the workshops; the same
dull heavy eyes bespeaking vacant minds
or the wild glaring OrbS of Self-cOnsuming
intellects gaze upon me as pass along. like
so many ghosts in fairy tale. Are these
the same sad faces that met here eight
years ago? If not, then the Minnesota
state prison must have wonderful facilities
for the remodeling of mems cOuntenancess
after certain fashion, and not very
pleasing fashion either.
No reprOach is intended to be cast upon
the present or any other administration of
the prison, when say that no criticism is
too severe for the ''pOwers that be- that
will enact such laws as will compel able
bodied men to frtter away their time in
competition with law abiding citizens. frsm
seven o'clock in the morning till six o'clock
in the evening for the paltry sum of forty
five cents and then drive them into their
stalls like so many sheep, with minds and
bodies wearied to death and totally unfit
for any kind of mental labor, even if they
had some one to point out to them what
would be profitable to study, which is not
the case.
Glancing over THE PRISON MIRROR of
June 49,, l was very much pleased with an
article entitled Practical View" by 3D."
In many particulars [ sympathize and agree
with Mr.. b." especially where, in reply
to ''LeOnarduS" who, l should judge had
been eXhOrting his fellow prisoners to study
along the lines of the learned professions,
he says, Il fail to see how it can be done,
even though we were sufficiently advanced
to take up such studies." He then says
that it would be difficult to get money to
buy books on those subjects, which is quite
true. Further on he doubts whether such
knowledge would be of any practical bene-
fit to the learner after he leaves here. 1t
does not take any great amount of argu.
ment to convince me that unless man has
had some training before he entered the
prison in the profession he chooses that his
ill guided study there will give him very
meagre knowledge of the subject-perhaps
enough to enable him to impose upon the
public again. My friend incognitO. Mr.
3D." finally comes to my rescue with this
very good suggestion to his prison friends:
''Study that in which you are the least
proficient. Many of us have yet to learn
the rudiments of the most common
branches such as reading. writing. arith-
metic grammar, etc. One kOur spent each
evening while we are here. in the pursuit
of those studies will fit us for positions we
otherwise could not procure"
1t seems to me- that Mr.. 3d." has struck
the key. note of prison reform. except that
one. Surely five hour session OF school
each day, led by competent teachers guided
by proper courses of study. would work
wonders for these prisoners besides leaving
Madam Justice still five hours to wreak
her vengeance. In conclusion let me say
that these convicts would then be very
likely to leave this prison much improved
men, rather than, as is now the case.
branded vagabOnds, evidently more de-
PRAYED than when they came here
Independence, Wis. NJ E. S.