Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-18

htchdTo Vdus' their way into pub
lie print, but it is not generally known that he
is the man who acted as the escort OF Charles
Dickens upon the occasion OF the great
novelist's visit to the Eastern Penitentiary
of Pennsylvania visi: the description OF
which was the cause of much of the denunci-
alton In this country of that wonderfully in.
accurate, if not maliciously incorrect work,
American Notes"
For more than 30 years-not 40, as has
been generally reported-Mr Vaux has
been an inspector of the Eastern Peniten-
tiary, and is now, as is well known, the
President OF its Board. For many years he
has made daily visits, except on Sundays,
to the great prison, which is the only one in
this country where the custom of solitary
confinement is practiced. The larger part
OF his latter life has been given up to the
study of not only the reformation of crimi-
mails, but to the all-important subject of the
causes Of criminal heredity.
THE THEORY OF HEREDITY.
| In the theory that offences against society
are in larger percentage of cases the re-
suits OF inherited vice, Mr.. Vaux is firm
believer, and his works upon this and kin
dred subjects have made him a ruling
penalogist in Europe as we'll as in this
country. Yet of the system of solitary con-
finement for criminals, OF which this kind
hearted man is the most pronounced advo-
| cate, Charles Dickens wrote, alter o visit to
the prison, "The system here is rigid, strict
and hopeless solitary confinement. be-
lieve its effects to be cruel and wrong"
The novelist followed this criticism with
statements OF alleged facts which were then
and now are absolutely without foundation,
az for instance the assertion that a convict
never sees the face of any one but that Of
his keeper, whereas at regular intervals
visits are permitted by relatives. The story
Of Dickens visit to the Eastern Penitentiary
has been related to me by Mr.. Vaux in the
graphic way that makes his conversation so
| charming.
On the same vessel that brought Charles
| Dickens to this country, in 1841, was Cap
tain Harry Ingersoll, Of Philadelphia, q son
Charles j. Ingersoll, one time member OF
Congress from Philadelphia. When the
English novelist arrived in the Quaker City,
Captain Ingersoll invited him to dine at his
house, and among those summoned to meet
him there was the hosts cousin, Richard
Vaux, then Recorder of the city and also one
of the Inspector, OF the Eastern Penitentiary.
NAUA BLUNT hEfU6AL.
After the ladies had left the table and the
gentlemen were engaged in that post
prandial discussion so dear to the well-fed
and well-dined man, Dickens said that he
had a strong desire to visit the Eastern
Penitentiary.
"Why, my dear SIR" said Captain Inger-
soil, "you could not have expressed your
desire more opportunely. Here is the
Recorder, who is the very person to have the
entire institution thrown open to you, and
who, am sure, will be delighted to crafty
you; will you not, Mr.. Vaux?"
"I certainly will not" was the young
Recorders senttious reply.
"Why not" asked the host in surprise.
"Well," answered Mr.. Vaux, foreigners
come over here and are shown the various
things of public interest we possess and
when they return home they generally write
book in which they relate how we pressed
this information and that upon them and
sadly bored them. This, gentlemen" in
clining his head toward Dickens, sis a
writer of books, and 1 presume that when
he returns home he will place in print his
impressions Of us. Now 1, for one, do not
propose to aff1ict him with any burdensome
knowledge about our public institutions"
81 assure you, Mr.. Vlux." said Dickens,
pleasantly, "that you do my desire in this
matter great injustice. 1 am entirely seri-
ous and earnest when I say that the two
things in this country wish most to see are
Niagara Falls and the penitentiary in this
CITY,"
THE RECORDER soFTENED.
"That being the case, SIR" responded the
Recorder, "I'll gladly arrange for your visit
to the prison."
The next day Mr.. Vaux requested all the
in tn he in he
tentiary, and also invited a number OF lit
erary men, including Louis A. Cooley and
Morton McMichael, to participate in the
tour of inspection. The distinguished
stranger was shown every portion of the ad-
mirably arranged structure, and everything
was thrown open to him, as he frankly con-
fesses in his "Notes" When the tour was
ended all the gentlemen assembled in the
private office OF the inspectors and INDUCED |
in pleasant conversation. The first words
spoken were uttered by Charles Dickens,
and we're addressed to Matthew L. Bevan,
the venerable President of the Board OF In
spectors. "Mr. Bevan," he said, ''of all
the public institutions have visited this is
the only one where the relations Of the gov
ernors to the governed appear to be those of
parent to child"
What can be thought of the sincerity Of a |
man who could give such strong testimony |
to the commendable character OF the Eastern |
Penitentiary system and then atterward re-
vile it In public print? Nor was this all.
Mr.. Bevan, L should explain, was man |
OVERLOOKING with the milk of human kind |
ness. He was as eminent in his day as
Stephen Girard was in his. While not pos
sessing any particular knowledge bearing |
upon the cares and custody OF criminals he
entered into the duties of his Office from
simple desire to do good to his fellow man.
NOT A BREATH OF CRITICISM.
He said to Mr.. Dickens that he felt deeply
gratifed by the words that had been uttered;
that the inspectors endeavored earnestly to
do what was best for the unfortunate people
placed in their charge; that naturally
they found their path beset with diff
culties because men unlearned in the devil
Gus forms of crime found it somewhat diff
cult to fully understand the nature and
character Of men whose lives consisted of
little else than deceit, whose moral per-
ceptions were dumb, but that the Inspectors
labored to the best of their ability to fashion
something better from this material and had
every reason to be gratihed with the results
of their work.
All this and much more of the same i'm
port Mr.. Bevan said in his serious earnest
way. During this discussion Dickens
listened attentiyely and uttered not word,
and, when the venerable President had
ceased, he said: "This Is all most interest
ing, sir. and thank you for the information
you have given me-"
Not word of criticism fell from his lips
Not further inquiry that might have dis