Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-06-11
n. A COLLEGIATE PRISON..

a COLLEGIATE PRISON.
The Most Interesting Penal Institution IN
" tho United Staten.
At Concord, in Massachusetts, there
has been in existence for more than Ave
years prison conducted on the ''col-
legiate SYSTEM" which had previously
been adopted ct the similar establish.
ment at Elmira, in the State of New
York. The Concord prison, although
styled ''the Massachusetts Reforma-
tory" is practically State convict
prison; for it's inmates include the worst
class OF criminals, amongst whom are
many burglars, robbers and common
thieves, together with others guilty OF
arson, forgery, manslaughter and at
tempted murder. Thus, out Of the 664
prisoners released from the establish.
mont in 1889, there were 81 who had
been convicted Of burglary or house.
breaking, and 1875 thieves and rob-
bers. Even convicts guilty Of cap.
ital crimes may be legally COM
mitted to Concord ."Reformatory."
the difference between it and ordi.
nary prisons being that the age of It's
inmates must not exceed forty years on
entry, and that they must not have
been convicted more than three times
previously. But, once within its walls.
the convicts find themselves in a COM
parative paradise. In the first place,
the maximum period OF detention is
only five years, even for the most
atrocious offenders. And by means OF
the graded" system of 'indetermin-
ate" sentences, legalized for special
application at this establishment, its
inmates may, by good behavior, obtain
their liberty in eleven months, instead
of the five years maximum. AS at Ell
mira, intellectual study and high-class
teaching are prominent elements in the
daily routine. The report, issued 1890,
gives list Of sixty-hve persons, chiefly
clergymen and professors, who, during
the past year, delivered addresses on
various subjects to the prisoners. The
topics selected included, amongst many
others, the following: Profit and
Profitsharing; Socialism from q
Christian Standpoint; the Early
Church; an Evening in the
British House of Commons; Luck
and Pluck; Monks and Nuns, etc.
The regular classes for study were for
political economy, music, architectural
drawing, mathematics and other
branches. There are periodical exam
iuo tionc u,hich furn;u h q hoo;o ~, <ho
apportionment of good marks, which
materially expedite the period of lib
Grafton. Amongst the questions and
tasks recently put at examination times
were such as these: Describe recti-
linear perspective, telling wherein it
apparently is false when compared with
cdrvilinear." Draw a spiral with in
struments." ''What is meant by d.
vision of labor, and how does it in
crease labor's productiveness?" "Ex-
plain the law of diminishing returns
by clear illustration" What per-
centage OF dictionary words are OF
Anglo-Saxon origin?" etc, The drawing
class execute freehand designs in terra.
Gotta, plaster and stucco; also designs
for internal and external house decora.
ton in wood, iron, stone and cop
per. There is a debating society,
scientific and literary club. and
an athletic society in the prison. There
is Protestant minister, Rev. Mr.. Bait,
end a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Crow,
both of whose labors are highly COM
mended in the report. A farm of about
100 acres is worked by the prisoners.
There are So head of cattle and 500
swine upon it. There is in the establish
ment printing office, and, as at Elmira,
q weekly newspaper is printed and
published by the prisoners. But, not
withstanding all the various studies
and pursuits encouraged by the authori-
ties, it is admitted that many of the
inmates hate honest labor. Rev.
Mr.. Bait naively records: ''In our more
private prison meetings l have repeat
eddy endeavored to discuss the subject
of DILIGENCE; but l have rarely been
able to escape the feeling that many of
the prisoners aid not want the matter
talked about with any freedom.
Some of the opponents have ex-
pressed fears that such discussions
might lead to an increase of tasks in
the workshops. Others have said: II
will work when I get out of here, when
can work for wages; but don't want
to hear any thing about work here
Others, claiming to be friends, have
besought me to desist, lest l should
break up my meetings" This prison is
a very costly one to the State. Last
year the expenses were $165, ZOO, includ-
ing salaries and wages. Fourfifths of
the inmates Of the prison are native
Americans and one-fifth foreigners.
There are sixty-one resident officers, Of
whom forty-five have salaries ranging
from $1,000 to $500 per annum.-Cor.
Leeds (Eng.) Mercury.
Schopenhauer's Last Thoughts.
The last thoughts of Arthur Schopen-
hauer have been found in a note book
in the Hotel d'Angleterre, the hotel
10 - L..