The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-09-18
saltwater, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 18, 1890.

eapon of the devil to prostitute souls. and
the ScapegOat of evil dOers. But the deed
being done, what shall be the outcome?
Shall we be so narrow minded as to believe
that because we receive sentence OF con-
finement of more or less duration it alone
is sufficient atOnement? Man has faults and
weaknesses which cause him to detile him
self with sin or crime in action. thought or
word every hour of the day. and for those
acts unchallenged by the moral code of man
it will not pass so with God who requires
penance and atOnement for ''every deed
done in the body" Sin and crime un-
repented and atoned for here, must be in
the great hereafter. Punishment inflicted
by man, and all we suffer in the body
through it, will avail us nothing beyond the
grave, unless we use it as means of self
abasement and atOnement in spirit and in
truth. We should let all our actions accord
with this idea to our inner selves irrespect-
i've of the thoughts and opinions of others.
When this meets the eyes Of the reader
the writer will have ceased to be member
of your fraternity by reason OF executive
clemency granted some months SINCE And
[ should do violence to my feelings were l
to leave without reverting to my past here.
1t is with feelings of profound gratitude to
the officers of this institution, without
single exception, that [ review their uni
fozm kindness and fOrbearance during my
sOjOurn here. have endeavored to do my
whole duty to them and myself at all times,
and if l failed in any one instance, neither
by word or look was l made aware of it. 1
sought no favors and obtained none until my
health failed some months ago, from which
time l have received at their hands every
kindness which my condition required. To
some more than others, and especially to
the medical staff. to whom, under prov
idence l am indebted for my present COM
parative health, and shall ever hold them
in grateful remembrance. To these and
others. if do not take personal leave it
is because l fear my feelings would obtain
the mastery over me.
And to you, fellow Chautauquans, let us
clasp hands in a cheerful goodbye; and
in doing so let me urge you to continue the
efforts you have made in the past in pro-
noting your minds to standard of better
excellence. Be not cast down by petty dis
couragements; discard all jealouses as un-
worthy of the noble aims you are striving
to attain; and labor harmOniOusly and fra
ternally, and in spirit of brotherly love,
bear charitably the shortcomings of one
to another and all will result to the
common good. Convicts though you be,
and wearing the garb of degradation. many
their are among you with loyal hearts and
true beating beneath your striped jackets.
The same aspirations high and noble, gov
erning your daily actions and the same de-
pertinent surrounding you in the outside
world would make society the looser by
your absence from it, which pray God
may not be much longer. And should we
meet no more on earth. let us hope for a
joyful reunion in that better world of the
Christians faith, and where the gates tor
us may stand ajar. May God bless you all,
is the prayer of j..