Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-14
YAOX AND DIlKEEs.
INTERESTING EXPERIENCE WITH THE
CHEAT NOVELIST.
End of Dickens Observation-Disclosures
Abuse of the Pennsylvania Peniten-
tiary in "American Notes."
From the New york star

- S->>~Ss eseA.-~ =
tiary in ssAmerican Notes..
From the New York Star.l
Certainly the entrance of Richard Vaux
into Congress as the successor of Samuel J.
Randall will introduce into that body one
of the most picturesque men, both in ap-
pearance and in character, which it has
known during the present generation.
There are numerous interesting anecdotes
of his life which already have found their
way into public print, but it is not gener-
ally 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
visit the description of which was the
cause ofmuch of the denunciation in this
country of that wonderfully inaccurate, if
not maliciously incorrect work, american
Notes." For more than fifty years-not
forty, as has been generally reported-Mr.
Vaux has been an Inspector of the Eastern
ChAtOhtAoiys ou0 AC 10 uOW, dS Is we'll
known, the President of its Board. For
many years he has made daily visits, ex-
cept on Sundays, to the great prison, which
is the only one in this country where soli-
tary confinement is practiced The larger
part of his later life has been given up to
the study of not only the reformation of
criminals, but to the all-important subjects
of the causes of crime and criminal hered-
ity.
In the theory that ofienses against
society are in larger percentage of cases
the results of inherited vice Mr.. Vaux is
firm believer, and his works upon this
and kindred subjects have made him a
| ruling penologist in Europe, as we'll as in
this country. Yet of the system of soli-
tary confinement for criminals, of which
this kind-hearted man is the pronounced
| advocate, Charles Dickens wrote, after a
visit to the prison: "The system here is
| rigid, strict and hopeless solitary confne-
ment. l believe its effects to be cruel and
wrong" The novelist followed this criti-
cism with statements of alleged facts
| which were then and now are absolutely
without foundation, as, for instance. the
assertion that 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
by Mr.. Vaux in the graphic way that
makes his conversation so charming.
On the same vessel that brought Charles
Dickens to this countr~, in 1S4l, was Cap
tain Harry Ingersoll. of Philadelphia, son
of 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 Inspectors of the East
ern Penitentiary. After the ladies had
left the table and the gentleman were en-
| gagged in that post-prandiaI discussion so
dear to the well-fed and well-wined man,
Dickens said he had a strong desire to
visit the Eastern Penitentiary.
"Why, my dear sir" said Captain In
gersoll, "you could not have expressed
your desire more opportunity. 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 ?''
Il certainly will not" was the young
Recorders sententious reply.
"Why not ?" asked the host in surprise.
SWELL" 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
! ri, ord coIlxy hor
man." inclining his head toward Dickens.
sis writer of books, and 1 presume that
| when he returns home he will place in
print his impressions of us. Now, /, for
one, do not propose to affiict him with any
burdensome knowledge about our public
| institutions"
81 assure you, Mr.. Vaux," said Dickens,
pleasantly, 'that you do my desire in this
matter great injustice. am entirely seri-
Gus and earnest when l say that the two
things in this country wish most to see
are Niagara Falls and the Penitentiary in
| this city"
"That being the case, SIR responded
the Recorder, "Pll gladly arrange for your
visit to the prison
The next day Mr.. Vaux requested all
the Inspectors to be in attendance at the
Penitentiary, and also invited number of
literary men, including Louis A. Cooley
and Morton McMichael, to participate in
the tour of inspection. The distinguished
stranger was shown every portion of the
admirably arranged structure; everything
was thrown open to him, as he frankly
confesses in his 'sNotes." When the tonr
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 were addressed to Matthew
L. Bevan, the venerable President of the
Board of Inspectors "NIr. Bevan," he
said, "of all the public institutions have
visited, this is the only one where the re-
lions of the governors to the governed APP
pear to be those of parent to child" What
can be thought of the sincerity of man
who could give strong testimony to the
commendable character of the Eastern
penitentiary system and then afterward
revile it in public print,
Nor was this all. Mr.. Eevan, I should
explain, was man overlooking with the
milk of human kindness. He was as EN-.
inent in his day as Stephen Girard was in
his. While not possessed of any particu-
lar knowledge beariEg upon the cares and
custody of criminals, he entered into the
the duties of his Office from single desire
to do good TO his fellow men. He said to
Mr.. Dickens that he felt deeply gra.ifed
by the words that he had uttered that the
Inspectors endeavored earnestly to do what
was best for the unfortunate people placed
in THAR oh rrxa tbat ,,af,,ralI r 80