The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-05-15

eyes-an electric thrill of joy permeated his
veins. and he spontaneously burst out, in a
weakened, thread like voice:
There's a good time coming, boys,
There's good time coming;
We may not live to the day.
But then our little children may,
The good time coming
And so he went on detailing the signs of
the said good time" through three or four
imprOvised Stanzas. now known as ''hOuse
hold words" in every town and village in
Great Britain, and also in this country:
words which have cheered many an aching
heart and lifted many despairing soul to
a future of peace and prosperity.
And now. MY fellow sufferers in tempo
rary seclusiOn, [ desire to draw your atten-
ton to the fact that there is "a good time
coming" for each and every one of us, if we
will only help it along by our own persever-
ing efforts. No matter how low and appar-
emily hopeless our position, how impecun-
iOus and frendless our conditioner MIGHT
BE WORSE. There is a silver lining to the
darkest cloud. But our emergence from
the difficulties which now surround US are
entirely dependent on our own eXertiOns
There is no room in this world of progress
and hustle for the numerous 'MicawberS'
and ''Turveydrops'' who hang upon the
skirts OF every COMMUNICATIONS who are
eternally waiting for something to turn
up." and insisting that 1.-The world owes
them living" 1t is to their malefic influ-
ence that most of our miSereS are due.
So far as the penal institutions of our
country are cOncerned-mOre especially
those of New York, New England and the
weSt-there have been unmistakable and
tangible indications of that good time in the
increased educational advantages and the
humanitarian treatment afforded to their in
mates during the past ten years. The fact
that such publications as THE PRISON MIR
ROR and kindred productions are issued and
controlled by the inmates of these inStitu-
tiOns is practical illustration of the moral
and intellectual advancement of the much
maligned and socially Ostracised criminals.
There is. too. a marked improvement in the
treatment OF the prisoners by the high Of
ticlals in whose charge they are placed.
The men are no longer looked upon as soul
less autOmata, to be terrOriZed and bounded
to death, but they are viewed as valuable
material. damaged by past ill-usage and
corrupted surroundings, but capable, by
judciOus kindness. sound discipline and
common sense treatment, of transportation
into useful. honorable, law abiding citizens.
Drawn. as they are, from every class of the
community, the fact of their having made
one false step has not deprived them of
their manhood or of their ability to rein
state themselves in the confidence and es-
TEEN of those whose laws they have broken.
1t is worse than useless. both for the
community and for the criminal. to cry over
split milk. The past cannot be altered, but
its memory can be effaced by the efforts of
the future. That future is entirely in the
disposition of the individual himself. If,
in the past, he has suffered from defective
education, from want of trade to his
hands. from deficiency of moral courage,
he has only to avail himself of the numer-
Gus advantages now offered him in the i'm
proved regulations of the penal
open up to him new and hon
orable career. He can expedite the Good
Time Coming" and secure to himself and
his loved ones all the advantages accruing
thereto, if he will only put his own shout
der to the wheel, and anticipate instead of
waiting for outside help,
Despite the many drawbacks and discOur-
agementS which, ever and anon, crop up
from prejudiced public opinion and the
seIfishnesS, arrogance, and ignorant short
sightedness of self elected leaders of society,
the Good Time" so long hoped and waited
for is now rapidly approaching, and has
even begun. The reasoning, intelligent
portion of the public cannot shut their eyes
to the fact that many of their brightest and
most useful citizens are now behind the
bars" and that. ere long, they will emerge
from their Obscurity, and take their legiti-
mate places among their fellow citizens
adding materially to the reputation. pros
perity and progress of the communities of
which they may form part.
SPERANzA.
CharlestOwn, Mass.