davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26
ILLINOIS REFORMATORY BILL.

Comment was made in last weeks issue
on the fact that bill was before the Gen.
eral Assembly of Illinois to establish a re-
fOrmatory in that state on the Elmira plan.
1t is proposed that the Reform School at
Pontiac be utilized as the reformatOry, the
prisoners to be divided into two depart
ments; the first to include males between
the ages of ten and sixteen years, the Sec
Ond to include males between the ages of
sixteen and thirty years. Thus it may be
seen that the Illinois Reformatory will diff
fer in two respects from similar institutions
in other states; a. it will have two depart
ments, (2) it will handle younger class of
criminals.
We have been favored with copy of the
bill by gentleman we'll Informed upon
prison matters, and he says that he hopes
they will put the measure through, as such
an institution is much needed in that state
Section fifteen of the bill is noted as open
to criticism on the ground that "you cannot
increase mans punishment after he re-.
ceives sentence" as this section of the bill
provides. The section reads as follows:
The board of managers shall have power to
transfer temporarily to the penitentiary of the
proper district any prisoner who, subsequent to
his committal, shall be shown to their satisfaction
to have been, at the time of his conviction, more
than thirty years of age. or to have been previ-
ously convicted of crime; and may also transfer
any apparently ncorrigible prisoner. whose pres.
n he Of atOrv 70 no
detrimental to the well being of the institution
And such managers may. by written requisition.
require the return to the reformatory of any per-
son who may have been so transferred. Each
prisoner so transferred to the penitentary shall
be held therein at hard labor and subject to all
the rules and discipline of said pententiary, for
the full maximum term provided for the crime of
which he was cow icted unless recalled to the re-.
formatory, as herein provided by the board of
managers.
We are not we'll enough versed in the law
to say whether actions taken under the
provisions of the quoted section would be
legal or not, but it appears to us that they
would be unjust. The bill provides else
where that sentence to the reformatory
shall be indeterminate; that u.s. man may
be held in the reformatory for the maxi
mum term provided by law for the crime of
which he was convicted or may be released
at the expiration of the minimum. Now
suppose man had been sentenced to the
reformatOry for crime the maximum term
for which was twenty years and the mini
mum five years. The degree of his guilt
and his record were such as to entitle him
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26
TO THE PUBLIC.

TEE PRISON MIRROR is weekly paper pub
lished in the Minnesota state prison. All matter
published in its columns is contributed by the
inmates. except that properly credited. Its sup
port must come from the outside as every inmate
Is given paper without cost. 1t is published in
the interest Of the prison library and after paying
for the printing outfit, contributed $3.50 to the
library fund the first year. Its objects to en-.
courage individual intellectual effort, provide a
healthy journal for the inmates of this and other
PRISONS and. above all. to acquaint the outside
world with the needs of the prison by rejecting
its inner life and thus aid the cause of moral ad-
vsncement and prison reform.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

There is no doubt of the existence of
many evils in the convict lease system of
the southern states, but they are mostly
due to MANS inhumanity to man." If
those who have the personal supervision of
the cOnvicts are conscientious the life of the
convicts is not any more disagreeable than
it would be under any other system. Col.
James, lessee of the Louisiana penitentiary,
seems to be an exception to the average
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

Mr.. A. w. Berggren has resigned from the
wardenship of the Joliet penitentiary. His
successor has not yet been named. He re-
signed to accept the more congenal position
of President of the Covenant Mutual Ben
eft Association of the Independent Order
of Odd. Fellows. with headquarters at
Galesburg. ILL.,, at a salary of SIS, 900 a
year.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

1t is commonly believed that the ''nickel
in the slot" machine is product of our
modern inventive age, but such is not the
case. Ancient history describes machine
that sat by the entrance of Egyptian temples
more than two thousand years ago in which
the wOrshiper dropped his coin and received
the lustral water wherewith to sprinkle
himself before entering the place of wor-
ship.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

THE MIRROR takes pride in adding to its
exchange list the st. Joseph Daily Gazette,
of St. Joseph. Mo. The Gazette is an old
time favorite of ours and it is pleasure to
meet it again after an elapse of fifteen
years. 1t helped us to while away many
an idle hour in the dull days of grasshopper
times.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

Leave your firearms at home when you
60 to Louisiana, for even burglar was
given life in the penitentiary down there
the other day for being caught with gun
in his possession.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

A man was arrested in town down in
rOh.Kansas the other day for winking in
front of drugstore; and an Iowa prohibit
Zionist had the shoemaker arrested for MAX
ing his boots tight.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26
A Satisfactory Explanation.

what did Miss Leftover do when she
awOke and found the burglar in her room
scream?"
mot much. She transfxed him with
her cold. gray eye, pointed to the door, and
Kissed: Leave mep"
what did the burglar dO?"
HE explained that he had no notion of
taking her."-Puck
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

The Carpenters and BARRIERS associations
of st. Paul met in joint convention after dark
Monday to "grind axes'' and exchange
"sawS."
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

The man who is long time making up
his mind, may arrive at correct judgment;
but it is generally too late to be of any use
to him.-Puck.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-26

Hash. like the politician, is all things to
all men.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
A RUSSIAN RAsTILE.
The Terrible Prison OF SchlusseT-
burg. Where Even the Guards are
Prisoners.

The Terrible Prison OF SchlusseI-
burg. Where Even the Guards are
Prisoners.
Some fifty miles from st. Peters
burg upon the lake OF Ladoga there is
small granite island, entirely
occupied by q fortress. says Free
Russia 1t is Schlusselburg, the
dreadful prison OF state-worse than
the French Bastile, worse than the
fortress OF st. Peter and st. Paul,
with it's Troubetzkoi and AIeneevsy
ravelins and its underground cells.
The most resolute OF the revolution
lists, men and women who have taken
part in active conspiracies, whom it is
not considered sale to keep i'm the
fortress OF st. Peter and st. Paul, are
sent here.
The absence OF any inhabitants
except those employed in the service
renders it possible to isolate the
prisoners to degree unattainable
anywhere else. No one is allowed to
land upon the island Sentinels have
orders to shoot any one who APP
proaches. II the near relatives of n
prisoner inquire concerning him at
the police department in st. Peters
burg they are sometimes told "Alive"
or "Dead," sometimes no an.
swer is given. The soldiers and guards
are themselves prisoners, who mingle
only with each other and are carefully
watched on the rare occasions when
they are allowed to make visit to
the mainland. 1t was possible to es.
tablish secret communications with
even the most jealousy guarded rave
Inns Of the st. Petersburg fortress. But
the fortress OF Schlusselburg remained
dumb, like the grave It is.
The journal continues: Though
some OF the best known men OF the
revolution party, in whom the great
est interest was felt among the whole
body oil. revolutionists, were kept here
we rarely could even tell whether they
were alive or dead. A fewmonths ago,
however, ourfriends in Russia received
some news from this place OF endless
misery. 1t is very brief-only such as
can be conveyed upon n bit of paper
struggled with the greatest danger
through some friendly hand. It mere
ly tells which Of the prisoners are dead
and which are still alive. But even
this summary is eloquent enough.
We learn from it that out OF the fifty
two prisoners sent there in the course
OF the last eight years 20, or about 40
per cent, are already dead. Several
OF those who survive should be added
to the list of the dead. They are in
sane, and have lost what is as prec-
ious, il not more precious, to man
than life.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
AT THE BEND OF THE ROAD.

At the bend ofthe road you waved your
hand
A token and sign of last adieu,
And the twilight fell on lonely land,
And over my soul a sorrow new;
And you tnrned into the world from me
Who watched you with eyes whose hot
tears flowed,
The cruel world which could not see
That just begins at the bend OF the road.
And a trouble dropped on the silent land
With the darkness unstrayed by moon
or star,
For my hope and my love, and the light,
hand IN hand,
Followed you into the future afar.
Followed Won iain as the heart that sent,
The heart that fingered beneath its load
As into the great wide world you went,
The world that begins AT the bend of the
road.
Tonight at the bend of the road | stand,
And year has flown and many day,
And the twilight falls on lonely land,
For my love and the light and my hope
delay;
hear the far sound OF forgetful strife,
And fear forlorn doth my soul torebode.
What hast thou done with my lover, my
lite,
oworld that begins at the bend of the
road
A. W. BELLAw in Detroit Free Press.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
a Seed Bed.

A good seed bed Is Of the first i'm.
portance in securing n crop Of winter
wheat. The work Of preparation must
be done with thoroughness and care,
for winter wheat cannot be cultivated
advantagcously after sowing, as after
that time the soil should be kept as
compact as possible, in order to allow
the water to run on the surface rath-
er than sink into the soil. The more
water the soil holds, the more it will
expand during winter freezing, throw
ing out the young plants
The great point to be secured is n
fine, loose surface, not more than one
or two inches in depth, with a well
compacted soil underneath. Under
such conditions the wheat plant will
grow bettert than on richer soil which
has loos6r texture. TO such com
pact soil the mineral fertilizers espec-
ially adapted to wheat, such as phos-
pilates, may be advantageously ap-
piled, making good the deficiency OF
mineral matter removed by cultiva-
ton.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
SMALL THINGS OF LIRE.
tnfluencsof Minor Currents IN tho
Shaping of Our Destiny

tnfiueneoof Minor Currents IN tho
Shaping Of Our Destiny
A san Francisco millionaire IN the
St, Louis Globe Democrat says: Ten
years ago I stood without a nicklc in
my pocket outside OF restaurant
door in san Francisco. was indule.
ing in an optical feast and wondering
how all thosegood things in the window
would taste Il they wcrc sliding down
my hungry palate. / was trying to
think how could got the pr,ce Of q
meal, honestly or dishonesty, Il mat
tered little. Before had ey olved a plan
OF notion n prospcrons.looking man
who was Tipping u hnlt.dollnr in his
hand dropped it through an iron
grating and It fell into the subway be.
low. He gave an almost unconcerned
glance in the direction the coin had
gone and then walked away. II was
a grounding case for me and de.
termined to secure that coin; so
walked into the restaurant and asked
the proprietor II | might retrive n So
gold piece which had dropped into
the cellar. He replied, Certainly,
and gave me Ratchet with which ]
might remove n wooden bar that had
been nailed across the door leading
from the basement to the opening un'
der the CRATE. There was much litter
and dirt down there, and in search
ing for the coin found many Others,
which had been dropped in n similar
way. cleaned up IS from that drift,
an amount sufficient to completely
dwarf an able-bodied appetite. secure
clean shirt, and n proportlonate
amount of selt-esteem and reliance.
visited men OF influence whom ] had
not sufficient courage TO visit before,
and have not been seriously insol'
vent since that time. Thus you may
see on what q slender thread often
hangs a chance in life"
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
BEAUTY IN DISTRESS.

She Had 70 Pull Up Her St-ek-nn
and some Horrld Men Laughed,
Excuse me moment" said a very
bright and pretty young woman the
other afternoon during stroll alops
State street with reporter, and She
vanished forthwith into the door 81
ladies hair-dressing establishment
She was out again in a moment, how.
ever, and natural curiosity prompted
the inquiry;
"What did you rush in their SO sud.
denly iorl"
"Well, II you must ask, went in 10
pull up my stocking, sit became un.
fastened.
Usual occurrence
mot very frequent, but it will han.
pen sometimes, and il is most en-.
barrassing, not tosay uncomfortable
plight for a girl TO be in when She is On
the street There are so few places
you see, where she can 20 and be g.
cure from the prying eyes OF men.
1T 5 a wonder my accident happen.
ed right where il did, for | shouldhaye
been miserable company Tor YOU till /
could have repaired the damage, and
\ should have hated you and every man
in sight most acutely all the time. lis
| all right 10 say one might step into d
| stairway entrance or something.
Some man would come upon you as
sure rs you did.
why, had the Awiullcst time one
day down in the Rookery building i'm.
aginable. Id been up 10 nm office full
OF men on some business, and Just as
came out into the hall my garter
fastening slipped. aud there / WAS.
| silk hose have "A tendency 10 contract
ABOUT as great as rubber band Well,
sauntered around that floor for a
quarter oil an hour looking for
some secluded nook, but every time
| I'll spy a prospective place a door
would open and some spyingma pop
out.
u was getting desperate when saw
I IA door slightly ajnr and glaucing IN
noticed that the office was empty. |
stepped hurrivdly inside, closed tha
/ door and not thinkingoi the window,
pulled the stocking tAut and fastened
! Il securely. When | had finished
I happened TO look over my shoulder,
and there, 10 my horror. we're three
/ good.tOr.uothing, lowdoWn, impudcu,
clerks hanging out OF their window
and laughing like 40 many gibhcriug
idiots ! could have killed them.
1T 5 all right Tor you men, coniiu
ned the fair victim oi the woes OF hel
sex attire. "li "a button break. 81
anything happens 10 your clothe.
you've always saloon door into
which you can dive for repairs and
subsequent consolation. Chicago
Times.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
Saved by Hons.

II nm estimate could be made OF the
amount OF food picked up by the hens
and converted into eggs and meat,
says an exchange, it would be quite n
large proportion. What the hens so.
care in their search over the farm is
just what would be wasted and lost.
On all farms large amounts OF grains,
grass seeds, and other foods find their
way into the barn yard, there TO rot,
to say nothing ofthe amounts shaken
out and left with the stubble in the
fields. The sharp eyes OF the hens dis
cover this loss, and save it to the own
err by producing eggs. The hen is n
scayenger, and needs only the oppor.
tunity to procure the greater share
Of her food to do so. The greatest
mistake made in feeding the hens too
much, instead Of compelling them to
scratch and exercise, thus promoting
their health.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
pure Air. pure MIX.

Pure air is indispensable for pure
milk, says Professor Stewart in Prac.
teal Farmer. have known milk to
be spelled by the odor acquired from
a mess OF decayed turnips in cellar
under a COW stable. The air breathed
into the lungs Of course comes into
contact with the blood which passes
through the abundant blood vessels
in these organs, and any impurity OF
the air is thus taken into the blood
and goes from thence to the milk. The
air, too, which comes into contact
with the milk in the dairy is crowded
with minute organisms which are
floating everywhere, and which falling
into it at once terminate and grow
and increase with great rapidity.
These produce the same results IN milk
as they do in blood OF an animal. In
their growth they decompose % part
OF the milk and leave waste product
which is illfavored and often poison
GUS. At least some are known to do
this. know that the red fungus
sometimes appearing upon the cream
in damp, unventilated cellars and
milk houses gives o bitter taste TO the
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
A TRAINED FROG.
He VIII Fetch Match Sticks For the
Natatorlun Employees.

He VIII Fetch Match Sticks For the
Natatorlum Employees.
While draining the water out OF the
tank at the natatorium, on South
Broad street, onoday carlyin the sea-
son one OF the attaches came across
large bulfrog calmly quatting on the
bottom OF the tank, blinking its eyes
in n perfectly contented way. Inc
stranger, which had probably made
its debut through the supply pipe, was
quickly captured and incarcerated in
temporary cage ilnprovised from an
old cgar-box More elaborate ana
comfortable quarters were speedily
built for the frog, and he was made y
pet of by Prof Payne and his corps 81
attendants. Nat, as the Intelligent
amphibian is called, haslearned many,
cute tricks. After the last patron o.
the bath has left and the place IS
closed Tor the night Nat is given the
freedom Of the tank for few minutes
before the water is drained OIL JIG
has learned to dive after and ''fetch
match-sticks thrown into the water
by the attendants. lie has also gainea
considerable celebrity as q jumper,
having on-one occasion cleared . ieeb
2 inches, and is backed by Mr.. Payne
TO outjump any other frog, wild OF
civilized. Philadelphia Record
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
How About Thls7

An agricultural paper publishes n
statement Of q sheep raiser that he
places bells, all Of different and dis
cordant tones, on about one sheep in
every eight or ten in his flock, and has
never been troubled with predatory
dogs, during the Ia years since he
adopted the plan, The supposition
IS that the horrid discord keeps the
ours ut bay.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19
Singers and KIckers.

Singing at objects by the roadside Is
bad habit in horses. and one which
is made worse by harshness. Keep
sharp lookout and straight rein,
and pull them TO a standstlll every
time they shy, IS as good way as
any to cure them.
Horses that are afraid OF the ears
are doubly dangerous as no one can
travel at all without coming in con.
tact with the cars. The way to break
horses to the cars is not 10 drive
them in n carriage "A near to them
AS possible and then punish them with
the whip to make them stand still,
but rather get them kept a night or
two right close TO the railroad. where
they can see the cars a dozen times u
day, and they will get so accustomed
to them that they can be driven by
the cars with perfect safety. II n
horse is kicker have n strong over,
drawn check attached to bit, have
another strong strap fastened to the
check rein back to the rump, pass
through n ring, then divide and hasten
to the shafts on either side Then
get in and drive. The moment tho
animal tries to rise up behind he
tightens the strap and gives his mouth
tremendous yank, and in ordinary
cases this will break him,-Horse and
Stable.
Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19

than my life. WANTED to die when
thought had lost you forever"
ado not try to deceive me, Wini-
fred" he said, Incredulously. "You
have outraged my love; go, and leave
me in peace"
You are cruel Philip" she cried,
passionately clasping his two hands
in hers. II was careless and thought
less, perhaps; but loved youl Oh,
my darling, forgive me, will you not?
There is no happiness for me in the
wide world without your
"How can believe you, Winifred?"
he said sadly; you were faithless
once. While you were cheating me
with promises to become my wife, you
meant to marry another man. |
know all, Winifred. 1t was revealed
to me by chance; one OF Harmer Ter
rvs letters fell into my hands"
There is some mistake, Philip" she
said i'll a perplexed way. Let us I'M
| derstand each other. swear to you
| never received letter from Mr..
Terry in my life"
"My coat is in that closet, Wini-
fred" he said quietly. ''rhere is a
piece of paper in the inside pocket.
Bring it to me.
She obeyed him. 1t was crumpled
and defaced by the rain, but as
he smoothed it out light broke over
her countenance, and she slipped her
arm around his neck
THAT letter is not mine, Philip. 1t
belonged to my mother, My fathers
name was Harry. See, there is his
initial. She gave me all her love-let-
tiers when she died, and have
kept them all. On the other
side of this sheet, which is
torn off, you see, there was
a beautiful little poem, which pa
pa wrote when he was quiteyoung.
promised to copy it for Mrs. Leary
one day. / remember that when | had
finished could not find the rest OF
the letter. 1t must have blown out OF
the window And you found it, Philip.
You thought 1t was mine? Oh, my
darling, often tritled with you, and
gave you a great deal of pain, but
could not be so base as to deceive
yOu!"
Her arm frightened about his neck,
her eager, tender eyes looked into his
with the light OF truth; he could not
doubt her, and he clasped her to his
heart.
you were true to me, Winifred, /"
he murmured. Thank God"
81 can understand how the letter
misled you," she said, at length, when
his last doubt had faded away, and
loving confidence had been enthrown-
ed in it's place. My grandfather
tried to compel mamma to marry a
nephew OF his whom he particularly
favored, but for whom she herself
entertained not the slightest affection.
Papa himself was secretly engaged to
her, and wanted her to marry him
clandestinely; but she dreaded my
grandfather's wrath. Finally how.
ever she did elope with him. Ny
grandfather never forgave her. He
left all his money to the nephew
whom she Tilted. This letter is one
that papa wrote her before he had
obtained her consent to their mar
riage. You might have seen, Philip
that the paper was yellow and
old"
81 was too blind with jealousy, ,
he confessed. II was much to blame
myself darling"
II will never give you an opportun
ity OF doubling me again, Philip" sh,
said, gravely.
"Will you give me the best proc
OF your intention, Winifred?" h,
asked. "Will you marry me il
, October"
"If nothing else will satisfy you,
she said blushing. ain October | vii
marry you-yes."