The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-01-08
saltwater, Mimi. Thursday, g. 1891.

His Breath Will Melt Thermometer.
1t Is great pleasure to me to know that
there has been at least one invaluable priv
ilege bestowed upon the prisoner. by which
he can prepare himself mentally and NOR
ally to face an honest community; and
that is by introducing into many of the
prisons ChautauQua circle, which en-
ahles and encourages him to read and study
good books. know but little about the c.
L. S. c., only what have been able to
learn through the columns of THE MIRROR,
but consider it the duty of all the prison.
ers to take part and encourage the work
to the best of their ability. But it seems as
though it's object was too elevating and
mOralizing for some. only speak from a
portion of letter written by member in
the Nebraska prison. will here repeat a
few words from his own pen, which in
duced me to take up this subject: 1--WE did
not do as well last year as we ought owing
to great many going into the class not
knowing what it was. and those who would
have done good work would not Join for
fear some of the boys would say they were
getting religious" just think of it, boys,
does that not sound rather bad for us-'.for
fear some of the boys would say they were
getting religious" My dear fellow prison
ers, l must tell you that sounds rather dis.
cOuraging to those from whom wa expect
favOrs in the future. So long as we are
ready to condemn every good work which
tends to raise man up out of the death
nifc nf HicOrono on6 odofio
we expect of those who are able to help us?
If we get kicked and cutfed we get oar just
dues, it is what we asked for and what we
deserve. am not religious man, but l
speak from respect to any and all -whe- are
desirOus of living the right kind of life. l
speak from the desire l have for the ad-
vancement of all good causes. We must
all acknowledge Christianity to be one of the
greatest and nOblest objects in life, it mat.
ters not what mans circumstances are or
what station he occupies in life, if he is
true Christian and lives up to the divine
laws laid down for his guidance, who can
harm him? People may SANDER him, abuse
him, and say he is this and he is that, bat
by and by they only find they have been
spinning the cord to hang themselves. Re-
ligion is shield which no evil weapon can
penetrate, therefore if we are not disposed
age others. Show me the man so degraded
as to get up and slur his fellow prisoner be-
cause he is trying to do right and 1 will
show you man sixty degrees below zero,
and he will never reach any higher temper
ature until he dies and passes to his final
abode, and then one Whit of his breath will
melt thermometer from ring to bowl.
But if we had few more Christians and
fewer critics in our prisons they would be
far more agreeable to all than what they
are. and when we went out from behind the
prison walls we would be trusted instead of
feared; we could look forward to the time
of our release with the assurance of some
announcement from the people in the out
side world, but we must ever remember
that what man soweth he reapeth. There
ties which present themselves to you with.
out money and without price; do not stand
back because you fear some one will accuse
you of getting religious. If they do it is an
honor to you and TO your friends, and when
you meet one of our number disposed to
criticse, kindly take him by the hand and
tell him you SympathiZe with him, for
really he is to be sympathized with. for he
says by his actions that his father and
mother failed to do their duty towards him
in his childhood.
Oh! young man. do not let your example
condemn your old father and mother who
likely have been laid away to rest in peace
long years ago; likely they set Christian
example before you and taught you to re-
spect all Christian influence. If so. honor
them hereafter and respect their example
while they sleep in death; and by so doing
you honor yourself. you gain friends. and
gain the confidence and respect of everyone.
On the other hand. you only gain the friend
ship of those who can do you no good, they
have no respect for you, none tor them
seves. none for any consequently they
drag along through life of misery and
crime, criticising those who are disposed to
do right. and at last fill pauper's grave
and A demons eternitv Don't criticise