The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-04-16
What John Boyle O'Reilly Said Of His
Prisons.

Among O'Reilly's MSS. is the following
fragment, written several years ago-a GU
rious study of prison life from the inside:
One meets strange characters in prison,
characters which are at once recognized as
being natural to the place. as are bats or
owls to cave. Prison characters, like all
Others are seen by different men in differ
ent lights. For instance, visitor passing
along the corridor. and glancing through
the iron gates or observation holes of the
cells, sees only the quiet. and to him. sui.
len looking convict. with all the crime sug.
gesting bumps largely developed on his
shaven head. The same man will be looked
upon by the officer who has charge of him,
as one of the best. most Obedient. and in.
dustriOus of the prisoners. which conclusion
he comes to by closer acquaintance than
that of the visitor; although his observations
are still only of eXteriOrS. No man sees the
true nature of the convict but his fellow
convict. He looks at him with a level
glance, and sees him in common atmOs-
phere However cOnvcts deceive their
prison officers and chaplans which they do
in the majority of cases, they never deceive
their fellows.
was convict in an English prison four
years ago, and, before the impressions then
time, it may be of interest to recall few
"reminiscences. First, let me remove all
fears of those who think that where they
least expect it they have fallen among
thieves. l was not, in the true sense of
the word, criminal, though classed with
them. and treated precisely as they were.
My Otfense against the law was political. l
had been soldier in cavalry regiment,
and had been convicted of being repub-
lican. and trying to make, other men the
same; and so. in the winter of 1867, it came
about that occupied Cell 80. in PentagOn
5, Millbank Prison. London, on the iron
barred door of which cell hung small
white card bearing this inscription, John
Boyle O'Reilly. 20 years."
Some people would think it strange that
should still regard that cell-in which l
spent nearly year of solitary confinement
with affection; but it is true. Man is a
domestic animal, and to prisoner with
go years. on his door, the cell is Home. I
look back with fond regard to a great many
cells and great many prisons in England
and Australia, which are associated to my
mind in a way not to be wholly understood
by anyone but myself. And if ever should
go back to England (which is doubtful, for
l escaped from prison in Australia in 1869.
and so permanently ended the 20 years., the
first place [ would visit would be one of the
old prisons. Remember, my name and
many passing thought are scratched and
written on many small space within those
cells. which perfectly we'll recollect, and
it would be great treat to 60 back some
day and read them. And then. during the
time was in prison, got acquainted with
thousands Of professional criminals, old and
young, who will be the occupants of the
English jails for the next twenty years; and
l confess it would be of great interest to me
to go back and walk the corridor with all
the brimming respectability of visitor, and
stop when saw face knew of old. and
observe how time and villainy had dealt
with it.-Life of John Boyle O'Reilly by
James Jeffrey Roche.