The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-07-16
The Lesson Before Is.

How little we think of past warnings
when everything glides along smoothly.
We do not even pause to think. while rush
ing on toward the precipice of crime, that
there had ever been any such things as
warnings in our past. 1t is only when we
are brought to an abrupt stand still in our
mad career that we are brought to realize
our true position. 1t is then that we fully
realize what little satisfaction we have
derived from carousing around the country
with no other object than to have ''glori-
Gus time" as we term it, when we are fort
unate enough to have the price. We have
never stopped to consider where we were
going to end up. Had we but taken time
and considered the matter, we would prob
ably never have come to such place as
this. The daily examples of others folles
have been as so many warnings that have
been totally disregarded. and with what
consequences we best know. The lessons
we have failed to learn by precept and ex.
ample are being taught US now by expert
ence, that Sternest and most impressive of
teachers. Tennyson probably had pictured
in his mind some such scene as might be
painted of our own misspent time and pres
ent disgraceful position when he composed
the poem in which the following verse oc.
ours:
And others follies teach us not
Nor much their wisdom teaches;
But most of sterling worth. is what
Our own experience preaches.'
The truths contained in these few lines,
have beyond a doubt been verified by our
own individual experiences. With doctors
and dentists, it is fact beyond dispute that
a decayed tooth properly filled will outlast
sound one. 1t may not be so with human
nature. The part in which the flaw exists
will be materially weakened but if it re-
ceives proper attention before it gets beyond
control it can be made as strong as though
no flaw ever existed. But how are we to
remedy this weakness in our nature? We
certainly can never do it by waiting for
some one to do it for us, nor can we ever
hope to overcome it by persisting in such
habits as will only tend to stimulate this
weakness. If we earnestly wish to better
ourselves we must cultivate the better and
nobler qualities which we possess; for only
by doing this can we ever hope to master
our evil inclinatiOnS. The one great mis-.
take in our past is. we had no higher aim
in life than to satisfy our appetites and pas
sions. And as these constitute only the
animal portion of our being. our past has
been an utter failure. Let us. then, take
our past and present as a great lesson. and
make it special point to study out where
our weakness lies, and strive to overcome
oar evil prOpensities. The time we are
obliged to remain here will be the golden
hour for reflection. and also the golden op.
portunity for preparing ourselves to battle
against those temptations that claim to be
our masters. Do not let the opportunity
slip. Do not let the time we remain here,
be as dead letter in our life. Pursue some
instructive course Of reading; something
that will enlarge your ideas; and when the
time comes for you to leave this institution,
you will look upon the world with different
eyes than when you entered.
FRANCIS.