The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-04-09

dent of the problems of penOlOgy. Its
progress has been both commensurate and
in full accord with its original aims. Start
ing from the already recognized principle
that occupation should usurp the sway of
next step was to effect united occupation
of the head and hand, union of mental
and physical effort, and practical applica-
ton of present advantages with view to
future usefulness.
The fulcrum of the lever by which the
varied machinery of the RefOrmatOry is con-
trOlled is located Oh the guard room floor.
Hther enter all cOmers, whether voluntary
or by stress of circumstances; hence emanate
all orders of the higher authority, and here
center all operations of an executive or
disciplinary character. The general offices
of the institution, outside the entrance. are
supplemented by the guard room Offices.
where all the records of the institution are
kept in detail, and where force of dozen
inmate clerks are kept constantly busy
with the work they have to do. From the
system of keeping the books there is no
difficulty in turning at once to any portion
of the record of any inmate past or present.
In each mans biographical register is re
corded his name. his age. his antecedents
and those of his family as far as they have
been learned; his peculiarities. physical,
mental and moral, as at once apparent or
developed after admission, his progress
through the different stages of his stay, his
first steps in his fresh start on the outside
again. and more or less of the particulars of
his subsequent career. Thus it will be seen
what busy place the guard room Office
must be.
Every able bodied inmate, with few nec-
eSsary exceptions, is a member of the mill.
tary organization. The military feature of
the ReformatOry is new one. 1t was Or
ganized in 1888 in order to occupy the time
of the men and for purposes of exercise,
when labor ceased under the operation of
the Yates law of that year. When labor was
resumed, the military was found to have
developed into such valuable discipln-
ary adjunct that the organization was con-
tinued, and it remains one of the most use
full as we'll as the most interesting features
of the institution. The regimental roster
at present contains the names of S57 men.
The regiment comprises ten companies,
each of which has captain. first lieuten
ant and two second lieutenants. besides the
usual non commissioned officers. With the
exception of the colonel, all the officers of
the regiment are inmates either parOled or
otherwise. Two afternoons in the week
have been set apart for special military in
structOn. and there is dress parade every
evening when the weather is not too inclem-
ent In addition to this, monthly COM
petitive drill is held. In lieu of rifles,
wooden guns, trimmed with iron and
painted to counterfeit as nearly as possible
the real article, have been manufactured in
the trades school. An invaluable adjunct
to the military is the band. This feature
fxuo fu. iprnoto tnncioionc
Occasional concerts are given, much to the
delight of the inmates, and to the apparent
pleasure of others who may be present. 1t
is noticeable that not only is the general
bearing of the men improved by military
discipline, but their minds are quickened to
keep pace with their more alert action, and
habits of more prompt obedience are en-
cOuraged.
Now we come to the department of phys
ical culture. 1t is scarcely more than year
since this department of the RefOrmatOry
was fully inaugurated, The erection of the
physical training building has provided for
such an enlarged scope of this feature that
the department has assumed a prominence
which is hardly second to any other in the
RefOrmatOry work. Provided for this work
is series OF baths which are equal in their
general utility to those in the best athletic
clubs in the country. In the baths, mas
sage treatment is resorted to under the per.
sOnal supervision of the instructor, and the
general treatment is often regulated accord
ing to the demands of special cases.
Measurements and tests are made period
ically, during the course of treatment, and
an accurate record is kept of each mans
physical development. There has been
uniform improvement among all the men,
berS of the classes thus far assigned to this
department. and the general results of the
treatment have been so exceedingly satis-
factory that it will no doubt retain it's pres
ent important position among the formative
influences of the Reformatory.
If the departments were to be considered
in the order of their Importance. the sduca-