Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-27
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\ Cnriens study From the Pen of srs
Kate Peet aud Patriot

\ Cnrie1s study From the Pen of sra
Kate Peet aud Patriot
he Life, Poems, and Speeches OF
JOHN Boyle oReilIy contain the sub.
joined, which was found among his
manuscripts;
One meets strange characters in prison.
characters which Sre at once recognized
as being natural 10 the place. rs are bats
or owls TO cave. Prison characters, like
ell Others. are seen by differelt men in
different lights For instance. visitor
pass ng along corridor, and glancing
through the iron gates or observation
holes of the cells, sees only the quiet
and, TO him. sullen looking convict. with
all the crime suggesting bumps largely
developed on his shsven head. The
same man will be looked upon by the
officer who has charge of him as one Of
the best, most obedient. and industrious
OF prisoners. which conclusion he comes
to ty a closer acquaintance than that Of
the visitor: although his ob,ervations
are still only of exteriors No man sees
the true nature of the convict but his
fellow convict He looks at him with q
level glance and sees him in common
atmosphere. However conv.cts deceive
their rison officers and chaplains, which
they do in the majority Of cases, they
never deceive their fellows
was convict in an Eagish prison
fours ago, and before the impressions
then received are weakened or rubbed
out by time it may be of interest to re-
call few "reminiscences. FIRST let me
remove all fears of those who are think
ing that where they at least expect it
they have fallen among thieves. was
not in the true sense of the word @
criminal, although classed with them
and treated precisely the same as they
were. My offense against the law was
political had been soldier in n cav
airy regiment, and had been convicted
of being repub lean and trying to
make other men the same; and so, in
the winter of 1867, it came about that
occupied cell 80. in pentagan g. Mill
bank Prison. London, ON the iron barred
door of which cell hung small white
card bearing this inscription, @John
Boyle OReilly. 20 years.
Some people would think il strange
that i should still regard that celI-in
which spent nearly year of solitary
confinement-witl affection; but II il
true. Man is domestic animal, and to
prisoner with go years" ON his door,
the cell is home. look back with fond
regard to great many cells and a great
many prisons in England and Australia,
which are associated to my mind in a
way not to be wholly understood by any
one but myself. And if ever should
go back to England (Which is doubtful.
for 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. Re-
member, my name and many a passing
thought are scratched and written on
many small place within those cells,
which perfectly we'll recollect. and it
would be a great treat to go back some
day and read them. And then, during
the time / was in prison, / got ac-
quainted with thousands of professional
criminals, old an young. and will be
the occupants of the English jails for
the next 20 years; and confess il would
be of great interest to me to go back and
walk the corridor with all the brimming
respectability of visitor, aud stop when
j saw face l knew of old. and observe
how time and yillainy had dealt with It