The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-12-10

One OF the boys belonging to the prison choir
who, by the way. is an asprant for vocal honors
| requested the teacher to let him sing a solo
titled, "Some Day I'll Wander Back Again." but
it was suggested by u member that he had better
| sing it farewell piece when his time comes to
60 out.
Two new arrivals we're given the job of knock
ing to pieces the old bath house boiler that lies
out in the back yard. They found it excellent ex-
ercise for their long disused muscles. but it was
noticed that as the shades of approaching night
came on they changed hands with the hammer at
nearly every stroke.
Since the Russell Sage affair in New York,
Usher Sibbitts is very nervous. He regards every
one with suspicion who enters his Office with any
thing in hand that might possibly be bomb in
disguise. His hair grows perceptibly whittier every
day. However, as a precaution. he keeps all his
gate receipts within easy reach and modifying
smile always on tap.
The following prisoners were received during
the week: From st. Louis county one, grand lar.
ceny second degree, years and months; Free
born county two. forgery and grand larceny, 5
years each; Wilkin county three, two for burglary
and grand larceny. 2years and months each.
and one for months, same charge; Meeker
county one months for forgery.
The ladies of the Congregational church will
hold fair Friday afternoon and in the evening
will serve a sumptuous feast. All who eat are in.
vted to attend accompanied by their wives and
pocket.books. Strangers. unless identified by re-
sponsible parties. will be expected to pay in ad-
vance. Broad-gauge spoons will be given as
checks at the cloak room. For further particulars
inquire of Mr.. e. Mcclellan.
Congratulations among the members of the
New England colony seem to be in order. They
are jubilant because Steward Benner complied
with the time honored custom of serving the
Bostonese pulse Sunday morning-the day set
apart by the Pilgrim papas for the bean sacrifice.
We understand that the Emersons and Longfel.
lows Of the colony are to forward letter of in.
quiry to Boston's keeper Of the archives. in order
to find out if Steward Benner's ancestors had
their tickets punched with care on board the
"Mayfiower."
Contributors should not think, because their
contributions do not appear in the paper the week
they send them in, that the waste basket has
swallowed the fruits of their labor 1t is true the
basket is given a morsel in a while, but it is
always grudgingly bestowed. AS recent con-
tributor says. the waste basket is not a very en-.
coura ging thing to write for, but some one else
has said it has saved many PERSONS reputation.
1t may be little consolation to some to know
that the editor throws more Of his own than any
other writer's matter in the waste basket.
TO the question of last week us to how many
shoe pegs, one-tenth of an inch square by five
eighths of an inch long. there were in the 1000
cords of wood made into pegs in this country
every year, of the ''fgerers'' answers 49, $780,
44O, 000," and adds: Suppose that it takes 200
pegs to a SHOE they will peg SS.473,75O pairs Of
shoes. 1t would take one man, working 80 days
per year, ten hours day, pegging pair of shoes
| every hour, 2S,54O years to up this number of
pegs" We fear the poor pegger would peter out"
before the last peg was pounded into place.
We have had the plumber with us a couple Of
days this week. The plumber in prison is up to
| all the tricks of his free brethren He came in
the morning. and. after disconnecting the steam
pipes. left pile of wrenches. tongs, etc.. in the
middle of the floor and then went away leaving
us to freeze. In the evening he returned. and
after hammerng and twisting the pipes for a
while. left just enough undone to make it neces-
sary for him to come again next day. The plumb
er may have justifable cause for his peculiar
methods, but he deigns to let the laity into
the secret.
Foreman Sullivan is not such hard man as
strangers. who hear him called "Sheetiron" Sui
Ivan. might imagine him to be. He got the
"Sheetiron" attachment In this way: At one time
there were two foremen named Sullivan. To dis
tinguish one from the other in speaking of them,
the foreman of the shop where the sheet iron
work was done was at first designated as Mr.
Sullivan of the sheet iron shop. After a while he
became "Sheetiron Shop" Sullivan. This was
| rather too long name, so, in time. the shop"
was dropped out and he became simply and per.
maEently 'Sheetiron'' Sullivan.
Our assistant engineer came within an inch of
having his skull shattered the other day. While
oiling the engine Immediately beneath where the
governor balls go merrily around, he forgot where
he was and Strengthened up. When he came
| to himself he discovered hole about an inch
and a half long in the center of his scalp. As we
said, he came within an inch of loosng his life,
for had he raised an inch higher of the swiftly
whirling balls would have struck him blow with
the force of a sixteen pound sledge hammer swung
in the air. AS it was, only the end of the rod run.
ming through the ball scraped his head. They say
he bows very TOW whenever he goes into
| the presence of the governor.