The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-01-29

Cu0y WOulU uOG W 80 TodOy W Stdlup CIIU.
inal'' upon his brew. We all know that
behind the walls of every prison there are
many rough characters, but it should be
remembered that it is the desire of nine
tenths of the men in prison to do right and
live honest lives after they are released.
but they have everything to fight and but
little to hope for. What is needed is for
men and women to 60 right into the pris-
ons and say, look up. we will help you. but
we never see person of that knd-they
all come to see the prison, not the prison
ers. There are very few people indeed,
who can realize the desire the convict sus
tains for some little token of friendship and
encouragement from the people in the out
side world. for he has lost hope, he has
lost courage and confidence. Such thing
as good book accompanied with few
words of friendly advice has its lasting in
fluence on the convict, not from the real
good he derives from the book itself. but
for that feeling it creates within him of hope
and friendship which never dies. AS he
takes the little token in his hand and care
fully inspects it, the questions enters his
mind, us it possible have one friend
left? is there yet one who feels an interest
in my welfare? If so, l must look up,
there may be chance for me yet" Even
while downtrOdden by sin and disgrace the
messenger of hope comes to the rescue and
gently whispers, arise. Don't condemn
the convict until you investigate his past
surroundings. Some people think there is
no such thing as reforming them, but the
trouble is. they don't try. They sit down
with their hands crossed and say, ."Oh.
have no patience with the hOrrid things
And l ask, how much better would they
have been under the circumstances, if they
hoI frns ,,nd hUvU ,1>a,, f~t her -
disappearing mother, as many convict
has, to 20 out at night to steal, and been
brutally whipped if they came in without
spoils? Where would they be to-day? 1
have no time for the narrow minded, self
important man or woman who is ready to
condemn man and brand him with dis
grace forever, because he has made one lit
tie wrong move. [ only speak in favor of
those who are willing to go right out and
go to work and live honest lives. De-
liver me from the great. spOnge-f faced BOBBY
who gets into prison the second time and
puts up as his excuse, II was hungry and
could not get work." A man can better
afford to 90 fifteen days without food than
he can afford to steal it and 60 to the pen
itentiary. Let him seek diligently for
work and he will find it before he gets so
weak from hunger that he cannot work.
ALI Caat my conscience Will permit me 10
say in favor of the man who goes to prison
the second time is. when he is arraigned for
trial only hope he gets the full extent of
the law; and the legislature ought to fix a
special law for such men, where it gives a
man five years for his first offense the ex-
convict should have fifteen and then If he
is disposed to try it the third time give him
forty-fve and avoid the expense of prosecut-
ing him every little while. have no SYM
pathy for the man who proposes to make
his living by stealing. but I do sympathize
with the ex.convict who is anxious to live
an honest life; and to society 1 say in his
behalf, give him show for his life. He
is morally disabled. take him by the hand
and steady his footsteps that he may not
fall into the clutches of sin and crime
again. Don't condemn him because he is
branded with that unfortunate name sex
convict" Only lend him helping hand,
instead of casting him down, and the fruits
of your kindness will soon be realized in
the decrease of crime and in the restoration
of lost manhood. G. W. r.
Bismarck Prison, n. Oak.