The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-11-10
Chautauqua Work in Prison.
{ Written for Prison Sunda,

written for Prison Sunday.)
A stone that will fit in the wall is not left by the
Is way
Our prisons are filled with men who
have been 'left by the way and the
problem which presents itself to us, is the
reclaiming of this material for it's share
in our civilization. That many man
inside the prison walls is not so different
from his fellow man on the outside, few
will refuse to admit, especially those
who have more than once felt tempted
above that they were able" and the
spirit of human sympathy and helpful
ness which is reaching out for solution
of the prison problem is one of the hope
full signs of the times. We are slowly
but surely coming to recognize that in
all educational and refOrmatOry work
man must be dealt with as three sided
nature whose intellect, will and social
instincts alike demand recognition, and
in whom the neglect of any one of these
elements distorts the type of true man.
hood.
Hence it is that the Chautauqua Lit
erary and Scientific Circle, which aims
at this three-fold development, has in
no less than two of our large penitentia-
ries become an important agency in
the work CT reformation. The Chau-
tauqua Circle appeals, first, directly to
the intellectual powers. Said Chaplain
! ALBERT, of saltwater. "thOse who know
anything about prison life know that
its effects are deadening. 1t is cold,
gloomy, purposeless. The c. l.. S. c..
occupies the mind with other thoughts.
1t is cultivating taste for better read
ing. Better reading means better think
ing. better thinking at least an attempt
at better living" A member of the
Saltwater prison circle, in an article in
the PRISON MIRROR, entitled, ''My Ex-
perience as Chautauquan," referred to
the Indifference with which he at first
regarded the plan, feeling sure that it
would fail, and with no idea he could
receive benefit from it. and adds. Il
have become interested to a degree
wholly unlocked for. Heretofore took
but slight interest in the great ques-
tiOns of the day, but the interest awaken
ed by the Chautauqua studies has acted
as a powerful stimulus, and | have
found out, also, my lamentable igno-
rance of the fundamental principles in
vOlved in these questions"
But in the second place the Chautau-
qua Circle appeals to the prisoner on
the side of his will. He may join the
Circle or not as he chooses. He may
continue as student or may drop out
by the way. He is free agent in this
regard, and the only inducement offered
him is self-imprOvement. Said one Of
these Chautauquans, Il never read any
thing but trash. When first took up
the course it had no interest for me. |
was on the point of giving it up, but the
thought came to me that if | ever meant
to improve myself, now was the time
and so | held on. After hard struggle
| have become interested, and my taste
for this kind of reading is improving
1t often requires courage, also, on the
part of man to take his stand as
Chautauquan. By certain of his fel-
lows he is regarded as weakening"
and to the man whose moral cOnvic-
tiOns are not of the keeneSt, the ex-
preston of contempt from more posi-
tive character is a severe test.
The administration of the Circle as
conducted at saltwater is also valua-
BILE means of education. The Circle
makes it's own laws, and is it's own dis
ciplinarian. 1t receives steady encOur-
'agement from both Warden and Chap
lain, but the members understand plain
ly that the work will stand or fall as
they may elect. At the second anniver-
sary of the Circle, held in April, 1892,
the president delivered an address to
the class, and in closing said, "Let me