Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24

pile of masonry. A building LOIS feet in
length, surmounted by 16 towers, and re-
heved along its front By numerous long
grated windows, save in the center, where a
handsome stone residence stands forth and
relieves the monotony of the architecture.
This is the Western Penitentiary, at River
side, as seen from the outside.
Touch an electric button at the deep stone
portal and walk up short flight of steps.
There is a clanking of great lock and a
swinging open of heavy iron door, You
find yourself in large, lofty hall, tile
foored, and furnished with few chairs and
benches and table or two. These things
are almost lost in the vastness of the
place.
Over a Thousand Gloomy Tombs.
On either side are immense iron lattices,
through which you may see into the cell
blocks, where altogether there are 1,200
cells. In the north wing the cells are some
8 feet by s, and in the south considerably
larger Each cell in the south wing has a
grated window as well as the grated door,
The latter is the only means of light in the
north. Facing the door by which you enter
is another that leads into the yard, where
the workshops are.
"Come in, gentlemen" saws Mr.. Stewart,
the steward, land we will walk through the
shops"
The silence of the place, that oppresses
you as soon as you have passed the front
door and are in the great reception hall, is
hardly broken, even when you have crossed
the cheerful yard, where grass grows as
green as outside, and where well-kept gravel
H. II Of 1otr ot+ ha1 10
private residence.
''The boys call this Boston Common, I"
saws Mr.. Stewart "There is no Bunker
Hill Monument, certainly, but we have to
do without that We cannot have every
thing in prison. These different avenues
about the ward are called Fourth and Fifth
avenues, Wylie avenue, and SO forth. Over
there is Gretna Green, although we never
have any marriages here. But it does no
harm to give tanciful names to our quar-
terS"
Making the Best of the Situation.
These pleasantries of Mr.. Stewart may be
taken as the keynot of the spirit that pre-
walls in the Western Penitentiary. While
the discipline is strict, there is disposition
TO make the prisoners feel that they are not
entirely lost or shut out from human SYM
pathy, although they have found their
way into place of punishment.
Into brick building, with many wine
dows, and busy scene is found. The men
are making mats, rugs and mating for
sisles and large rooms generally. There is
q whirl of machinery, and long line Of
power looms is seen down each side of the
long room, allowing room Tor officers and
workmen to pass down the middle. Every
one is at work. The men, save for their
striped clothing, might be taken for work
men in any ordinary shop outside. Even
the distinction of dress does not prevail in
all cases. A system introduced by Warden
Wright some time ago provides for the men
being divided into three grades, and those
in the first two do not wear stripes, but
clothes OF gray cloth such as they could ap-
pear in anywhere without exciting remark.
When a prisoner is admitted ne is put into
the regulation stripes. He wears this dress
for six months. Ii at the end OF that time
his prison record is clear he is moved to
higher grade, and dressed in the plain gray.
Good Conduct HIS lis Eeward.
He is also taken out of the narrow cell he
occupied in the north wing, aud removed
TO a larger one in the south, besides being
granted other little privileges not incon-
sis;ent with his position as a prisoner. 1t
is pleasing to note what a large proportion
wear the plain gray. Should he TALL from
grace in any way he is put back into the
third grade, and once more compelled to
wear the stripes
We walk through the shop and note the