The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-02-25
Important Questions.


''Where shall gO?" and "What shall
do?" are two questions that must be an
swered by US all when we make our exit
from these walls-if we have not already
answered them before that time arrives. If
we have not, then we will find ourselves in
a sorry plight indeed. for if we have no
fixed destination or purpose we will be too
liable to drift wherever our fancy dictates
l am inclined to think that the cause of
many being again brought to grief is their
tiOns before the day of their departure from
prison arrives. We should bear in mind the
fact that our future depends more or less on
how we answer these questions. 1t will not
do to postpone the answering of them till
the moment we don the citizens garb. We
cannot afford to answer such weighty ques-
tiOnS without due consideration. In order
to give these questions sound answer we
must consider many things that on first
thought might seem very trifllng. but on
more careful study they may prove to be of
vastly more Importance than they at first
seemed.
In the first place. where should an ex-
convict go? Dexter said In his article
few weeks ago that the place to look for
lost article was where you dropped it, This
is very we'll in its way; but as regards
character" one is not forced to look for
that where it was lost; or, to speak more
correctly, we can never recover lost repu-
tatiOn. the structure of which must be re.
built, even to the foundation. So would
say, if the influences of the place where you
have lost your character tend to lead you
again into by-paths, then avoid the place
altogether and 60 where you will not be
surrounded on every side by those tempta-
tiOns which you knOw are your real weak
ness. You will find that by avoiding the
danger as much as possible you will be
gaining strength, and as time rolls on these
temptations will become much less than
when you started out.
One thing especially you should avoid as
far as lies in your power. and that is ''Old
associates" However innocent your de-
sires for seeing some of your old compan-
ions may be, it will in large number of
cases prove to your disadvantage and very
likely to your sorrow. So give these mat
tiers their full share Of consideration, let
them do service as guides in directing you
to place where the atmosphere is more
cOngenial to one who has desire to do
right. 1t is very foolish to entertain the
idea that you can go right back to the scene
of your disgrace and build up your shattered
character without suffering from the same
influences that caused your fall. for these
very same influences will have even more
effect than they formerly had. OF course
there are. no doubt, many who could re-
turn to the scenes of their past misdeeds.
and dispite the disadvantages and obstacles
to be surmounted. regain or rebuild their
character; but the majority, [ fear, need
something to lean on. and it would be much
wiser if they avoided the scenes of their
downfall. especially if they occurred in
large cities.
AS for the other question. ''What shall
do?" 1 will leave to the reader to decide, as
he must necessarily do, each one for him.
self, and the more consideration he gives
the matter, the better for him. 1t is not
my intention to give these questions an an
swer. but merely to place them before the
reader and let each individual answer them
for himself, as also am endeavOring to do.
FRANCIS.