The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-02
Five Gents.

than l have done in the fierce struggles to
plant one foot on solid foundation. That
is all l can say about my personality.
Now, boys, there are two courses open
to you on your discharge-apart from ac-
cepting the kind offices of the prison
agency. You may either sail in clear
weather, that is to say. let everybody know
of your past. in. part or in WHOLE or shield
that past. Which are you going to do? A
certain one in your midst, so l understand,
is going to sail in clear weather-if he ever
embarkS in his light canoe from the bound
ing shore. He may have reason for that
course; but it will entirely depend on cir.
cumstances whether each one of you should
do likewise.
Probably you will find many open.
hearted, close mOuthed employers who will
give you a start. There are many such.
without doubt; but circumstances. of will
or of chance. will have to direct your steps
to them. You will find plenty of people
willing to assist you to work; but who can't
give you any. Anyway, you must keep on
in the struggles, and some day success will
crown them.
But it is hard for me to counsel you to do
one thing or another. From my own ex.
perience, l have met such contradictory
phases of human nature that a suggestion
aStray. and, perhaps. cause you in time to
come to think of me unkindly. Now. [
don't want you to do this-an unkind word
has often broken my spirits more than all
the struggles through which l have gone.
Still, would say this: If you are cOmpe.
tent to do any kind of work. by all means,
if possible. hide your past career. But ever
strive for a higher ideal of life. No matter
what interested. great hearted people may
say as to living in the open; there are peo-
ple--the big majority, toO-whO will "loOk
down. on you if they know you were once
criminal. so called. You may be as DON'T
carist as the Pyramids of Egypt as to other
folks gossip; but. believe me- boys. it will
many illustrations, both laughable and pa.
thetic. of this; but for obvious reasons,
withhold my pen).
Then, if you are not a competent work.
man, the revelation of your past life is not
going to aid you in the securement of
position, without you have some eXtraOrdi-
nary peculiarities of speech and writing.
say, that attract somebody's attention. The
labor waiting crowd is full of honest men,
and these will mostly always be preferred
to you, in case of demand
Of course these suggestions do not apply
to those who have friends whose influence
CoH OVCuIC LHClu pOSillOLs VI W IuUoO
whose positions are waiting for them on
their discharge. They apply simply to
those who are, more or less, wanderers on
the face of the earth, and who have. or will
have to follow their own noses. or seek
their own bread and butter unaided.
l would say. then, do not reveal your
past identity, save IN cases where you
think. by doing so, you will obtain work
that is what most of you want, guess; is
it not? But even in this saving clause, you
will find many set-backs. Human nature
is problem as yet unsOlved by any man,
and you. with the wisest, will find that you
are far from getting even an approximate
solution OF it, and, consequently, many
mistakes will arise.
But do not despair. boys; ''All things
come to him that waits;" but remember,
don't expect all things you conceive. or wait
for them to turn up. PlOd along; steer
clear of your pals; do what you are able to
do; live within your income if but ten cents
day. have often lived on less than that;
strive to be cOntented with whatever is be-
fore yOu-you will. truly. be happy by so
doing; don't dwell too much on the past
nor too much on the future. If you act up
to these things after your discharge. think.
with great certainty, time will come when
you will be secure from want, bodily, men.
tally and--legal.
New York City, May %.