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

square, according as the law defines square
ness at the present time of advancing bar
bariSm. You may not hold with the law in
all its details-sOme law is radically bad,
some law is cOnservatively good, according
as we view things from comparative history;
nevertheless, good or bad, it is your duty as
a man (Or wOman) to obey the law, and en-
deavOr to make its defects non est. Most
of you. l do not doubt. have had rough
and tumble sort of eXistence-the silver
spoon was never put into your mouths by
vicariOus mothers. or nurses.
Thomas Carlyle. the English growler.
said that ''circumStances-ba circum-
stances control no mans destiny. Let
man get above them, do right. and the
devil take the hindmost." Carlyle, how
ever, was just the fellow who was con-
trolled by circumstances. and if he could
have conceived that there were (and are)
other GROWERS differing from him in both
disposition and cynlcism. he would have
written otherwise than he did write. |
mention his substantial animadversiOn on
circumstances, because there are still few
philosophical curmud geOnS who can't dis.
tinguish between Imagination and reality.
Now, when you consider what you are
going to do on your discharge. leave out all
details. Circumstances, of which you have
now no control, will shape things for you.
l speak from practical experience, and
assure you, boys, scarcely any of you have
had, or can have circumstances so against
you as l have had, and of such nature un.
dreamed of in my cellular musings.
Do not be led away by any of these false
conceptions. then; think of this, though.
most studiOusly: your past will not be re
deemed, your fortune will not come in a
day. Weeks, months, years in all prOba
bilitY will escape ere you find a rest for the
sOles of your feet q do not infer from this
that you are going to ''count the ties" for
an indefinite periOd.) Your incOmpetency
| to take position by the side of ''outside"
skilled labOrers will cause you many trials.
If you are competent workman, OF course,
your path will be smooth; but l know that
the most of you never received any business
training. and as prison labor will never
make you competent for outside success,
you must realize that your future will be a
| struggle.
The new law that has gone into opera.
| tiOn in Minnesota relative to your securing
employment after discharge may. to limit,
assist.yOu in overcoming the difficulties in
your way; but. remember, it is yourself
upon which depends your future success.
Indeed. after lengthy trial of the system
| Iately introduced in your State) in other
states, the idea is current that it is a failure.
In New York state, for instance. the most
of those connected with the Discharged
Prisoners Aid Society (which is, practi-
cally, prison agency as the Minnesota one
is, principally for the procurement of work
for discharged prisOners) are decidedly
against the system. W. P. Rounds. the
efficient secretary prison Agent) of that
society is endeavOring to make the idea
current that prisons should make prisoners
self supporting on their discharge, and not
turn them out. as now they do. worse than
useless. A competent man, he says, is, no
matter what his past record may be. quail
fled to take his place with any, and to an
extent he is right. We do not altogether
hold with Mr.. Rounds; nevertheless, his
words are worthy of consideration.
So. do not be buoyed up with hope that
the prison agency of Minnesota is going to
be your cure all.
don't want to discourage you, boys;
God knows my whole heart is with you, in
fortune or misfortune; but want to give
little practical advice that has not yet been
placed before you.
AS have said. my struggles have been as
severe as could be. Never having, in my
youth, received any business training, when
my reforming" days began-when asked
myself. Why have l become a criminal?-I
had to 20 through storms and floods of va
rying intensity of action and. it must needs
be said. was occasionally swamped-I
went. or was sent down again. But. as
grew IN years. 1 grew in determination.
that, ''sink or swim, survive or perish"
would keep out of ''collar"--and, at length.
l can say that have fulfilled my determi
nation in its entirety. 1t is eight years ago
since my last discharge. and-well, not to
discourage any of you, will not say what
l have endured since. Suffice it to say that
not one of you need 60 through what have
gone through. 1 am in disposition and
makeup different from, probably, all of
you, and each of you should fare better