The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-15

LINDA GILBERT
erence her as they do nothing else on earth
or heaven; and il is not strange that they
| do, for plunging down into the depths as
she has 70 effect their rescue from theil
evil ways, she has seemed to them in hel
white robes Of spotless womanhood, g
ray from the divine love.
She was born in New York city of fam
ily which has won considerable distinction
in the field Of invention, the elevated rail
roads low so widely in use IN our large
cities having originated with one of hel
near relatives. At sn early age she was
taken by her parents to Chicago, where she
was given an excellent education in the
Convent of St. Mary's, and she was but
seven years old when on visit TO the jail
Of that city her sympathies were first ex-
cited for the unhappy tenants of our large
prisons. She at once secured permission 70
take to them books and little delicacies,
and as she grew older she continually, IL
unobtrusive ways, ministeTed TO their com
fort, until on attaining to womsnhood she
devoted herself entirely to the work of bet
tering their condition on a wider field aud
wherever her influence could be made to
extend.
Her plan was TO remove the conditions
that produce crime by wholesome system
of industry and culture" and her FIRST step
was 10 reach the prisoner in his prison by
giving him 70 read good books that would
lift him above his wretched surroundings
and inspire him with desire for a better
life when his term of imprisonment should
be over. To do this she sought 70 place
libraries in every Jail and prison in the
country. Care for the prisoners family
was also included in her plan, and the Sc
curing of respectable employment for him
On his release from prison Up 20 this
time, working almost entirely alone, and
relying well nigh altogether upon her own
resources, she has placed more than 80, 0od
volumes in various prisons, and restored
hundreds, even thousands, of criminals to
be respected and useful members of So
eiety.
A few instances Of the help she has
wrought viii show her methods Of work,
and disclose the secret of her influence
upon the outcast classes.
On one occasion. as she was passing
along Broadway, New York, she was sc-
costed by young man whose face she did
not at first remember. She passed him,
but she noticed that he turned about and
name, when she recalled him as an ex-con-
vict whom she had once known in prison
He told her that since his release he had
tried TO do honest work, but as none would
employ him when they learned Of his former
life, he had been obliged TO resort TO his
old criminal ways for livelihood He had,
he said, just committed a robbery, but thu
sight Of her had brought back his desire
-,
his plumber.
She went 60 the man who had been
robbed with his property, which was OF the
value Of 800. He was glad TO get it, but
at first was obduTate in insisting that the
criminal should be punished At last, how
ever, M yielded to her question, If he would
not think it hard should one Of his own
sons be thus treated when coming back 70
right ways ike the returning prodigal;
and he not only forgave the convict, but
added $50 to q ike amount of Miss Gilbert'.
own funds, with which she proposed 70 SET
the penitens thief in small cigar business.
He has been prosperous, and now, with q
wife and two interesting children, he is
respected and trusted by all who know
him
Another interesting case is that Of q
manly young fellow for whom she secured
work after he had served term IN prison
for burglary. She sent him to farmer in
Illinois. whose daughter became devotedly
attached 10 him Her parents were willing
he should marry the young woman, but be-
fore he asked her TO DO so he wrote 70 Miss
Gilbert, asking if be should NOT disclose
his histo-v She told hin 20 do SO, and
they were married with the full approval
Of the young girl. parents. He was pros
porous. and i now prominent member Of
Baptist church IL tEe eishborhood.
Her chief instrument in dealing with the
criminal is kindness. With the most hard
sned she never uses harsh word, and 50
potent has been her method OF treatment
that soc approaches the worst cases with
absolute fesrlesSness An instance OF her
power and her self possession wss given In
lSS2, when her house IN New YORK was en-
tered by g burglar At dead Of night she
was awakened BY noise IN her chamber,
and raising herself upon her elbow she saw
stslwsrt man rSnsScki1g her bureau
drawers. &c was N the act OF sp7ropri-
Ating 8 valuable gold watch, when, rising
from her bed and approaching him noise
lessly, she laid her hand upo1 rs shout
der. saying DO you know THAI you ara
robbing your best friend. sm Linda 81
bert
The nan cr0uch@d BDon the foor speech
less, while sec struck = light and pointing
% chair, tC~I him 30 - stated. TheE shs
drew from Liua his stovF Re was, be
sa2d, not al L2alJusl criminal. bat an hCn-
ST ls5crer oas Cf work. and he had re-
sorted - crime % feed starring wife and !
children Net C1sScio-snZ his statement.
Ibs led him noiselsSsly down 70 She kiEeh-
-n-toF her father SID another Sentle~
pan were asleep 1n the kous---sslsss tnege
Ehs 6lbed for hl2 a BASKET II yzovisio1
md adding 10 i ave dollar greenbsSk /