Smyrna times., 1893-10-25
Jail Work.
MRS. N. B. sMITHERs CONDEMNS THE
SYSTEM AND SUGGESTS REMEDIES.

AfBs Ne DE- bM1IhEhS CONOEANb THE
SYSTEM AND SUGGESTS REMEDIES.
From q paper read before the w. G.
T. u, State convention by Mrs. N. B.
Smithers. unchristian attitude of the
people with regard to prison reform
causes me to have to hold up to your
gaze again the same dark picture l
have hung out to you at every oonven-
ton for a decade of years. II is the
sad sonbre picture of a common Jail,
with ita unfortunate inmates of both
sexes, Of all ages. and of every degree
of crime, mixed up indiscriminately.
The hardened criminal, aud the ina
pressible youth of first offence are = nn
companions. The misguided youth,
who under proper conditions, might
become a respectable member of society
eagerly listening to the story of crime
and adventure as it falls from the pol
luted lips of the blackened and de-
famed, the thought being stamped
upon his very soul more indelihly every
day, amid such surroundings, until the
last faint darkness of hopeless degrada-
ton.
Huddled together in idleness, ne.
stunned by decent people, there to
curse at and plot and scheme against
the society that they regard az their
enemy. This is the picture. l hold
up to you what actually exists in your
midst, and which you must gaze upon
and shudder at for l know not how
long. What is Jail work? Is it jail
work for the superintendent to visit
the jail every month"; Is it Jail work
for the w. c. T. U. Woman to visit the
iails on 9th of June, carrying flowers to
the prisoners singing, praying and
then never seeing them again until the
next yeRrH
Is il Jail work to talk with them and
pity their condition ON these periodical
visits and fold our hands while this
blot on our esutcheOn grows blackeT
and blacker viewed by comparison
with progressive Statesp When these
thoughts force themselves upon me
Of how little has been accomplished in
our jails, | have been almost ready to
argue myself to the point of laying
down my weapons but for the voice of
duty. l read of improved methods be.
ing introduced in other States, but dc
know of anything we could call re
form being done in our prisonsP
The years go by, leaving thei
changes upon everything, manner, Gus
toms laws, change with time. but tn,
jails of Delaware remain ever the same
In Dover and Georgetown jails ther,
are no books except those carried By
friends. New Castle Jail better in thi
respect having a small library. Blu
books only serve to relieve the mono
tony Of very few in our jails. Ou
prisoners, as a. class, are not readers o
: books for them Jail life is nOthing bu
an existence of absolute idleness some
, times fOE ten years. Work would be
! moral as we'll as physical ben
\ eft to them, for indeed prison liz
> In Delaware Is q destroyer of bot
. morals, and health.
/. One man 10 Dover Jail, who ha
borne the enforced idleness for eigh
p years, once made his escape, but upol
d being captured aud brought back, toll,
o me that he was coming back anyhow
= as his feet were 10 such a cOnditio
that he could net walk far, nor cOsii
i he use his hands at labor. Emplds
ment that will keep them physiOa1I
u strong, make them morally better, b
"a dispelling gloomy thoughts, that wi
inculcate In them habits of industr,
y which would be a powerful factor
lt the reformation of even the worst mar
ts besides furnishing with trades wit
p which to begin life anew.
% All this argument is met with = aae'
y aud trowp Of approval. Punishmel
and nothing but punishment Is Il
ct popular notion In Delaware, while u
of chief object of Il all, should be to r
- form and reclaim the fallen one who
% miserable environment Ii responsih
for the unfortunate position. D.
prisons are pointed at with scorn AN
I derision by those living outside u
ee State. Not long 60 the manager
/ an excursion made New Castle Jail
ur special feature Ia his program Of /
X fractions, advertising that the ho
would stop at New Castle on ceFia
y days, whep che excNraionsts cou
.soai yigit the Jail. view the prisoners, "
AZ ness the Whippings and other punis
N ments 10 season.
~ sheriff Gould promptly put stop