The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-12-07
Our THANKSGIVING Day.

At $50 A. NJ, every available seat in the chapel
was filled, even the lamb pen at the end was
crowded with checkered goats, and as the last
man got seated, Chaplain Albert introduced the
prison choir who rendered song of praise
acceptably. This was followed by brief, pointed
prayer and that in turn by I'VE Thank Thee Lord'
by the choir. The Warden then made few re-
marks introducing Judge j. w. Willis of St.
Paul and said that the Governor had put into his
hands free pardon to be given. as a christmas
present. to that man, without friends to work for
him. who best deserved it by his conduct. This,
it appears, does not apply to life men.
The speaker of the day at once took hold of his
audience and had them with him from start to
finish. He reviewed those causes which we. as
units of the national sum, had to be thankful for.
Its present magnificence from an insignificant
beginning and the gifts of enlightenment and
freedom we enjoy under the 9gis of its power
should be great cause of thanksgiving. Mime
sofa should be extra thankful for her abundant
advantages over less blessed sections. Several
witty personal references here called forth
rounds of applause. Turning out of his humOr-
Gus vein to more serious theme, he inquired if
we prisoners had not much to be thankful for
and presented several aspects of life which we
individually and collectively were glad not to
have expressing us. Especially should we be
thankful for the fact that we were captlves unto
OurSelveS-the sovereign peOple-and not to the
tyranny of princes.
But beyond all this was the enlightenment of
the nineteenth century, regarding the controlling
and gOVernance of crime. The old doctrine of
exacting punishment as vengeance, was fast
fading away before the glorious light of Chrsts
perfect and all-embracing doctrine of brOtherly
love. The sentence of the day was to control and
reform; not to revenge. And in this direction
our state was in advance of others in her endeav-
erS to prepare a man again to face the world,
clothed and in his right, mind to march onward
bearing his share of the honest burden of every
day life-a man among men. From this theme
he glided into an eulOgy of HugO'S Les MiSera-
beS, holding it up as, one of the books
most worthy of the careful study of prisoner
behind bars. Graphically he drew the pictures
of the law of mans vengeance on the one hand,
and the exquisite beauty of the law of Christ on
the other, whereby the aStOnished soul of the
hardened sinner was melted to remorse and re-
pentant reformation, which brought him to die
wealthy and respected with the perfect peace of
God in his heart. For such and for the OppOrtll-
mites of the future we should be thankful and
raise from our hearts one grand, sweet song in
unison for the infinite advantages we all have
over the times and conditions not So long ago.
Returning thanks for the steady attention given
him, he concluded amidst hearty applause.
After the singing of Aud Lang Syne we
marched to our stations and proceeded to the
freedom of the paint shops comfortable
precincts, where we were permitted to enjoy an
hour or more of practical liberty. At - O'Clock
the whistle sounded for dinner, and we were
marched to our spacious dining rooms where we
partOok of a sumptuous dinner of turkey, light
biscuit, gravy, cheese pumpkin pie, apples and
thOughtfully placed beside each plate as an af
ter luxury, which. after we proceeded to our re-
Spectiye cells. were not the least OF our enjoy
ments. In the afternoon each prisoner who
felt SO Inclined was permitted to write letter
Thus ended our thanksgiving day in prison.