The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-11
IN A PRISON FOR WOMEN.
@ II
How Female Convicts Are Cared for
in the P~enitentiary fat
& Joliet
Vanity Is Not Entirely Subdued
by the Necessity of Doing
Time.
Suhssttutss fer Toilet Accessories That Are
Dcnied rhsn,-Thsy Are Better
Treated Than Mes.

Perhaps one of the most interesting
scenes connected with prison life is that to
be seen in the female department Of the
famous prison located here, says u Joliet
correspondent. Most of the noted woman
criminals who have gained ~unenviable fame
in the west have tarried for their "bit" be-
hind those grim walls.
Women 10 not commit a great variety OF
crimes. They do not have the opportunities
to forge and embezzle, nor to break into
houses and blow ur safes that the men
folks have. The majority Of the women
convicts have been sent up for crimes
against property. They are shoplifters or
sneak thieves. The minority are convicted
of murder or attempts to murder, and a
few for robbery. Few women commit
crimes that entitle them to terms in the
penitentiary. Among the 1900 convicts in
confinement here less thai 100 are women.
Their department Is completely separated
from that of the men. 1t is up four flights
of iron stairs and beyond d heavy iron
bolted door that leads to the top or fifth
story of the central building. AS you enter
the broad hallway-airy and spotlessly neat
you are confronted by a kindly faced lady
who is matron in charge-Mi@ Ria Madden
who has held the position for many years.
The white scrubbed floors are covered with
woven rag mats of various colors and de-
signs-the handiwork Of some prisoner. At
the right opens q large, we'll lighted room,
in which there are many windows. From
them a splendid view is obtained Of the
we'll kept grounds and more distant trees.
This is the main workroonl. where the in
mates are kept at work all day long at
sewing and patching up the garments worn
by the men convicts. 1t is terribly monot-
onous work-a weary, penitential task.
The women sit facing the windows, their
chairs in an even row. On Sunday morn
ing this workroom is fixed up as a chapel.
Twice a month the prison chaplain con-
ducts services. A priest takes charge n
Sunday, and the other Sabbath some be-
nevolent ladies hold services. Opposite the
workroom is the laundry, where washing
is done every day.
The women prisoners sleep in dormito-
ries. There are eight or ten cots in each
room. The beds are immaculate. The
luxury of pillow shams is allowed and Is
doubtless appreciated as the one link to the
feminine v~anities of the outer world. Not
even a prison can curb a woman's vanity
nor deprive her of the use of those little
arts which contribute to her personal adorn-
ment. A prison is not provided with all
the toilet preparations the women most
like, yet feminine ingenuity can supply
the want of them reasonably we'll. One
m whose hair WAS always well dressed
and shone with the luster of the finest oils
was a complete mystery to the other pris-
oners until she revealed the fact that she
skinned the fat from her bowl Of soup,
and letting it cool applied it to her tresses.
Another woman was no less a mystery to
the matron for her rosy cheeks. which un-