davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06

at liberty; when. if the punishment had
not been death. he would have promptly
been found guilty.
I'm Massachusetts, from 1862 to 1882,
period of twenty years, there were 1913
trials for murder in the first degree and
but 20 of these, or less than "a per cent,
were convicted. In Connecticut during
thirty years from 1850 to 1880, 81 per-
sons were tried for first degree murder,
and of these but 13, or a little less than
13 per cent, were found guilty.
Capital punishment was abolished
in Rhode Island State in all respects
very similar to the other two-in 1852
During the next thirty years there were
p persons tried for first degree murder
in that State, of whom II, or SO per
cent, were found guilty as charged
The same truth is shown in Michigan
Wisconsin and Maine, the statute books
of which are no longer disgraced by the
law of death as punishment for
crime"
Mr.. Palm gives statistics to show
that relatively to population, murders
are becoming less frequent in many
States which have abolished capital
punishment.-Rer of Rerielcs.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06

honest employment to thousands of
laborers. This tax upon the people of
America is twice as great as the pension
burden, and reaches up into the region
of amounts derived from tariffs which
have been called unreasonable and un-
just. 1t is drain upon industry which
has not been sufficiently considered
When it is added that this annual pay
ment of $4OO, 900 900 is in the nature of
waste, then it becomes matter of seri-
Gus Importance Prisons exist and
ought to be managed for three distinct
purposes. The first is just punishment
for wrong doing. A criminal has vio-
lated law, besides having outraged pub
lie decency and must be punished, and
prison reform which does not cOncede
that ground is essentially unSOund.
The second purpose is the protection of
society from its enemies; hence thick
walls iron doors and armed guards. The
third purpose is to reform the criminal
and restore him to freedom self-sup-
porting and law abiding citizen. In the
pursuit of these purposes it is serious
question whether the present machinery
of the courts does not need a very great
amendment. The laws also appear to
be working at the problem from the
wrong end, and the result is large and
increasing criminal class is growing up
in our country which the present penal
arrangements help to develop rather
than check. 1t costs 100000 900 to sup
port this class now; what will it cost
twenty-five years hence Baltimore
Herald.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06
CAPITAL Punishment,

Mr. Andrew j. Palm, editor of the
american Journal Of Politics, contrib
utes to his magazine an article on capi-
tai punishment. He maintains that
the only sure protection to human life
in any country, is to have it regarded
with reverence by the whole people,
and that, consequently, if the govern
ment wishes to teach that human life
is sacred, it must not set the example
by deliberately destroying it,
1.-The favOrite argument that to take
away the fear of the death penalty would
result in an increase of murders may or
may not have any force in philosophy
but in practice it has been proven false
repeatedly. In those of our own States
where capital punishment has been
abolished, the statistics furnished by
the census reports show smaller num-
Der of murders than in those States
that still follow the law of an eye for
an eye, and a tooth for TOOTH The
same is true of other countries. The
Howard Association of London has
made a careful study of the subject
doubt that death as punishment for
murder has the only effect that might
be expected, that it hardens instead of
sOftens the emotions, and prepares men
to commit murder by contemplating it,
"The executiOner has been steadily
plying his CORY trade in the United
States ever since the foundation of the
government, but instead of his being a
terror to evil doers, murders have been
constantly increasing. In 1888 there
were 21S4 homicides in the United
States; in 1889, 1867; in 1890, 1890; and
in 1891, 1906. Is not this evidence
enough to warrant a change in our
method Of dealing with the crime of
murder? When it comes before the
legislators of the different States, |
trust they will not act on their ideas of
what they are afraid might occur if
capital punishment were abolished,
rather than on the actual facts as they
have occurred where it has been abrO-
gated.
"The death penalty defeats the ends
of justice in allowing thousands of
murdererS to go at liberty It is fact
beyond dispute that the average juror
of to-day hesitates to assume the re-
sponsibility of being an instrument in
sending a fellow to death, and often
times when there is no other verdict
possible except that of guilty of MUIR
der in the first degree or not guilty of
any crime the convenient reasonable
doubt comes in, and the prisoner is set
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06
Success in Life.

What is success in life, and who is
the successful man? Is it not he who
sets out in life with the determination
to accomplish a certain object, cOncen-
trates all his energies upon the attain
ment, and attains it, no matter what
else befalls him? If, then, l strive to
be rich, like the late Jay Gould, and win
riches, am less successful because at
last, like him | am afflicted with poor
health which cuts short my days and
prevents me from enjoying my riches?
Am | less successful as lawyer or a
banker because my wife is vixen, or
my children are spendthrifts Most
certainly not. Yet many persons would
seem to think l am. Why, asks great
Roman satiriSt. do you wish for wealth,
which ruined Seneca: or for elOquence,
which caused DemOStheneS and Cicero
to be aSSassinated; or to be great gen.
eral like Hannibal, who was defeated at
last, and killed himself in exile? But
did not each of these men win the very
thing he aspired to win? Why, then,
judge of his career by it's last days, as if
its character depended mainly on its
catastrophe? Why regard mans life
as successful if it ends triumphantly,
and as failure if it ends disastrOusly?
If man lives seventy years, does the
Seventieth year contain more or less
than One-Seventieth part of his life, and
can it affect the success or failure of
that life to more than just that extent?
If Hannibal and Napoleon sought to be
great generals, and became such, were
they less successful because they finally
met with reVerSeS in war and died in
glOriOuSly? Was General Grant an un-
successful man because he died of a
very painful disease? Was William
Pitt, who aspired to be and became the
leading statesman and parliamentary
orator of Great Britain. unsuccessful
because his efforts to crush the hydra
headed power of Napoleon were defeat
ed by the victory of AusterlitZ and he
sunk under the blow? If he won the
highest station in the kingdOm-waS
first lord Of the treasury and chancellor
of the exchequer-did he not obtain the
object of his wishes, albeit he dies of a
broken heart? Because, again, the OBJ
ject of mans life pursuit does not
satisfy him when gained, because
The lovely toy, so frecely sought,
Hath lost its charm on being caught
is the success less positive? Is not sue
cess one thing, and happiness another?
William MattheaCs, IN H01per'S
Young People.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06
A Philosophic View.

A man who has been criminal. and
followed criminal existence for any
length of time. must, in his different
undertakings. exert more or less de-
termination or will-pOwer, and it is this
same force that must be brought into
play to effect whatever reformation
MAY take place in him. 1t is only
through his own endeavOr that his ref
ormation can take place, although these
endeavors can be materially assisted by
the help of kindly hands.
Opportunities to gain money or its
equivalent by theft, are, by no means,
placed within easy reach of those who
make theft their means of livelihood.
Far from it. Those whose position in
life is apt to mark them as prey for
thieves and robbers do not hesitate to
utilize every appliance. or take every
precaution that could possibly guaran-
tee safety to themselves and property.
To overcome these obstacles, the man
of criminal prOclivitieS must devise
plans that will give promise of success,
before undertaking any criminal intent
Ut uldN lldFc Ill IdhC UIlC
who commits crime of any nature
highest grade of bank burglary-he
must exert some degree of determina-
tion, according to the magnitude Of
his undertaking. This determination,
or Will-pOWer, as we have said must
constitute the foundation upon which
all hopes of reformation are to be built.
1t is the one factor that is to keep him
in the path of honesty, when once he
starts upon it.
No doubt there are many, at this day,
inmates of prisons, who have started
sometime during their lives to reform.
but found the task harder than they
bargained for. The sneers of their
fellOw-men, the whispers of "He's an
ex-convict,' and many things of like
nature, have all done their part to
cause a relapse into criminal ways.
But does one by giving up the struggle
so easily utilize the will-pOwer within
him? Does he, when engaged in one
of his criminal undertakings, give up
his life of crime because his plans mis-
carried, and certain "jOb" turned out
unsuccessful? BY no means; he looks
upon such failures as natural happen
lngS OF his profession. and StraightWay
commences to devise other schemes,
probably more intricate, and thus he is
ready to try again. 1t takes more phys
ical and mental energy to lead Grim
inal existence, than it does an honest
one, so why not utilize these mental
and physical powers to bring about
ones reformation; persevering in a
path of honesty, as hitherto we have
persevered in that of crime. At the be-
ginning, no doubt, the battle will be
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06
A BROKEN WING.

STORY OF \ POEM THAT INSPIRED A DESPAIR
ING HEART.
One day convict at Joliet prison, Illinois,
picked up a paper from the corridor on which
were these lines:
walked through the woodland meadows,
Where sweet the thruSheS sing,
And found ON a bed of mOSSeS
A bird with a broken wing.
healed its wound, and each morning
1t sang its old sweet strain;
But the bird with broken pniOn
Never scared as high again.
found young life broken
BY sins seductive art,
And touched with ChriSt-like pity.
l took him to my heart.
He lived with noble purpose,
And struggled not in vain;
But the life that sin had stricken
Never scared as high again.
But the bird with broken pinion
Kept another from the snare.
And the life that sin had stricken
Raised another from despair.
Each loss has its compensation.
There is healing for every pain:
But the bird with broken piniOn
Never scars as high again.
In estimating the value of these verses to the
finder it must be understood that he had reform
ed in the early part of his Imprisonment, but
was at times greatly depressed over his past life.
North Western Farmer and Breeder.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06
Torturing Prisoners.

There is general but very erroneous
belief that torturing prisoners, in order
to make them confess before magis-
trates, has been long since banished
from civilized lands, but it is practiced
in this very time and Of all countries
in the world. in civilized (?) SwitZer
land.
NJ. BOrel, member of the assembly
of Lucerne, recently proposed that in
formation should be asked from the
federal council as to the torturing of a
prisoner in the canton of lug.
The man in question was accused of
theft. When brought before the court
the prisoner acknowledged that he had
taken the missing articles, but insisted
that he had not stolen them but found
them
Following this the court ordered fur
ther inquiries to be made.
BY way of getting at the truth as to
the prisoners guilt or innocence, the
following course was pursued:
From the Goth of October to the 10th
of November the man was kept in SOL
itary confinement on sparse diet of
bread and water, but this treatment
failed to induce him to vary his first
statement. y
On the 18th and 18th of November
thumb-screwsw were applied to the mans
hands, and his thumbs were pressed till
the blood burst through the skin at the
ends, still he persisted in his story.
On the three following days he was
stripped every morning and beaten on
the bare back with green withes till the
skin was torn off. The poor fellow
shrieked with agony, and after each
beating an attendant would ask him:
"NOW will you tell the truth %
Il have told the truth, persisted the
prisoner.
That you found the things?'
Yes"
Then the torture will continue till
you confess that you stole them," was
the attendants response.
After each beating the mans back
was washed in cold brine, and he was
thrown again into dark cell:
On learning of the prisoners Obstina-
cy, the Judge had him brought before
him again, and said:
"Why do you not tell the truth?''
II have told the truth" was the reply.
"Then the torture must proceed"
"Y our honor can kill me, but he can
not make me say | am criminal when
l am innocent" said the prisoner.
The judge ordered the prisoner back
to his cell, and here, after three months
of such torture as even the Inquisition
never dreamed of, he was released one
nightly death
And all this happened not in the Mid
die Ages, but last year in the heart of
the free and Independent Swiss repub-
lie.
Fortunately the mans death promises
to result in repeal of the barbarous
law of tOrture.-EG.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06

hard, but once started, the balance
of the way will be easier. We must make
up our minds not to allow small disap-
pointments to deter us, but to over
come them as we did those which pre-
sented themselves when leading Grim
inal career. Determination is all that
is required, and any man who has been
a criminal possesses that. "He con-
QuerS who endureS. A.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-06
Hit His Soft Spot.

Magistrate O'Googhan: Hov'n't you
been befar me befar?
Astute Prisoner: No, y'r honor, I
never saw but one face that looked like
yours, an that was photograph Of an
Irish king.
Magistrate O'Googhan: Discharged!
Call tn Mkt case.-NeoO York Weekly.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25


5. III. Clifford, New Cassel, Wis.
was troubled with Neuralgia and
Rheumatism, his Stomach was dis
ordered, his Liver was affected to an
alarming degree, appetite fell away,
and he was terribly reduced in flesh
and strength. Three bottles of Elec-
trio Bitters cured him,
Edward Shepherd, Harrisburg, ILL.,,
had running sore on his leg of eight
years standing. Used three bottles
of Electric Bitters and seven boxes of
Bucklen's Arnica Salve, and his leg is
sound and we'll. John Speaker, Ca
tawba, Ohio, had FIVE large fever sores
on his leg. the doctors said he was
incurable. One bottle Electric Bitters
and one box Bucklen's Arnica Salve
cured him entirely. Sold by G. R..
Taggart. 3
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25

The young people belonging to st.
Bridget's Parish, this city, will give an
entertainment for the benefit of their
church at Opera Hall on Friday
evening, June 2nd at which time they
will appear IN Thomas and J. NJ. Nor
tons Comic Drama entitled 1.-The
Factory Girl" This drama is one of
the best in the English language and
having never been presented here.
we bespeak for them a crowded
house,
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25

1t viii cost You nothing and will
surely do you good, if you have cold,
cough, or any trouble with throat,
chest or lsngs. DIR. Kings New Dis
covery for consumption, coughs and
colds is guaranteed to give relief, or
money will be paid back. Sufferers
from la grippe found it just the thing
and under its use had speedy and
perfect recovery. Try sample bottle
at our expense and learn for yourself
just how good thing it is. Sample
bottles free at C. r. Taggsrt's drug
store. Large size soc and Sl.O0. 3
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25
About Fishing.

did you ever fish-for game fish, /
mean-for trout, black bass, muskal~
longe, pickerel-I care not which! All,
there's sensation You are beneath
a blue sky, in cooling breeze, with
the green drapery of Nature gladden.
ing every view. But you are uncer
tain whether you are to have any
sport or not; just a little tired and dis
ouraged-thinking of going back to
your camp or trying somewhere else
when zlp!!l what's that! Your line
pulls, your rod bends, you have got a
dandy--a two-pounder. at least. Then
follows one minute, or five minutes of
keenest, widest, most magnetic,
thrilling pleasure. What is it! VIII
you get it! Oh, thunder! It's off;
but, no, no; there it is again. Give it
little line; reel in steady and slow.
Therel see that a black bass--a big
one--it leaped foot from the waterl
Oh. my friends, take your dreamy
waltZes, your ruddy wine, your demon
aliZing cards, your horses and your
boats; but give me an hour at good
fishing ground, and I'll ask no more"
The enthusiastic angler who uttered
these words would find his paradise
along the east side of the Mississippi
River, from Dubuque to st. Paul. The
great river is well stocked with black
bass, pike, pickerel, and other varie-
ties, and from La Crosse north many
clear and sparkling brooks swarm with
the speckled "brook trout" affording
delightful sport. The legal seasons
of Illinois and Wisconsin varies some
what with the kind of fish sought, but
may be said generally to include about
all the time from the middle of May
to the first of October. The Burling-
ton Route is the line by which the
fishing grounds on the east side of the
Mississippi can be most conveniently
reached, and any detailed information
desired will be cheerfully furnished on
application to w. J. q. Kenyon, Gen.
Pass. Agent. st. Paul, Mimi.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25
President Emery Retires from Normal
School W.-L

School Work.
The citizens of River Falls and in
fact many people throughout north
western Wisconsin will be panied to
learn that President Emery expects to
discontinue his services as President of
the Normal School at the close of the
present term. His influence in the
school and in the community has been
always and invariably in the interest
of things which make for higher in
telligence, and better manhood and
womanhood. The removal of Presi-
dent Emery and his family from the
city where they have spent the last
four years will be the occasion of uni
versal regret among their. many
friends. He owns large farm in
Dane county and has arranged to move
onto it this summer, hoping to recup-
crate impaired health. The "Colum-
bian History of Education in Wiscon-
sin, volume recently published un-
der authority and by direction of the
State Committee on Educational exhib.
its for Wisconsin, contains the fol.
lowing sketch of President Emery's
educational career in Wisconsin.
President Emery began his career
as Wisconsin educator by teaching
a common school in 1858. After three
years employment in Albion Academy,
he was elected county superintendent
of the East District of Dane county.
In 1859 he resigned to become princi-
pal of the Union School at Grand Rap.
ids which place he resigned to accept
the office of county superintendent of
Wood county.
After reelection in 1873 he resigned
to become principal of the High
School at Fort Atkinson. Here for
sixteen years Professor Emery labored
With an earnestness and devotion to
the work which attracted the atten-
ton of educators throughout the
state, and won for him the love and
admiration of hundreds of pupils who
were fortunate enough to come under
his able and inspiring instruction.
Few men in the history of Wiscon-
sin, have been so universally approved
and commended by parents and citi.
zens as was Professor Emery in Fort
Atkinson. While engaged as princi.
pal of the school he became widely
known throughout the state, by the
interest he manifested in the State
Teachers Association, the efficient
work which he performed in the ca
pacity of conductor of institutes, and
In the diligent sympathy he has
shown in aiding and encouraging the
younger members of the teaching pro-
fession.
In July 1889, the Board of Regents
of Normal Schools unanimously elect
ca Professor Emery to the presidency
of the State Normal School at River
Falls, Wis. His incumbency has al
ready given evidence that the appoint
ment was wise and in the interest of
progress. The attendance has rapidly
increased; the teaching force enlarged;
systematic physical training has been
introduced; appliances and apparatus
adapted to more thorough work in the
sciences obtained; and improvements
in library facilities have been institu.
ted
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25
The Band Concert.

Nearly two thousand people sur
rounded Empire park last night upon
the occasion of the first open air con-
cert gwen by theSt Cloud Union Band
The crowd was fully as large as some
of the great gatherings that were
witnessed there last year. The park
WAS literally filed. The attendance
was certainly one that was highly
complimentary to the band and shows
the popularity of the organization.
The program that was rendered was a
classical one. The band has lost none
of its old time excellence of execution
as was evidenced by the applause it
received. One of the most beautiful
numbers on the program last night
was the overture the Hungarian.
1t is difficult piece of music. but the
rendition was fine. Equally meritori-
Gus was the waltz "La Sultana. "--St.
Cloud Daily Times, May 10.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25
Cures Others

Will cure You, is true statement Of the
action Of AYERS SarsaparilIa, when
taken for diseases originating in impure
blood; but. while this assertion is true of
AYERS Sarsaparilla, as thousands can
attest, it cannot be truthfully applied to
other preparations, which unprincipIed
dealers will recommend, and try to i'm
pose upon you, as Just as good as
Ayers" Take Ayers SarsapariIla and
Ayers only, if You need bloOd-purifer
and would be benefited permanently.
This medicine. for nearly fifty years,
has enjoyed a reputation, and made a
record for cures, that has never been
equale by other Preparations. AYERS
SarsapIFilla eradieates the faint Of he
reditaIy scrOfula and other blood dis
eases from the system, and il has, deser-
yedly, the confidence of the people.