The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-06-29
DISCIPLINE.

r.
Not long before the opening of the
Suez canal a sailing vessel was bound
for India, via the Cape. In the Indian
Ocean when close to a small island the
ship took fire. On board was half the
54th reg't of British infantry, with the
wives and families of officers and men.
At the first alarm the shrill bugle
sounded the parade call followed by
the "fall in" and, as murky columns Of
smoke rolled upward and the ships
head was turned to the island, silently
along the decks fell in the double line.
Squads were told off to guard the boats
and prevent any rush for them. There
stood the motionless ranks, volumes of
smoke rolling over their heads and
tongues of flame leaping at them. whilst
with marvellous rapidity the women and
children and fair provision for the COM
fort of all were being disposed of. The
ship was beached and the boats flew
backwards and forwards till the decks
becoming untenable the last men left
and the vessel was left to her fate. Not
life was lost, and it was discipline
that worked the wonder. All history
Of conquest is by disciplined armies
over those undisciplined or less discip-
lined. The Romans conquered the world
by discipline, and were in turn defeated
when their discipline had grown lax by
superior though barbaric discipline
No body of men in any station Of life
can be controlled without discipline.
We here may take exception to differ
ent parts of the discipline enforced
Why not talk? TO prevent plotting
notably, but for many other reasons.
Talking is not allowed, except ON the
absolute necessity of the work in hand
in any large factory, place of business
or trade emporium, and if allowed from
cell to cell pandemonium were pleas
anter place to dwell in. Whistling in
the open air is a refreshing recreation;
but any man who has been in bird
store knows the mental rack caused by
the simultaneous pipings of a number
of individually melodious songsters. I'm
agine yourself reading in your cell with
the "Star Spangled Banner" to your
right, the "Wacht am Rhein" to your
left, the "Marseillaise above you and
"God save the Queen" below, with
"Over the Garden Wall" "Swanee Riv-
er" Father Come Home" "Boom de
rey" "Home Sweet Home etc., piped
at you from far and near till your brain
aches with the Dutch concert. Such
Sheol must be stopped and the only
place to cut is right in front. Are lights
out at nine Objectionable? The soldier
the world over observes the same rule
You are locked up at 6 P. NJ; true, but
the guards have then been on duty for
twelve hours. You must salute the Of
fcers; SO must any enlisted man in any
army or navy. The world exists by dis
cipline. Without the disciplinary force
that controls her, mother earth would
be Waiting into some other stellar hap
ply family and knock things endways.
The very bees and ants have the strict
est kind of discipline, breach of which
is death. 1t is the lack of good sound
discipline at home and in our public
schools which lets boys walk in the
paths of vice, leads them as young men
into the road to prison and penitentiary.
1t was lack of moral discipline that
opened these gates to every prisoner
within them.
| A Solitary Guest.
"Was you ever in society, Dusty ?"