The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-10
A MODEL PRISON.

The New Hampshire state prison, If it is
~ good a. il Is described. Is . model peni-
Tertiary. No reporters are permitted to
interview prisoners. and thus tho ego
tisticai outlaw does not have his love of
notoriety fed by reading about himself in
the daily press In the New Hampshire
prison privileges are unknown. The pris-
oners are seldom allowed to see visitors,
and m officer il always present at inter-
views. Friends are requested not to send
prisoners eatabics Of any kind. The only
amusement countenanced is the reading
Of books Of the prison library. The warden
has sole charge Of the discipline Of prison.
ers, but he must keep correct record Of
attractions and Of the punishmcnts in
dicted. for Re inspection Of the governor
and council Prisoners are not allowed
90 look up. They must direct their eyes
upon their work, and gazing at one an
other or at visitors or officers is strictly
forbidden and punished with severity.
Officers. oyerseers or watehmen are not
allowed to speak to the prisoners except to
instruct them In regard to the rules, and
any violation OF this rule means immcdi-
ate discharge. Nor are teamsters or other
callers on business permitted To address
prisoners. Every officer is obliged to abb
stain from the use Of liquor during the
period Of his employment. Kindness is
encouraged on their part toward their
charges. bat familiarity is never tolerated.
The labor of The convicts has been awarded
10 the same firm of contractors for fifteen
day for each nan. The eonvicis are made
tn work hard, bu. not beyond their
strength, and the food set before them, al
though plain, is clean and wholesome
There have been no escapes since 1863
The report of tho Massachusetts prison
commission shows eleven escapes in is9e
alone. The dress Of the cony.c;s is made
escape difficult One Of the trousers legs
aud half the coat are red and the CORE
spending parts black. The cap Is also
red and black. The idea Of the New
Hampshire sys,em is tc pat the prisoner
out oi the world as much as II he were no
part os il. He is made 10 feel that he has
no cxssiene. outside the narrow circle of
his daily toll. When released suit Of
Clothes and 81 ara given him.
This Is the latest description OF the New
Hampshire penitentiary. This kind of
PRISON ifnpresses us So place that criui-
nails would find exceedingly disagreeable
g. live in. So dlsaereeab.e thai the dis
charged convict would resolve not 10 re-
turn - il. Prison lie should 10 made as
hateful memory - possible 10 convict.
lie should he worked as hard a. Is possible
without rhyslcsi innry lie should &c
gwen f1ol that IN wholesome ana sufgi-
GENTLY nutritious for his labor. bat
it should include nothing bat the
essentials Of q very frugal diet: no .uxu-
ries ,hor!d be allow ell. Nothing shouls
- inflicted ga me prisoner that u lnha-
raan dgseipuao. he shoa,d BE PROJECTED
irou the weather. hc shou.d nos lie ex-
posed - detective sanitary conditions.
his heasth saou.t be rFotec1e,i: he should
never ne fo.l unw aolesosnc food ~ an ia.
Sufficient quantity. aGt u Saeali be IS
coarse and frugal As possible
The whole idea OF makias rrls,,, a
pleasant place ef abode. 81 mitigating the
horrors Of prison tie by granting .-pf.vi-
leSes" is = mistake. rrisoa life should he
made as in;oleEahle and aa.egsl saa r.
palslsc ~ is eau he without resoyttar 20
ior;ure Or undermining the physical or
mental sanity of the convict Ii should
b. made $ hateful ani repaisise meEnosy.
noi ri brutal paaixhmenys aespotieally la
nlesed. but Of a yoke OF labor. loneii-
ness and WEAKNESS, TO which no
sane man would visa 10 rstarn.
No reporters, 80 fruit I'D aosers,
no raessc, ne sing ~. 40 conversation. no
loaRsaos, 10 privileges. nothing ba. the
sssga. Indispensable. frugal necessities Of
life. This and IL lie would ae repu.s-
i've. and that = Jas. what prssoa llfe egrht
to he made. via. as esi3eas sna repaisive
as possible without outrage OF {as;lce or
humanity. There il. perhaps iasi enc
thing more needed IN New Hampshirs
viz. if the goseraor has tie parsiau!ar
power take il asaF from him aaa lss 10
pardon issue except 0a proof % innaesace
which has been presented 20 and srAssrssa