The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-16
A PRISON INCIDENT.

A PRISON INCIDENT.
How Picture of Christ Affected a No.
torious Female Criminal.
The incident narrated below took
place in woman's prison of an
Eastern state. A striking picture of
Christ saying to the erring woman,
"Go, and sin no more!" hangs in the
chapel of this prison. About o'clock
in the afternoon, the time that the
Sunday service IS held there in the
summer, the sun touches the paint
ing brilliantly, and lights the SYM
pathetic figure of the Master, SEEM
ingly to interpret with new hope His
significant words. Indeed, to one
not expecting the sudden illumina-
tion, it appears almost like super
| natural TRANSPORTATION.
Among the prisoners was a woman
who had caused great deal of
trouble from the first hour she had
been placed within the prison walls
She had been arrested for repeated
crimes, and was considered con-
firmed criminal. Violent and DISC
bedient, she had literally to be
| forced to her duties. Finding they
could do nothing with her the au-
thorities placed her in solitary
| cell. When she was taken from it
| she made so much trouble that it be-
came necessary to put her back again
But one Sunday they took her out
in time to attend chapel services
with the other prisoners. 1t had
been a cloudy day, and the woman
seemed even more surly than usual.
She was carefully guarded lest she
! might do some harm
just as the service was about to
| close the sun broke through the
/ clouds and streamed into the chapel,
touching the picture of Christ and
the erring woman with almost di-
vine efulgence. The effect was very
beautiful and impressive. From row
| to row the women gazed at the PIC
ture, and subdued murmurs were
whispered from one to the other.
| She who was the wickedest of them
all had gathered herself together
and sat crouched like wild beast,
staring straight at the Christ, her
rough head sunk between her shoul-
ders and her knees up to her chin.
! When the service was over the sun
still fingered upon the picture The
bell sounded and the prisoners arose
to file out OF the chapel, but the vio-
lent woman did not stir. The atten-
| dant thought she meant new mis-
chief and came up behind her and
taking her by the arm said:
"Get up and go out::''
She received no response. Fearing
the woman might make disturbance.
the officers waited until the other
prisoners had left the chapel, expect
ing a hand-to-hand tussle with the
insubordinate. Approaching her
again. the officer asked quietly:
"Why didn't you go out? Come,
get up now!"
TO her amazement, the woman.
who never had shown them the least
sign of tender emotion, turned upon
her a softened face and moistened
eyes. AS she arose she said:
'Yes, l will go. I only want to
see that" pointing to the picture,
Il don't want to see anything but
that"
They led her weeping to her soli-
tary cell, says Youths Companion.
A few days later she quietly asked to
be let out with the other prisoners.
promising not to make any disturb
ance. From that time she was a
changed soul. There is no gentler
woman in the prison to-day. Sermons
and prayers and songs and kind
words were not able to do what the
vision of Christ in His pitying love
had done for this sin burdened, peni-
tent heart. 49,.