The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-09-06

where all is reversed, and often is
thrown back into the very conditions
that made him what he was. The bar
riers against evil, like the bars of iron
and steal of the prison itself, fall away
to allow the freedom of choice. The
state, it is true, may hold parole over
his head, designed to be restriction
and safeguard and an invisable
menance to any idea or slipping back
into the old life. 1t is a "string" tied
to him, as it were, SO that if he fails to
perform his part we'll in the outside
world during a given PROBATIONARY
term, he may ignominiously be hauled
back again without process of law.
But otherwise, the props are with
drawn, the safeguards are removed,
and he is left alone to fight the battle
in an uneven conflict where all the
forces of the world, the flesh and the
devil, are arrayed against his own weak
desire to do what is right. For it is
conceded by those in the position to
know that comparatively few prison
ers leave the prison with the definite
idea of returning to life of crime.
Their punishment, their training, has
had an awakening effect, and they
have reasoned themselves into the con-
viction that there is nothing in it, so
far as a criminal life is concerned. The
will to live otherwise may not be very
strong, but the real wish to give bet
ter life a trial at least is there. The
chance has come. He stands at the
threshold of his opportunity. Would
you follow him little way into the
world? Take an illustration, an act
ual one:
A young man was released from the
prison at Saltwater. He came to St
Paul. No father, no mother, no home
had he. He had resolved to do what
was right, and in the solitude and lone
illness of his cell had vowed to lead g
pure and righteous life when freedom
came. There was no one to meet hin
, at the depot, and the familiar streets
were filled with unfamiliar faces. He
, walked the streets until o'clock il
the afternoon without meeting sou
} he knew, and then, alas! it was {
: wrong friend he met, a friend who ad
ded to his first words of greeting
| "come and take a drink Could h
5 turn away from the first friendly fac'
J, he met and go his solitary way? HI
had firmly resolved not to drink-liq
: uOr had been largely the cause of hi
l downfall. He hesitated-and was lost
e Unaccustomed freedom, good tim
y money jingling in his pockets, ha'
i friends to urge him on, the fourtl
: morning he awoke, heavy ache il
t his head, a heavier in his heart, to fin
d his money almost gone, and somethln
o that was not his own, something tina
e he must have stolen, in his room
e With trembling nerves and feelin
# of despair at the utter failure of all hi
|, good intentions. he fled from the roor
S, to drown remOrse in another drinl
II He ran across an old friend, an e,
Y, convict, it is true, but one who wa
e nobly striving to redeem himself, all
% who is the good Samaritan of this tai
l. The good Samaritan hailed him, CAV
ID him hearty greeting, noticed his COZ
ID dition and gave him talk straigl
le from the shoulder; braced him u
S. persuaded him to try again, rallie
b. other good friends to the rescue. TT
d. poor fellow walked until he was veal
lg and footsore in search of honorab
It, work. The prison taint was upon hi1
to He was timid in his manner, afraid
re answer questions for fear they wou
lg lead to discovery of where he hs
IN come from. His eyes fell before tt
searching gaze of inquiry. But
m persevered. The encouragement al
sympathy of true-hearted friends he
lg him to a straight course. He foul
lis work at last. That was two years ag
er Since that time he has never taken
20, drink of liquor nor committed a GRIN
It's and today walks the streets of st. Pal
p an industrious, happy-hearted YOU
vn fellow whom you might watch fro
Id one weeks end to another without