davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22
Is It Ever Too Late To Mend?

Our reliable authority, THE MIR
ROR. answers the above question in the
negative however, some of our court
officials seem to be imbued with the
idea that it is. My reason for making
such an assertion is that the newspapers
of late contain accounts of an unusual
number of petty crimes which have been
dealt with by these officials with Sc
verify worthy of the crime of murder
or some equally heinOus Otfense. In
many of the cases the offenders have
been mere youths of previous good char.
acter who committed their offense
while intoxicated and temporarily be-
reft of reason. IntOxicatiOn may not
be an excuse in the eyes of the law, but
it certainly appears reasonable to ex-
tend leniency to a mere boy in such
a case. 1t is proper that justice should
be visited upon all criminal offenses,
but it should be administered in doses
that are more fitting to the Offense COM
mitted and the circumstances attendant
thereto. To sentence mere boy to ten
or twenty years or even life for the
committal of his first Offense is barbar-
GUS, and the judges who do so are de-
void of all the principles and qualities
that true man is gifted with. They
seem to labor under the impression that
sentences of such nature are absolute
ly necessary to convince the offender of
the enormity (?) of his otfense, and that
it is necessary to infiict them to bring
about his reform. Justice tempered
with mercy is rule that is unpopular
with these figure heads, and it is never
applied to cases that honestly merit it;
and when it is applied, it is generally
in the cases of those who are plentifully
supplied with the almighty dollar.
What inducement is offered to those
youths to "mend their ways" 2" when such
injustice is done them by these author
lied agents of the state? Doomed to
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22
Not Always just

1t is not always just to cite familiar
proverbs in estimating experiences of
life. For example. the universal appli
cation of the old saying: There is al
ways two sides to every question" has
caused many man to be numbered"
with the transgressors. This proverb
may be construed as referring to right
and wrong side only, but strangely
enough, not one time in hundred is it
used in this most natural sense; on the
contrary, it is generally synonymous
with another misleading prOverb. I'm
all difficulties there is blame on both
Sides" So long as envy is harbored in
the human breast, while selfish pride
continues to push ignorance to the
front, just so long tongues will be "set
on fire of hell just so surely will the
"people mourn" The worst hated peo-
pie are always those whose honesty and
integrity cannot be assailed, or whose
talents cannot be subverted to the base
uses Of the ignorant, the envious and
the selfish--Graceville Enterprise.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22
Life Is What We Make 1t.

Charlie Byrnes. in the Iowa Plain
Dealer, very truly says:
Eve may brighten the years by puri-
ty, by charity and by faith or we may
darken them by malice, deceit and dis
honor.
"This life of ours is capable of extraor-
binary development. 1t may be COM
pared to field which, if cultivated,
will produce abundant fruit: but if
left to grow haphaZard, the result is
weeds, barrenness and ruin. Man has
to be cultivated: that is, educated
Education means not the training Of
the mind alone, nor does it signify that
we should all be Sheridans, Grants, or
GiadstOnes; it means the training of the
mind, the body, and the soul; it means
the right development of our faculties.
Within the reach of each one of us are
the means necessary to cultivate and
expand the mind God has spread
around us three great fields of knowl
edge with which we must become ac
quainted if we wish to be truly edu-
Gated. There is the great field of nature,
into whose mysteries scientists are at
work finding out more and more every
day; the great field of humanity, of
which history tells us of what men
have been, and men have done; and the
great infnity of God, the highest realm
Of knowledge. These three compose all
that exist. All this knowledge of nat
ure, of man, and of God, has for its
object the development of the heart.
Among the manifold faculties with
which men are endowed, we find some
that tend to good, others to evil. We
must develop, cultivate and train these
that tend to good, while we must repress
and keep in restraint those that tend to
evil. In word, earn for ones self the
noble title-MAN. What glorious title!
How many can say, in truth, that they
deserve il? or how many can say that
they know it's worth? 1t is indeed, a
glorious title, but one that is much
abused. Custom must grant this noble
name to each one of us as we become of
age, and we should endeavor to prove
ourselves worthy recipients of it.
MANS mortal career is not so short
but what he can gain for himself an
honorable reputation. To strive for
honor is not only lawful, but praise
worthy. TO win gold and wear it.
should be the aim of every one: but we
must bear in mind that
Honor and fame from no condition rise;
Act well your part; there all the honor hes.'
Famous men are not always honor
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22

pass the whole of their best years
among those whose motto not infre-
quently is revenge rather than reform,
is it any wonder that instead of feeling
repentant and striving to mold their
thoughts, actions and desires for bet
ter and nobler future, they do just the
opposite and become possessed with the
idea that the world in general has lost
all interest in them and cares nothing
as to what becomes of them? The only
suppositiOn that seems plausible to me,
regarding the cause of such inhumah
sentences is that these judges have be-
come SO hardened and calloused from
long contact with crime that they are
unfit for the position they Occupy-nOt
adorn-and are incapable of treating
mere petty Offenses cOnscentiOusly and
properly. Furthermore, they apparent
ly labor under the impression that ref
ormation is utterly impossible in a
criminal, and so thinking, they rob the
offender of all opportunity to prove
otherwise. Under such circumstances
it is indeed too late to mend. Those
of us who have been fortunate enough
to escape this class of judges and have
received a somewhat reasonable SEN
tence-one in keeping with our offense,
who desire future that will afford
genuine happiness, the fact that we
have been fairly treated will be some
inducement for betterment; so if we
will conform strictly to those details
which are embodied in the moldlng of
an altered life, allowing nothing to i'll
tluence us from our determination to
gain the mastery over ourselves, then
THE MIRRORS motto is true and ''It is
never too late to mend" HY.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22
Teaching Morality in School.

The question whether morality can
be adequately taught in school is one
that has puzzled various American edu-
Gators Notably some public school
principals have been inclined to answer
it in the negative.
A triumphant affirmative has. how
ever, been uttered from a quarter
whence one would perhaps least look
for it-France Eleven years ago law
was passed in France making public
education entirely unsectarian and
taking away from the clergy the right
to supervise Instruction. At the same
time compulsory law for school at
tendance was passed. and one making
it part of the teachers duty to give the
pupils training in morals. With the
thOroughness that characteriZes the
French educated classes, the teachers
set about their task.
They report that lying is less common
than formerly, and that "bullying, scrib-
bling on the wallis and torturing birds
and animals are all decreasing. More
over, pOliteneSS and neatnesS are on
the increase.
Anything more gratifying than this
prospect or more hopeful for France
could not be recorded. On one occasion
80 public school children were asked
what they would do if they found a
purse containing money IN the road if
they were ON their way to fair and
had no money of their own. Out of 80.
% knew that it would be stealing to
take the money and use it for their own.
If some more decided and persevering
effort in the direction of teaching NOR
ais were undertaken in our schools, per-
haps our criminal population would
not increase so fast. Wadena Pioneer.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22

able men. Take some Of the most
famous men of our history; strip them
of the laurels which they have gained,
for which they fought for no other end
than the qualification of their own
sensuality and ambition, and what shall
they be? Very small men, indeed
ut is especially in the private life of
man that we find reason for honoring
him. Victories gained by feats of arms
can give man no claim to honor, un-
less his private life be in keeping with
the laws of morality and justice, and if
it be, he may be tried in the crucible of
severe criticism, and he will come forth
pure gold.
when man enters upon vocation
or business life he is supposed to make
himself acquainted with all the duties
and obligations which he thereby as
sumes. He must recognize from the
start the path of duty and follow it
unswervingly. Let us, then, never for
get the Importance of living upright
and honest lives. Prompted by the
purest motives. and guarded by the
principles of faith, we cannot fail to
live as we ought: nor need we fear the
closing of life's career; and though the
laurel wreath of earthly eulogy be
denied us, we will have earned the
divine approval
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-02-22
A CONvICT's DREAM.

Oft in the Silly night,
An angel visits me:
Soft strains of music herald her
From the realms of jubilee.
hear the fiutter of her wings,
/ see the cleaning light,
,rranScendent from her radiant form.
Transcendng all that's bright.
She passes through my grated door.
And smiles as if to cheer,
Her brOken-hearted convict SOn.
For It's my mother dear.
She clasps me in her stOng embrace,
And bids me look to Him,
In this my trying hour of need.
When JOY, alas, looks dim.
know you're innocent, my son.
who gave you birth will vOuch.
Who safely watches over You
Though on /: felon's couch!
Put confidence in Him alone.
He never will deny
His all-SnStaining power to share,
Who for his help doth cry.
She leaves me with a last fond look.
A pure angelic smile;
| wake to stern reality
My sorrows to beguile.
Exchanges
The advocate., 1894-05-02

where violence might have been easily pre-
Cipitated. The result, however, Of this visit
10 the capital By the crowd, and the presen-
tatiOn TO the Legislature, was the appoint
ment Of q joint committee upon the same.
So it seems that the action was that
Of good citizens approaching their rep.
rssentstives in perfectly proper man
neE, and that they secured attention to
the representations that they sought to
bring to the attention of their represen-
tatives. This is kind Of matter that
can never find place in paper like the
Capital. II its editors can, in any way,
or by any means, succeed in getting q
false impression Of current events fixed
in the minds Of it's readers, they will
never give place to line, word or syl-
liable, from any source, that may tend to
set it's readers right. ~
The advocate., 1894-05-02
DRs. THORNTON & MINER.

Bunker building, Kansas City, Mo-, the well
known specialists in the treatment Of all
rectal troubles, have established q prinoaple
in connection with their ever-inCreasing
oliental that is well calculated to inspire
confidence in their integrity and ability TO
perform 10 the last degree that which they
promise when assuming 10 cure their pa
tientS, and that is, they decline TO accept
fee until they have clearly demonstrated
that cure has been accomplished, Thou
sands testify 10 the efficiency of their treat
ment. Another specially Of theirs is dis
Of QuaCks. Ask for their circulars, giving
testimonials Of leading business men and
high oflCials-they contain special informa-
tion for the afflicted. Address,
DRs. THORNTON d MINOR,
Bunker Building, Kansas City, Mo.
The advocate., 1894-05-02
First Published. March IA, 1894. ]
Notice.
Penltentiary Coal.

SEALED BIDS viii be received by the Board
~ Of Directors OF the Kansas State Peniten-
uary, at the office OF the Warden until IL
o'clock noon, Of Wednesday, May 9, 1894, for the
surplus output of coal of the penitentlary
mine for one year commencing June /, 1894
The successful bidder to take not less than
$4,000 bushels during each of the months Of
April, May, June and July; not less than 10000
bushels for the month Of August, and the en-
tire output of coal during the remainder Of
the year, excepting the wagon trGde at the
mine, and the supply of state institutions,
which Is reserved.
All bids to be accompanied by certified
check Of $1,000
The Board reserves the right to reject any
or all bids.
By order Of Board of Directors
S. w. CHASE, Warden.
J. w. YARRoLL, Chief Clerk.
The advocate., 1894-05-02
THE OMAHA PLATFORM.



HlRgG-WS demand national 0uEFenaY, safe,
SouAd and GSXfblO, issued BY eAO general gov.
0En4eAO only, . full legal tender for all debts,
pubHlo AAA private, and that without the use
o. banking corporations, Just, equitable and
9MO1onS means OF Distribution Direct 10 the
people Ab tax mot 20 exceed 2 per OOnA Dor
AnAnHA, 70 bO provided AS set forth IA the sub.
sroA1uFy plan Of the FARmOrs' Alliance, or Q
beeeSR gY9tsm; also by payments In discharge
Of ltS obligations for public Improvements.
we demand free and unlimited coinage OF
silver and gold AS she pFSoOns legal ratio Of 10
We demand GhAs Gho amount Of circulating
mSdlnm b speedily increased 70 NOT less than
eO9 per capita
We demand graduated income tax
We believe that the money oS the country
1ho1ld b kept 20 much a. possible In the
hands o. Sho people, and hence We demand
that Az state and national revenue should bO
limited 20 th0 n0co9gAry expenses OF the gov
eEnmOns economically and honestly admin.
ist0rod
We demand that the postal savings bank be
established BY the government for the safe do
po9it Of the earnings Of the people and 10 facil'
ibstO exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
Second -TrAngportatio being means OF OK
change and public necessity, the government
should own and operate tho railroads IN the
Interest Of thO people.
LANDa.
ThiEd-ThO land, including AL the material
resources OF wealth, iB the heritage Of the peo-
pie, and should not be monopoliEed for specu.
lAtaVp purposes, and alien Ownership Of land
GhQlld b0 prohibited. And lands now held By
railroads and other corporations In excess OF
their actual needs, and all lands now owned By
ALIENS 8hould b0 reclaimed ~ the government
OR actual SssAlsrs only.
The advocate., 1894-05-02
.Ta%,1K,N ,NUMfM LAanrs, r,n
FafBNte}5ilyHgNB NTi,ylESD
}bsasSyRij%,.
%GNEfBAb|aEs 'TbS'D
The WORLDS FAIR

Committee, who tested the
Mccormick No. 4 Steel flower
in the only regular exposition
field trials, in a heavy growth
of timothy and clover, said, in
their official report: 1.-THE
efficiency of the machine is
thus, under fair conditions,
nearly 20 per cent. Ordinary
figures for ordinary mowers
are at least twenty pounds
higher in total draft, with an
efficiency of not above 60 per
cent, which latter figure good
machines should be expected to
exceed" The Mccormick is the
lightest draft, and most effec-
tive grass cutter yet produced.
Highest Medal awarded
The advocate., 1894-05-02
Stubborn Facts.

The new edition of Mr.. Zsrcher's
pamphlet entitled, stubborn Facts in
Nut She'll" will soon be out They
ought to be circulated in every neigh
borhood. The price is 5 cents each, "a
per hundred, or $50 per Thousand. Ad-
dress Peoples Party headquarters, To-
DskR
The advocate., 1894-05-02
Crowded Out Of the PIutOeratic Press.

GDHIOB hDNOGAIBs- OGoO1~ WAV1 wa
srably good memories, who are in the
habit Of following things to q C0nClu-
sion, notice every day the determination
OF matters that have been the occasion
at some time Of great excitement, out
ragsous fslsehood and miSrepresentap
tion, with the vindication OF parties that
have been the victims of reckless abuse
and neutrality-suspicious. calamity. For
instance, only few days ego the courts
Of Colorado decided that Governor Waite
was perfectly right in the removal Of the
police and fire commissioners at Denver,
who very nearly brought on local civil
war by their defiance of his authority
and determination to retain their places;
their action being upheld and Governor
Waite denounced in unmeasured terms
by the plutocrstic press throughout the
country while the matter was fresh. At
that time columns were given up to the
exciting reports of the affair, and col
umns more to the editorial comment
that seemed to be called FOR. The decis-
ion in Governor Wsite'g favor is dis
posed of with the briefest possible ref.
erence in the news dispatches, in the too
well-founded hope that the greater part
of the people will overlook entirely this
conclusion Of the matter, and retain the
impression attempted to be conveyed in
former reports, that Governor Waite
was wholly in the wrong in this contro-
versy.
So, too, of the reports of the Boston
riots, Of which much was made few
weeks ago. The statements that reached
the general readersin the newspapers of
the day we're, to q cool and rational
mind, msnifestly false, being grossly in
consistent in themselves, but it was very
difficult to get at the actual facts, and
the 'society-savers" scruplsd at moth
ing to cast odium on those taking part.
In the last number Of the Independent,
Rev. Geo. E. Hooker, Of the well-knoWn
institution in Boston known 40 Andover
House, in an article on 1.-THE Unemployed
in Boston" says:
In the line of agitation for public action,
efforts have centered about q young man
named Morrison I. Swift. Mr.. Swift is
perhaps thirty-hve years of age, quiet in
bearing, and possessed of a certain per-
sonsl charm, winning in his manner before
conversational group, and very able be-
fore promisOuous crowd. He is well edu-
Gated, has travelled, and has dwelt much
upon economic ills and their cures. HeiSa
SOCialiSt Of the extreme type. He advocates
peaceful methods, but would not hesitate at
radical measures, provided they promised
success.
After calm and clear statements in re-
lAtion to the character Of Mr.. Swift's
work in Boston during the last few
months, the writer reaches the affair at
the state house, as follows:
After the speeches (at q meeting on the
Oommon) an address to the governor and q
petition to the legislature were indoEsed by
the company, which then marched TO the
state house to present these. The msior
part waited outside while the address was
sent up to the governor; and he was re-
quested, according TO notice sent him the
previous day, TO come out and address the
people. THIS he finally did, calling their
attention TO the duty Of being law-abiding
The advocate., 1894-05-02

Mccormick Binders and built
MACHINE CO., CHICAGO grain grown
tion
The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-08-16
HE CAN'T HELP IT.

There canIbe no doubt as to the action
of President Cleveland concerning the
tariff bill. He will allow ito become
law. He will do this, not because the
country wants it, but because the neces-
stiles of the party demand it. German
had the democracy in hole, and he
smoked it out in good shape. The cleo
tions are coming on, and the lower house
was anxious to adjourn and get home to
look after the political fences. But this
was not Gorman's strong card. He fore
saw the end of the financial stringency
and the beginning of the era of better
times. The factories have been idle until
stocks of all kinds have been used up.
No matter what tariff laws were passed,
the factories had to start to supply the
demand. Should Cleveland veto the
senate bill, or had the house refused to
pass it, the Mckinley bill would have
remained in force. OF course the in
crease of business would then have been
credited to the operation of that bill.
As it is, the democrats will claim the in
crease of business ami better times as
the result of the passage of the senate
bill.
For this reason the presidents hands
are tied. German saw his opportunity
and took advantage of it. He realized
his ability to catch the rabbit whenever
he got ready, and has no doubt enjoyed
the situation immensely. He has killed
himself with the democracy, but he will
go down into history as the only man
Who ever bent President Cleveland to
his will and compelled him to do those
things that he did not want to do.
No doubt the president is raging way
down in his inwards, but he has to
smile and look pleasant, and stand up
to the rack, even though there is no
fodder that he likes. German has won,
and German is done.
The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-08-16
OUR STATE MILITIA.

The Pendleton Tribune falls on the
militia heavily in its issue of the 18th,
saying among other things that ''as an
Imitation of soldiers they are all right;
as fighters ignominious failures 1t
further says in substance that the mill
tia is composed of the "masculated
youth of the city, and that the militia
will have to be composed of country
boys before it will amount to anything.
We heartily indorse all our contempo-
rary says about the country boys, but
we cannot believe that it meant all the
ill-natured things said about the city
boys. We have a pretty fair acquaint-
ance among the militia, and we are of
the opinion that when the state of Ore
gon needs the services of her militia she
will find it ready. She will find what
our contemporary calls the mascuIated
youth of the cities ready to peaform
mems service like men. 1t is true most
of them are young. but they can't help
that and will in time outgrow it, yet
we assert that the state of Oregon has
right now as fine body of militia as
any state in the union, Not dress SOL
diers either, but men who in time OF
need will be found in the front ready to
dare, to do and to die at their country Is
oa11
The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-08-16
WHICH KIND rs ITs

Mr.. John B. Gorham. whose commu-
nication concerning religion and the
sinks of iniquity appears in this issue,
rather arraigns the churches for not
being more aggressive. While it is no
doubt true that the Salvation Army
methods reach elements that are not
reached by the churches, it is equally
true that all Christians cannot be ex-
pected to follow those methods. When
they do the loss will be greater than the
gain. In regards to what the gentle
man calls tsinks of iniquity,'' opinions
vary also. We do not know exactly
what the gentleman means by ssinks of
iniguity,D . that term being applied vari-
The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-08-16
ANCIENT ADVERTISEMENTS.


How the Old Roman Tradesmen Solicited
Public Patronage.
Latin inscriptions, advertisements of
tradesmen, form an interesting class,
says Macmillan's Magazine. Here is
one near Rome: ''If you want inscrip
tions made, or have any need of marble
work, you'll get it here" Another en-
terprising man at Bologna announces:
"a bath in town style and every CON
venience." similar notice meets us
only eight miles from Rome, where, of
course, most of the customers would be
able to know whether they really had
town style" or not.
curious example comes from Lyons,
which may be paraphrased thus: ''Here
Mercury promises profit, Apollo safety,
and Septumanus bed and breakfast. He
who has been here before will be
treated all the better second time.
Stranger, settle on your lodging be-
forehand.''
A more independent tone is taken by
another innkeeper, who doesn't hest
tate to declare that his house is not in
tended for people of moderate means.
''If you live in good style, here's the
house for you; if in poor fashion, I'll
put up with you, but shall be ashamed
of having you
Perhaps there are n good many mod
ern hotels conducted on this principle,
but the proprietors are not, as a rule,
quite so frank in expressing their SEN
timentS