The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-06-21

Is consists in his determination to do
what is right; and | will do the same
And perhaps he will carry this same
spirit and determination to the outside
world and become man there also. 1t
is the Ostracism of this world, the small
unchristian trait of men considering
themselves more than mOrtalS that keep
a great many of their unfortunate
human beings down; that keepthe pop
ulations of our prisons SO enormously
high. 1t is the good example, the kind
word, the spirit of brotherly love that
softens and molds men to better lives.
But separate man, place the epithet
'hardened" over his name, tell him he
must not, he is not good enough to
breathe the same air with other men,
and you may rely upon it he becomes
harder still.
But you will hear some people ex-
claim: "NIy! and yeu must go behind
those walls to mingle there with hard
ened criminals, contaminated by their
presence, you who never did a wrong
action in your life but rob bank or
church treasury, too bad. too bad.
That man-in defense of his own life,
perhaps a murder; that
other one stole an overcoat And you
must associate with them" To these
people and to all of the would be '1ll
show you how to conduct a prison
element, would say, come here and
remain with us few months and you
will learn lesson or two that Will
make your fortune in the reform field.
| You will find men behind these walls
whose names have been held up to
mankind as a warning; model men,
whose every action, day after day, year
after year. would be lessons that many
men outside could we'll profit by. And
you will find others, perhaps, who
jumped right in here out of Sunday
school, or society, that cause the officials
more trouble in week than these So
called hardened criminals do in year
or in an entire sentence. Ask the Off
cials who are their best prisoners, as a
class, and they will say, "The supposed
hardened men,
A man cannot set bad example in
an institution of this kind, even if dis
posed. He cannot corrupt his fellow
prisoner; the moment he does wrong he
is punished and degraded 50 that in
stead of trying to encourage others tC
do wrong, he is continually on the
watch to see that he does not do sc
: himself-While on the other hand his
being permitted to associate with those
who are trying to do better, by noting
t how pleasant they try to make thei
5 Imprisonment, he is encouraged to d(
a right also, so that he may enjoy th'
Y same benefits, and will finally do righ
y for rights sake.
= Man can never be reformed by isola
t ton. or through harshness. Ever,
S means should be employed to touch tn
heart, awaken the conscience. Max
0 them realize they are men, and max
|, them desire to become better. A grea
f many do not seem to know the differ
l. ence between right and wrong in tn
d deep moral sense that involves the sou
l. with God, they know what men say
O right, and what the law says is rigf
Il and wrong to certain extent, but the
4, lose confidence in their authority, the
l. think they know no more about it tina
10 they do themselves, and to treat thel
sr as if they were lost and should renal
e. with the depraved, and unfit to assoc
e. ate with or be treated like others, wi
At never bring them to respect any oth'
r. than their own depraved natures.
Or The sympathy of the human heart
s. wonderful; it can be listed into tt
le transport of the redeemed or sunk I'M
IN the darkness of the lost. Change tt
ne surroundings and expectations of tt
he prisoner. Make him feel that he is
ne as good as his fellow, that we are OF
ke common family; that he can raise hi1
es self to something higher and noble
er and the day will come when the separ
re tion of the prisoner will cease to agita
ny the reformer-when there will be !
en- prisoners to reform. &c.