davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

A ST. PAUL Judge in diScharging
man a few days ago, who upon a trial
had been saved from prison by hung
jury, made the following remarks to
the accused person, which apply with
greater force to every man leaving this
prison, and if not needed, will surely
land us back again and again. The
Judge. in substance said: II do not
know that you have ever been convict
ed of crime, but for the honor of your
dead father, of your family, you must
avoid evil associates. From the associ-
ations that you have made you will
from this time be a marked man. STAY
at home, read books, keep out of sa-
looms. You cannot do the slightest
wrong without being suspected. You
must to go work, stay at home nights,
redeem yourself" Hard as it may
sound we here are marked men. Wehave
placed the brand upon ourselves, and
nothing can erase it but determination
to lead better life, shun any and every
thing that has led us to our present
position, and above all, keep from the
saloon. The man who has good char
acter, whose haunts and associations
are pure will find many to doubt his
guilt when accused of crime: but the
known criminal, the known frequenter
of the saloon and disreputable places
finds himself friendless when in peril.
Now is the time to lay our plans for
the future, mark out path that leads
from the saloon and evil associations
and the prison stain will disappear. He
who fights the battle with honesty and
sobriety on his side commands the re-
Spect of his fellow man no matter what
his previous condition may have been.
The man leaving prison who fails to
do this, places small value upon his
life, and may expect little pleasure out
of it. 1t is not the term eX-cOnvict
that hurts, it is the fact of being worthy
it's application through continuation
of the life, evil associations, and habits
that earned us the title. The man who
tries to reSurrect a character lost, who
conscientiOusly, fearlessly meets his
enemy and tramples him under foot
strives to become man, will never be
suspected of future crime, will never
have the term ex-cOnvict applied to
him, by those whose respect and con-
idence he should strive to obtain. By
conscientiously making these resolu-
tons, we will find our present exile
lose much of its hardship for it will in
spire hope for the future, and with
out hope, who would care to leave
here?
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

THE most common expression, when
talking to prisoner about his future,
is 81 am going to turn over new leaf
when | get out, and never come back
again." at the same time, feeling no
sorrow for past misdeeds, expressing
no real sincere repentance, and very
often cursing the fates that placed him
in prison. To such one we say, your
resolution lacks the ring that goes with
honest intention. 1t is all very we'll to
say, 81 was foolish to commit the act
that brought me here, and | will guard
against a repetition" but upon what do
you pin your faith that you are capable
of resisting the temptations in your
future life? Is it merely the fear of
coming back to prison? If so, we
would not give penny for your reso-
buttons, for you are apt to forget your
present misery after one month of
freedom and with no stronger motive
to keep you from wrong doing than the
possible Imprisonment following de-
tected crime, you will drop again and
in all probability harder than ever.
There is only one successful way to
fight wrong doing, and that is, because
it is morally wrong. The temptations
of life are many, as also, are the
avenues of escape from punishment;
and any man who struggles through
life with no higher motive for virtue
than, by remaining honest he remains
free, is no better than his brother
criminal in the penitentiary. We must
look upon the past only in the light of
a great lesson, of path to be avoided.
We must look upon our present atfiic-
ton, hard though it may be, as a result
of our past weakness, and upon the
future with every hope of success, be-
cause in our hearts we are determined
to do right for rights sake. Any other
course is sure to be followed by dis
aSter.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
500 R@:'eX'SlSZSs:

Learn to laugh. A good laugh is
better than medicine. A we'll told
story is as welcome as a sunbeam
in sickroOm. Learn to keep your
own troubles to yourself. The world
is too busy to care for your ills and
sorrows. Learn to stop croaking.
If you cannot see any good in the
world, keep the bad to yourself Learn
to hide your aches and pains under a
pleasant smile. No one cares to hear
whether you have the earache, head
ache or rheumatism. Don't cry. Tears
do we'll enough in novels, but they are
out of place in real life. Learn to meet
your friends with smile. The good
humored man or woman is always well
come, but the dyspeptic or hypochon-
driac is not wanted anywhere and is a
nuisance as well.-Detroit Tribune.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

their masses and joining hands with
them and fighting shoulder to shoulder
their battles shall man save either
himself or others. This is the key of
life.
This is the method that is at least
eighteen hundred years old, mayhap
older, but that seemed for little time
to have become overlaid with stratum
OF undue anxiety about personal saliva
ton. This is the true type of the best
work tnat is being done today among
the helpless and among the wicked. 1t
means personal contact. 1t means liy-
ing sympathy. 1t means the touch of
life on life, from which the new aspira-
ton flows in steadily strengthening
stream. The men and women who
have dedicated themselves to this work
are the true missionaries. For it is
harder in many ways to spend life
among those near at hand, who are vile
and degraded and familiar with all
kinds of physical and moral foulness,
and to raise them by the unfailing love
of brotherhood than it is to sail away
to another land and preach to an alier
people the comfortable doctrine of their
own inferiority and of the heights to
which change of mental attitude and
spiritual faith would raise them. Not
so is the world to be redeemed. Is
there any reality in those great words,
"fatherhOOd," brotherhood ?" The
destiny of humanity waits upon the
answer. And the answer grows about
us in the rise of these associations and
these centers of life and thought and
action whose inspiring motive is that
of individual helpfulness. Neither in
the speculatiOnS of the Altrurian nor
the philosophy of the Individualist nor
the fantastic dream of the Socialist is
the riddle of human destiny. A man
will save himself only when and in as
far as he has helped others. And that
means not to labor with them for their
souls good merely, but to enter into
the facts of their daily life, and elevate
it and them by daily inspiration and
example until they, too, shall have
ideals strong enough to live by and to
die for. That is the meaning of all
these latter movements. And through
them shines glory that no creed can
ever know except that greatest of them
all, in which there is but that one hard
precept that each shall love his neigh
Dor as himself.-PiOneer Press.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
BROTHERHOOD WORK.

The movement to build a Brother
hood House in st. Paul, by combined
actions of the chapters of st. Andrews
society and other like organizations, is
one that should be commended and
supported heartily. 1t is along the line
of such effort as this that the philan-
thropic and charitable work of the day
is making its most notable progress.
The keynote of it all is the demand for
personal effort, personal sacrifice, per-
SOnal influence. The university set
Elements in the great cities were the
first step. Then came the parish
houses, with all their helpful a6juncts.
Now approaches another union of
effort in the same direction. We have
heard great many people bemoan the
decline of the Christian religion, and
wonder what great new revelation was
to come and shake the foundations of
the moral world in its stead And be-
hold, While there is this questioning,
the old religion appears in this indie
structible gospel of personal work
among the poor and needy.
There is vast and instructive diff
ference between this line of effort and
that of few years ago. Then the aim
Of certain associations that we need
not name because they did good
work in their way and there is no de-
sire to cast a reflection upon them by
unfavOrable comparison, was to appeal
to young men and women to save
themselves. 1t was for this that great
buildings were erected and elaborate
provisions made for the battle against
sin and temptation. To come out
from among the Phillistines, and to
touch not the unclean thing was the
sacrifice asked, with golden rewards in
store for the future. And while these
guilds were thoroughly religious in
tone and practical in purpose, and
while their labors were not unfruitful,
they in their turn seemed to anguish,
and devotion to them grew dim, while
suffering and misfortune and crime so
multiplied that it seemed as if the few
plucked out of the fire were but a
paltry record to compare with the
countless hosts of degradation, march
ing steadily to their doom.
To all of these, both to the workers
and the defeated, comes the word of
the new old creed of human regenera-
ton. Its command is, work for
Others" Not by coming out from
among them, but by going down into
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
Moral Courage in Daily Life

Moral Courage was printed in
large letters as the heading of the fol
lowing items, and placed in conspicu-
Gus place on the door of a systematic
merchant in New York, for constant
reference, and furnished by him for
publication.
Have the courage to discharge debt
while you have the money in your
pocket.
Have the courage to do without that
you do not need, however much your
eyes may covet it.
Have courage to speak to a friend in
a shabby coat, even though you are in
company with rich one, and richly
attired.
Have the courage to speak your
mind when it is necessary for you to
do So and hold your tongue when it
is prudent that you should do so.
Have the courage to tell man why
you will not lend him your money.
Have the courage to cut the most
agreeable acquaintance you have,
when you are convinced that he lacks
principle friend should bear with a
friends infrmities but not with his
vices.
Have the courage to show your re-
spect for virtue in whatever guise it
appears, and your contempt for dishon-
esty and duplicity, by whomsoever ex-
hibited.
Have the courage to wear old clothes
until you can pay for new ones.
Have the courage to acknowledge
your ignorance, rather than seek
knowledge under false pretenses.-
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

when we know. from actual knOWl-
edge, that the man who unfortunately
violates sacred trust, steals or kills
his fellow-man, has from childhood
to the hour of his fall. proven himself
trustworthy, honest and of kindly
disposition. The temptations that
have beset his path he has been unable
to overcome. An excessive indulgence
in either liquor or morphine may have
robbed him temporarily of his sense of
honor and manly character. n too
prevalent desire to ape more favored
brother has brought many an other
wise good and manly young fellow, to
grief and the penitentiary. Jealousy
has whetted many an assassin's knife,
sped many bullet on it's message Of
death to fellow creature. Tracing a
great portion of the crimes committed,
day after day, to one or the other of
these causes, we are constrained to let
our hearts go out to the weak human
who becomes their victim, and pity
him, and endeavor to strengthen the
weak parts of his nature. But who
can excuse the perpetrators of the in
iquitious crimes recently perpetrated
in San Francisco? No doubt insanity
will be the plea. But is not this plea
becoming farcical? In the light of re-
cent trials where supposed experts on
insanity have conclusively demon
strated their inability to define insan-
ity as applied to particular cases, this
plea should never be accepted; espe-
cially in cases where the monsters who
perpetrate these horrible murders and
outrsges show by the cunning man
ner in which they try to dispose of the
bodies of their victims that they are
aware of the enOrmity of their crimes.
The man who will plot to destroy the
life of poor defenseless girl, we care
not what the purpose, is not an ire
sponsible being, he is depraved and
rotten through and through and is not
tit to live even in the penitentiary.
The insane man who commits crime in
almost every instance does so openly,
and rarely if ever offers excuses: on
the contrary, in nearly every instance
he gloats over the accomplishment Of
his heinous act. The man who care
fully lays his plans to take life, and
uses every precaution to cover up his
evil work, is brute and has no place
among men. The beast of the forests,
the savage in the jungle protect their
mate, guard carefully their female
kind. 1t is left for man to debauch
and destroy those to whom they should
sacrifice life to save from harm, aud
they deserve more terrible death
than that inflicted upon their poor
victim
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

Albert Lynch, whose work is becOm
ing so much more generally known to
Americans through his drawings in
Scribner's Magazine and his cover de-
signs for the L0dies' Home Journal, is
a Peruvian by birth, but of English
parentage. He is only thirty-three
years of age, and of extremely re-
firing disposition. He is unmarried
and lives in Paris. The young artist
commands the highest prices for his
work, his smallest water-colOr paint
ings readily selling for $500 each. IL
1893 he received the Salons first prize
for his beautiful panel Of Spring,
showing a single figure. This picture
won the admiration of the French art
critics and the public to such an I'M
usual degree that the painting was sold
for fabulous sum to private Paris
buyer Recently the Ladies' Home
JournoI acquired all publication rights
to this painting, and it will serve as
one of the cover designs for that mag
aZine. The next issue of the Journal
will also have design by Lynch, por
traying his conception of a wOman's
ideal costume. A succession of other
designs by Lynch will follow these two.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

and the Richest Gold Mines in
the Known World.

For unknown wealth in fabulously
rich mines of gold and silver and spark
ling precious gemstones, not to men
ton the lovely scenery, our Rocky
mountains excel any region on earth.
The Illustrated Weekly, of Denver,
Colorado, founded 1890 illustrates the
choicest scenery each week and tells all
about the wonderful west. Also, true
stories of love and adventure. This
big family paper, containing eight
large pages, fifty-six columns, will be
sent on trial three months thirteen
weeks) for only IL two-cent stamps;
club of six for a dollar bill. Hand
some gold rings set with beautiful
Rocky mountain gems are given free
as premiums. Address as above and
mention THE MIRROR when you write.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

barbarous Moor, and that the days of
their brutal bullying and robbery, in
the Orient, at least, are over. If Japan
is successful, and we hope she will be-,
in the formation of a defensive al
lance with China and Siam, Russia
and England will have to pay dearly
for any additional territory they wish
to obtain, if they are not made to sac
rifce some they now hold through
robbery and deceit.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

SUPT. LEE, of the State Reformatory,
has been successful in having the
manufacture of brushes excluded from
the prison labor bill, which provides
that only ten per cent. of the number
of persons employed at any one in
dustry shall be employed in penal in
situations. The brush factory at the
RefOrmatory is the only one in the
state, therefore it conflicts with no
outside labor.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

The legislative session for 1894 5
came to an end Tuesday noon, the last
bill having been passed Monday even
ing. Over 200 bills await the signature,
or the axe of the Governor, then the
state can adjust itself to the new laws
added to its code. a number of the
bills passed are verv important, and
meet with general favor, as does the
entire work of the legislature.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

THE st. Paul Globe made its first ap-
pearance under its new management
last Monday. While it is still in con-
troll of its former owners, the Kittson
Bros, VIM. Dawson, Jr., the purchaser
will be in charge. His associates are
Harold Smith, of New York, business
manager; J. G. Pyle, of the Pionee,
Press, editOr-in-chief, and George F.
Clifford, managing editor
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

THE Penny Press celebrated its
eighteenth month birthday with an "a
page edition last Friday. 1t contained
an exhaustive review of the history of
the paper, the introduction of its new
typesetting machines, and was full of
interesting news of a literary character,
as we'll as representations from the
leading business firms of the city.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

THE conditions for the conclusion Of
peace recently entered into between
China and Japan are creating no little
CONSERVATION among some of the
larger nations across the pond. 1t is
another instance of the hoggishness of
Russia and England in that they can
see no other nation acquire territory,
that through honorable battle they
have wrested from their foes, without
their attempting to dictate how much
it shall be, and where situated. Plucky
little Japan has demonstrated her abil-
ity to fight. She also knows how to
compute the compensation necessary
to pay her for the wear and tear of the
scrimmage she has for months been
engaged in; and we credit her with
sufficient brains and pluck to convince
Russia and England that they are not
monkying with poor Poland or some
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

TOMORROW is arbor day, and all who
have the inclination, may plant tree,
except us. Without a proclamation
from the Governor, however, we can
plant what will be of more benefit to
us than whole forest Of mahogany.
We can plant in our hearts some good
resolution. We can water it with sim
certify, and keep the soil moist by
placing our trust in Him who will as
sist its development into strong and
resOlute character, that will withstand
all the storms of adversely that may be-
set our paths when we are again per
mitted to form part of the active
world. Any good little resolution will
answer; it is wonderful how they grow,
and how green and fresh every thing
appears with their growth.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

IT IS hard to find an absolute excuse
for crime of any nature, although
nearly every crime committed finds an
excuse from the perpetrator himself,
his friends or an excuse loving public.
We cannot conceive that all crime
originates from a depraved nature
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
THE MIRROR is weekly paper published

: THE MIRROR is weekly paper published
Ia the Minnesota State Prison. 1t was founded
in 1887 by the prisoners and is edited and man.
aged by them. Its objects are to be a home
newspaper: to encourage moral and intellectual
Improvement among the prisoners to acquaint
the public with the true STATUS of the prisoner;
to disseminate pathological information and to aid
in diSpelling that prejudice which has ever been
the bar sinister to fallen mans Sef-redemptiOn.
The paper is entirely dependent on the public for
its financial support If at any time there should
accrue surplus of funds, the money would be
expended in the interests of the prison library.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

The MIRROR is under obligations to
Mrs. johnson. of Paris, Texas, for an
illustrated copy of the $1,000 prize
story, "Titus, a Comrade of the Cross"
We shall see that it reaches those to
whom it may be of great good.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
Literary Notes:

lMcClure's Magazine for May will
contain history, drawn from the
Pinkerton archives, of the operations
Reno gang, which for several years
held wide region under complete
dominance while it robbed trains and
county treasures with perfect i'm
punity.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
Thirty Thousand Dollars to
Authors For 'sStOrieS of
Mystery"

The Chicago Records recently in
augurated publication of serial stories
cleverly constructed so as to enlist the
readers interest in the discovery of a
well-concealed mystery, disclosed only
in the last chapter, has been received
with such great favor by its readers
that it is impelled to secure for their
entertainment the best work of the best
living stOry-writers in the English
language. To this end it makes the
following announcement:
The Chicago Record offers to authors
the sum of $4,000 for original stories
written in English, no parts of which
have been heretofore published. The
offer is made upon the following con-
ditions
$4,000 will be paid in twelve cash
prizes for the best twelve stories. The
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

The first prize will be paid for the
story adjudged to be the best. the second
prize for the story adjudged the next
best, the third prize for the story ad-
judged to be the third in merit, the
fourth prize for the fourth in merit,
the fifth prize for the fifth in merit,
two prizes of $500 each and five prizes
of $500 each, thus making the total of
twelve prizes in $4,000.
$4,000 additional will be paid at
space rates for stories of accepted value,
but which may not be awarded any of
the twelve cash prizes.
The stories submitted in this compe-
tition to be "stories of mystery" in
order that readers may be offered prizes
for guessing the solutions of the mys-
teries in advance of their publications.
The stories must reach the Chicago
Record, at its Office OF publication,
181 Madison Street, Chicago, ILL.,, before
October 1, 1895, and the awards will be
made as soon after that date as they
can be read and judged.
For full information authors will adj
dress.
VICTOR F. LAWSON, Publisher,
THE CHICAGO RECORD,
CHICAGO, ILL.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

Entered at the Post Office at saltwater MIMI.
AS Second Glass Mail Matter.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

This paper will be forwarded to subscribers
until ordered discontinued and all arrears are
naid.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

Should TIE MIRROR fail to reach subscriber
each week. notice should be sent to this office.
when the matter will be attended to at once.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

Contributions solicited from any and all sour
ces. Rejected manuscript will not be returned.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25

Edited and Published by the Inmates
of the Minnesota State Prison.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-11-28
EARLY THANKsGIvINGs.
TIE Ere. Proclamation Wa. Issued
I'm 16T-.

The first Thanksgiving proclama-
ton that was ever printed was issued
I'm 1917, and a copy Of it is in tie
collection of the Massachusetts State
Historical society. During the Revo-
lutionary times many Thanksgiving
days were ordered, and congress al
ways adjourned on the day set.
Gen. Washington issued a Thanks
giving proclamation to the Continent
al army Thursday, Dec. Is, 1877, and
again at Valley Forge, on May 7, ITS.
Eleven years later, as president of
the United States, he issued the first
national Thanksgiving proclamation,
a document which is now in possess
ion OF Rev. ]. A. Wellman, who inner
tied 1t from his grandfather.
Congress discussed with the serious
ness of the times the ACCESSIBILITY OF
requesting the president to issue this
proclamation, and many were the OBJ.
jections raised.