Rock Island Argus., 1895-12-21

the change from the horrible mudhole
to the rest and comfort Of a cell in the
hospital was indeed almost =" 'eavenly."
With nothing to do but to read my
Shakespeare, the cravings of hunger for
the first time since my imprisonment
satisfied, was tempted to believe-I
did partly believe-that the world had
few positions pleasanter than mine.
Godliness with contentment is un-
doubtedly great gain. Contentmens
alone without the godliness is no poor
thing, and was not content? Few in
deed Of all the thousands who have toll
ed in that torturing prison house have
ever been or are likely ever to be SO
content as I was
How true it is that happiness is al
together relative, and that it is divided
much more evenly among men than we
from an intolerable position, single
book to keep the mind from cracking,
transformed gloom and misery into light
and at least comparative happiness.
After time began to watch the ef
feet Of the unnatural life upon others.
They arrived full Of resolution, buoyed
often by hopes which they were soon
destined to find delusive. The short time
men, those with seven or ten year SEN
tences, could face the prospect hopefully.
To them the day would come when the
prison gate must swing back and the
path to the world be open once more.
But no such hope cheers the long timers,
the men with 20 years and life, who
quickly learn how great the proportion
is OF their number who find relief only
in the box smeared with black which
incloses what is left of them in the
grave. Every day used to see the ef-
fects ON them of hunger and torment Of
mind. The first part visibly affected
was the neck. The flesh shrinks, disap-
pears and leaves what looks like two ar
time wears on the erect posture grows
bent. Instead Of standing up straight
the knees bulge outward as though un.
able to support the body's weight. and
the man drags himself along in kind
Of despondent shuttle.
Another year or two, and his shoul-
ders are bent forward. He carries his
arms habitually before him now he has
grown moody, seldom speaks to any one
deterioration Of the body the mind keeps
equal step, and SO unfailing is the effect
that even warders wait to see it and re-
mark to each other that So-and-so is
"going off," When the sufferer begins
to carry his arms in front, every one un-
derstands that the end is coming. The
projecting head, the sunken eye, the
fixed, expressionless features are merely
the outward exponents of the hopeless.
sullen brooding within. Sometimes the
man merely keeps on in that way, vast
ing more and more, body and mind,
every day until at last he drops and is
carried into the infirmary to come out
no more.
During all these years never saw my
companions. Mac had been sent to Port
land, Noyes to Portsmouth and George
to Dartmoor.
After 1883 strenuous efforts were
| made for our release.
My sister came to England that year
and remained permanently there. She
worked bravely and we'll, but year after
| year passed without result. None Of us
was prepared for the vindictive fury of
the Bank of England. Its power was all
potent with the government. George
had been bedridden for years and was
slowly dying. At length in 1887 the
medical officer of the prison certified his
| speedy death was certain, and the gov
ernment released him to die, but he re-
solved that he would not die until was
free. With liberty and hope health came
slowly back, and he devoted every hour
to working for my liberation, but for a
time he devoted it in vain. More than
once had I seen the prison emptied and
filled again. OF all the life prisoners ]
had met there on my arrival or who fol
years after had joined me was the sole
survivor.
One by one sickness or insanity born
of despair had laid them in the prison
graveyard or buried them in the asylum.
Out of more than 20 none had lived to
be liberated, and determined appeared
the Bank of England directors that
should not form an exception, but tha,
if ever the prison doors were opened tt
me it should be only when SO near death
that I might join the many who haG
gone before.
My fate seemed inevitable, but never
for n moment did cease to believe thai
fortunes frowns would one day disap
pear and that should yet again fee
the warmth and sunshine Of her smile
From his sickbed and in his health
George never ceased his efforts. He sue
ceeded in interesting James Russell
Lowell and many others in my behalf
The president asked the English gov
eminent officially to grant my release
Mr.. Blaine, the secretary of state, sen
very strong letter through Ministe
Lincoln, in London, and thought whei
told Of it that my day to go was not fa
away.
It will interest Americans, perhaps
to learn that the representations of tn,
president and of the secretary of state O
the United States met the same cour
tesy as was shown to all the previuu