davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror., 1895-02-07

of the pathos surrounding its publica-
tion. 1t is weekly paper printed en-
tirely by prisoners of the Minnesota
State Prison at Saltwater. According
to it's title page and announcements:
Edited and printed by the inmates, it
gives the convict an opportunity of
conveying his best thoughts to paper,
and having the same reproduced and
placed before him each week.
1t was founded in 1887 bv the prison
ers, and is edited and managed by them.
Its objects are to be home newspaper:
to encourage moral and intellectual i'm
provement among the prisoners; to
acquaint the public with the true STATUS
of the prisoner; to disseminate penologi-
cal information and to aid in dispelling
that prejudice which has ever been the
bar sinister to fallen mans self-le-
demptiOn. The paper is entirely de-
pendent on the public for it's financial
support. 1t at any time there should
accrue surplus of funds, the money
would be expended in the interests of
the prison library.
Surely this is noble impulse, one
that should be encouraged by every
struggling one of us who are, or should
be, conscious that only good fortune and
our guardian angels, and not our own
merits or strength, have led us thus
far in paths lying at a safe distance
from the precipice over whose brink
just as good as we have fallen. The
very least we can do is to give them
lift up to safe footing, help them to
brush off the dust and debris of their
fall, and make them feel that because
they have fallen once is no reason why
they should do so again.
The SANTA CLARA holds out fra
ternal hand to The Prison Mi,ror, and
prays: God bless you my brother and
make your Mirror not one in which
you ''see darkly' but one wherein many
down-cast souls may see as ''face to face"
the guiding hand of the Divine One
even though His dicipline leads through
prison enclosures.
The mirror., 1895-02-07
JUSTICE COURTS.

There is more or less discomfort
manifest over our present system of
justice courts Each township is al
lowed one or two of these officials who
are in many instances elected to this
important position without any quail
tlcation whatever. Hardly week
passes without an illustration of igno-
rance of law, and an inability to make
out proper papers. Many other es-
sential things can be cited to show the
farcical nature of these lower courts.
A law should be placed on our statute
books tending to give that part of our
judicial system the rank and dignity
commensurate with the work to be per
formed. We clip the following extract
from the Litchfield Review, which is
pertinent and suggests itself as being
we'll worthy of consideration:
The present system is very poor
one. a man to be justice should be
learned in law, and man of ability.
Instead of having justices in every
township in the county, we believe it
would be better to have only two or
three in county the size of Meeker,
and they should be men qualified for
such positions. This would, we believe,
be more satisfactory and often save
long and expensive litigation. Prince
ton Union.
The mirror., 1895-02-07
THE BEAUTIFUL ROCKIES.
They Contain the Grandest Scenery
and the Richest Gold Mines in
the Known world.

For unknown wealth in fabuIously
rich mines of gold and silver and spark
ling precious gemstones, not to men
ton the lovely scenery, our own Rocky
mountains excel any region on earth
The Illustrated Weekly, of Denver,
Colorado, founded l89O) 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, fiftysiX columns, will be
sent on trial three months thirteen
weeks) for only ten 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., 1895-02-07

therefore more useful to those around
them. Under these improved conditions
the editors have an opportunity to
show that they have fair mOdicum of
mate between what is good and what
is bad, and the kind of matter to be
published in their journals The insti-
tuition authorities are also showing that
they appreciate this change, and are
becoming quite liberal in their apprO-
prlatlOns for carrying on the good work ,,
and are stocking many of the printing
offices from which these journals are
issued with all necessary materials to
execute their work in respectable
manner and enable the managers of
such establishments to properly instruct
the youths employed therein This is as
it should be everywhere, for " if any
thing is worth doing at all, it is worth
doing WE'LL
So many changes for the better, and
many really fine specimens of work
manship and enterprise have reached
us that we have not time or space to
note them individually at present. We
therefore simply congratulate all of
them in bunch, and hope the good
work of improvement will go on during
the years to cOme.-The Advance
The mirror., 1895-02-07

WE learn that Frank Randall who
was paroled last summer, and who was
in the last stages of consumption has
finally succumbed to that dread disease
at his home at Lincoln Minn.. having
passed away last Saturday. He had
been sent to Saltwater for life on a
charge OF murder, but owing to his ex-
treme youth. he is scarcely 20 years of
age, and his fatal disease, Gov. Nelson
committed his sentence to 10 years, and
he was released last May under the
the parole system. While it is sad that
one so young should leave life with all
its possibilities, we are glad that he was
permitted to die surrounded by friends
and in freedom.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

Miss LILLIAN LEWIS who played an
engagement last week in Minneapolis,
and in St aul the previous week, in
Cleopatra, made THE MIRROR office a
call; she remarked en- passdnt, so many
handsome things that modesty prevents
our repitition She complimented, how
ever, the contributed and editorial
features of THE MIRROR very highly;
stating, that she had been reader OF
THE MIRRORS columns for several
years, and always with pleasure, and re-
newed her subscription for another
year.
Miss Lewis is an exceedingly graceful
and accomplished lady, and we can
fancy, though debarred the pleasure of
seeing, with what bewitching grace she
lures poor Antony on that fatal trip
down the Nile. The company go to
Milwaukee after their Saltwater en-
gagement,
The mirror., 1895-02-07

ANOTHER retired American actress
will soon have to take to the stage
again. May Y Yohe who recently married
Lord Hope, has got the Hope sure
enough; but what she hoped to get with
the Hope, an English castle and liveried
servants has developed into a bankrupt
estate with Liabilities rising $3OOOOOO
and assets about $SOOOOO. Would it
not have been better for her to have
married her leading man? he could
at least have assisted her in getting a
living.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

youth. Lewdness and immortality of
every nature should be strictly forbid
den in those that do exist, and licenses
should be placed at figures SO high that
their numbers would decrease, and is
sued only to those whose integrity is
absolute. The youth would be pro
tected, as no man of integrity would
lure them into his place would prohib-
it their entrance, in fact; and, for the
saloon keepers own preservation, the
same rule would apply to the drunkard,
the bum and the criminal
Were there none of these low dives,
these so-called barrel houses, the bum
and criminal resorts in our cities, insti
tutiOns such as the one recently started
by these kind, well-meaning people
would be unnecessary. But so long as
they exist, these homes must multiply
to supply the ever increasing army of
whisky wrecks, many of whom hail
such arefuge from the cold winters
blasts with deep and heartfelt gratitude,
cOnscientiously resolving to reform and
endeavOr to be men, but many of whom
will, with the opportunity, return again
and again so long as these tempters
snares are open to them. We
admit that these movements do some
good, and add our blessing to that of
the many who are benefited and res
cued by these means. But in the light
of the past, where so many have fallen
and continue to fall by the wayside,
we would urge, that the avenues
where men and women are wrecked, be
closed. Men can make laws that will
accomplish this end. The coming gen
Grafton needs it. Society, to become
better, purer, demands it. And thou
sands of men today, who i'll the past
have found themselves too weak to
combat this evil and feel themselves
yet, perhaps, too weak to face it, cry
out, suppress the evil" In this way
only is weak man safe, is complete ref
ormatiOn possible, is society secure.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

How happy it is to be able to read
such beautiful picture of a life de-
voted to the cause of humanity, as that
reproduced in this issue, from the pen
of Mrs. M. A. kimball, of st. Paul. in
The WHITE RIBBONER January |, '95.
and how sad, that they are so rapidly
disappearing from that field of action
where their presence had such a power
full influence in rescuing the weak and
unfortunate from lives of sin and degra-
dation. A lady who was for years
associated with Mrs. WOrmwood in her
noble work for the temperance cause,
writes THE MIRROR the following words
of praise
Mrs. Wormwood was the w. .C.T.U.
visitor at the Ramsey County jail for
nearly twelve years, always faithful,
always interested in the welfare of "my
boys" as she called them. The last
time [ met her, she was eagerly plan
ing a visit to the penitentiary but |
learned later she could not 90. MANY
of the inmates will remember her kind
motherly heart and her earnest words
of encouragement, also her endeavOr
to lead them to a better and happier
life. She was not one who prayed and
talked with the boys behind the bars,
and forgot all about them when outside
the Jail, but she was always earnest and
constant in her devotion to their welfare.
The mirror., 1895-02-07
A GREAT SUCCESS.

The recent change made by the New
York Weekly World in issuing two
papers week in place of one is meet
ing with great favor.
The people appreciate the change,
and are taking advantage of it.
Why pay dollar year for WEEKLY
paper when you can get the New York
World TWICE a week for the same
price?
Keep informed of what is going on
in the world and particularly in your
own country. Congress is now in ses-
sion. Every movement will be of the
greatest interest. Keep abreast of the
times by reading the TwICE-A-wEEK
woRLD-two papers week-1O4 papers
year for only $1.OO.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

"a Mirage of Murder is the strange
title of a strange story contributed to
the San Francisco Aayonaut of Febru-
ary 4th by Howard Markle Hoke.
Those who read "The Reaching Hand
will recall the weird quality in which Mr.
HOke reminds one of oe at his best;
and this story, "a Mirage of Murder
will live among the thrilling and grew
some tales for which American fiction
is famous
The mirror., 1895-02-07
Literary Notes.

Conan Doyles impressions of the
to be continued in all article to appear
in the next issue of I'he L0dies' Home
JOUrMnl The article was originally
intended to be the novelist's impressions
of American woman, but this plan was
altered and the article to be printed in
the Journal will give DR.. DOyle's ideas
of Literary Aspects of America
Colonel Alexander X Mcclure, ia
McClure's Magazine for Feb. says:
Lincoln was quickened to the exer-
else of his full authority as commander
in-chief by the multiplied misfortunes
of his generals. He accepted as com
manderS the men in the army most con
spicuOus in military service, and it was
one of the Saddest lessons of the war
that not one of the commanders then
prominent before the country and most
trusted, became chleftanS as the con
fict progressed. The contrast between
the Union and the Confederate COM
manders is indeed painful. The Con
federate officers who started out as
military leaders in the beginning of the
war, as rule were the chieftains at
the close. The Johnstons, Cooper Lee,
Beauregard, Jackson, Longstreet, Hill
Kirby Smith, Ewell, Early, Bragg, Hood.
FitZ Hugh Lee Stuart, and Others.
either fell in the flame of battle, lead
ing high commands, or emerged from
the war with the highest distinction.
On the other side, not one of the men
who came out Of the war with the
grateful plaudits of the country as
chieftains of the Union, was known to
military fame when Sumter was fired
upon. One by one Lincolns command
ers fell by the wayside, and he was con-
stantly perpleXed with the sense of the
fearful responsibility he was compelled
to assume in the assignment of com
manders to the different armies. This
necessity naturally called for the employ
ment of his supreme powers, and com
PEELED him to exercise the SOundest
discretion time and again, as failure
in his great work of overthrOwing the
rebellion.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

OF all the wild beasts the bear is said
to be the most difficult to tame on ac-
count of his superior intelligence. He
will never forget an injury or wrong no
matter how small: revenge is always
lurking in his eye and some day he is
bound to have it out with his keeper.
In this respect some people are very
much like the bear.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

The men who knew her in the Ramsey
County jail have lost faithful praying
friend
We publish the above, as many
of the inmates from Ramsey County
may remember this good lady, who
has lain down life's burdens and
cares, and is enjoying the rest and peace
that follows all good and pure lives.
The mirror., 1895-02-07
THE MIRROR is issued every Thursday at the
THE MIRROR is a weekly paper published

THE MIRROR is a weekly paper published
In the Minnesota State Prison. 1t was founded
ih 1887 by the prisoners and is edited and man
aged by them. Its objects are to be home
newspaper; to encourage moral and intellectual
Improvement among the prisoners; to acQuaint
the public with the true STATUS of the prisoner;
to disseminate penOlOgical 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 a surplus of funds the money would be
expended in the interests of the prison library.
The mirror., 1895-02-07
@<dQKF'a|:;|4!!R3 9! EK'l!X'!9ySZSsS: /!

There is said to be one editor In
heaven. How he got there is not posi-
lively known, but it is conjectured
that he passed himself Off for a minis
ter, and stepped in unexpectedly. When
the dodge was discovered they searched
the realms of felicity in all their length
and breadth for lawyer to draw up
the necessary papers for his ejectment,
but they couldn't find one, and of
course he held the fort. Breckenridge
Telegram.
There was great man once who
said Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty" Never was a truer thing said
than that. II we want to be free, if we
want to have liberty. we have always
to be on the guard. We have always
to be attending to our affairs. We
have always to be looking after our
selves. Whenever we stop guarding
ourselves, then we lose our liberty.
So that it is by never-ending, constant
watching that we can have liberty
Reformatory Record.
An exchange remarks that it is pass
ing strange that people cannot learn
that true friendship is shown by stick
ing up for their friends when their
friends are absent. The person who
is your friend only when you are
around and ever ready to say mean
things when not around is not only
incapable of true friendship but is
void of the qualities which go to make
up true men and women. Such peO-
pie do not seem to know that, sooner
or later, their stories become twice
told tales and eventually find a har-
Dor in the breast of those most directly
Interested Rushford Star.
People are apt to think that fully
two thirds of the crime is to he found
in the wild and woolly'' west but
according to latest reports the east
beats the west in that respect. In the
counties of Luzerne, Carbon and
Schuylkill, Penn, there have been
during the last ten months nearly 100
murders and only eleven of the murder
ers were caught and convicted and
none in the first degree. Last year, so
an exchange says, the number of
deaths by foul means bordered close
onto $50 with a ridiculous!y small
proportion of arrests and convictions
and none at all in the first degree. An
agent Of the largest arms manufac-
turing establishments in the east, when
asked how business in his line was
fiourishing replied; "Better this year
than for long time; despite the hard
times | sold in the above mentioned
region $50, 900 worth of revOlvers and
this year | expect to add $4,000 to
that figure. 1t is, however, but just
to state that the principal buyers were
Huns, Slayos and Italians and they of
the lowest ass.-Wheaton (Minn, }
Footprints.
The SANTA CLARA MAGAZINE says:
One of the most interesting exchanges
received at this office bears the title The
Prison MirYor-interesting because
The mirror., 1895-02-07

When we are about to make friend
we should always be careful to think
whether his company will improve or
deteriorate our moral condition. We
must remember that there is no in
fluence so great upon the human charac-
ter as associations. Nothing outranks
this power in determining what we
shall be and do. Although heredity is
a powerful factor; yet it has been held
in allegiance by the power of associ-
ations A friend says that the child,
who has inherited traits of character
which need only opportunity to assert
themselves in order to send him head
long to destruction, is often held in the
path of virtue by moral and upright
surroundings: while, perchance those
with a heritage of honor and nobility
have been drawn to the lowest depths
by vicious associations. They fell, as
did Lucifer, "from heaven to hell"
When we sit down and think the
matter over, we are forced to &C
knowledge how often the power of as
sociation bas been exerted upon our
own characters; even here in the Re-
formatory, we are often judged by the
men we associate with. A thing which
at first seemed abhorrent and revolving
becomes by custom less so. until at last
we find ourselves doing the thing we
despised, and, worst of all, with no
sense of our descent, no due realization
Of our moral lapse Summary.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

During the past year great improve
ments have been made in the refOrma-
tory journals, indicating progress in all
respects. Yearly they are getting
better, both intellectually and mechanic
ally, more independent in discussing
the questions concerning their peculiar
line of work, getting out of the rut that
leads to imbecility and good for-nothing
ness, less under orders from the boards
of control relative to what must and
must not be said about their institutions
and reformatory matters generally, and
The mirror., 1895-02-07

This paper will be forwarded to subscribers
until ordered discontinued and all arrears are
paid.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

Entered at the Post Office at Saltwater. MIMI
Second ClaSSaS Mail Matter.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

WE notice among our exchanges this
week, THE CENTRAL CITIZEN of Alex
andria Mimi, and NICOLLET INDIE
PENDENT of st. Peter MINI.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

Edited and Published by the Inmates
of the Minnesota State Prison.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

Contributions solicited from any and all sour
ees. Rejected manuscript will not be returned.
The mirror., 1895-02-07

The SANTA CLARA MAGAZINE says:
One of the most interesting exchanges
received at this office bears the title The
Prison Mi7YOr-intereSting because
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-06-14
ZONES WINS THE RACE
Smith il but Eleven Laps Be-
hind at the Finish.

This six-day race at Austin was
won by Jones, with Smith second.
Jones' total score was 17S miles;
Smith 1T miles, Ia laps, thus being
II laps behind Jones, as there were
% laps to the mile. Paplo broke
down at s O'Clock, and quit with l65
miles to his credit, 10 miles less than
the limit. The score ON Friday night
was: Jones, 1872 miles, Is laps; Smith,
1911; Paplo, 1911; Piece, lO9-lS;
Buchanan, 1O7-15. At the end OF the
contest the score was as follows:
Jones, 17S miles; Smith, l77-l4;
Paplo, 1855; Pierce $50; Buchanan,
40. The race was u hnan-
cial failure, the good attend
ance at the beginning not continuing
through the week. Smith writes
that if there had been one hour
more to go, he would have won.
The finish was an exciting one, the
people shouting and cheering 81 il
they were crazy. Smith is consider
ing a proposition to go to Mason
City, a., and participate in race
there.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-06-14
HOW ABOUT THE FOURTH
a Leading Business Man
Thinks We Should
Celebrate

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TRANSCRIPT:
In less than four weeks grand old
Independence day will have come
and gomez Shall we sit down anu
complain of hard times while our
more enterprising neighbors cele-
brate the day, entertain the crowd
and pocket the profits, or shall we
call Il citizens, meeting at once tor
the time is short) and get up a good
rousing old fashioned celebration!
In the absence of Mayor Davidson
the call should probably emianate
from the president of the council.
To those who in former years com
planned that the money subscribed
was too loosely handled, would
say that under the system adopted
last year not q dollar was received
or paid out except upon proper
vouchers, and treasurer's accounts
audited by committee, balanced to a
penny.
By all means let us celebrate the
Fourth. CHAs. II. BROWN.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-06-14
"Hnd Along Came Grass
hopper and Took Another
Grain of Corn

A. T.. McKibben, who is running an
apiary out in Morrill,, had a curious
experience with bear q few days
ago. The bear sneakei in one night
and managed to get away with
three hives full OF honey, says the
truthful Royalton Banner The next
morning Mr.. McKibben started for
the house of a neighbor to get gun
and while he was gone bruin returned
and stole two more hives. McKib-
ben Watched for him that night but
bruin did not return. The next day
being Sunday McKibben went to the
postoffice, two miles distant, and
while he was gone the bear made
another raid on the apiary and cap
tured one hive. McKibben watched
all night gun in hand but bruin laid
low till morning when McKibben had
returned to the house, then he again
made his appearance in quest OF
more sweetness. McKibben was
watching for him through the win
dow and seeing the honey thief ap-
proach stepped to the door and shot
the bear dead just as he was in the
act of Juggling off another hive. Ine
bear destroyed $50 worth OF money.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-06-14
COUNTER AND COUNTED
Enunerator Fretz. Makes
Some Interesting Obser.
VatiOne.

"Mr. Fretz, how do you think the
city will show up in this census?'
",,rops have never looked better,
and the recent rains are good for
lumbermen." replied Mr., Fre'z.
How il the Third ward, SO far ms
Eyou have progressed?"
"It looks as II bad VS.. honest
money would he the great issue
next year.
"What is the age Of Mrs. u. ON
Stecnth street?'
cts about time for another revo.
luton in South America. Must be
interesting to live down there"
"When did MIR. T., on -av-
enue, come to this country?'
"Thc experimental farm would be
good thing for Little Falls" and
Mr.. FretZ smiled.
The above lucid interview between
Mr.. Fretz and Il citizen is explained
by the fact that the secretary OF
state has issued a bulletin stating
that the law prohibits enumerators
from giving out any information
whatever regarding their work. So
it would be a waste Of time to
bother Mr. Fretz with questions.