Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-12-16
SONGS AT SING SING.
THANKSGIVING DAY FUN AT THE GRIM
 PRISON.

cenvicts Allowed Two Rours of Vocal
 Freedom-A Dog Show Not In It-One
 Mans Voice Frightened Him He Had
 Not Heard It For So Long.
 Joy overflowed in Sing Sing prison on Thanksgiving day.
 Song and laughter filled tho old stone building from end to end.
 As rule there is not much mirth in Sing Sing. It is safe to say that never in the memory of the oldest inhabitant was there such wild hilarity as that among the folks who are doing unpleas- ant service for the state.
 Chicken and minee pie alone did not cause all the enjoyment in Sing Sing; they come with every Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, for two whole hours, the conyicss were permitted to talk, yell, shout, ,ssing, whistle It was the first time that such q liberty was ever granted tho prisoners, and it was a how ling success.
 The idea originated with Warden 0. VI. Sage, and he was so delighted with the experiment. that tho same liberty will be granted again at Christmas.
 One of tho strictest rules of tho prison is that silence must be preserved at all times. So turkey and mince pie were ! hot in it with those two hours of vocal exercise
 On Wednesday Warden Sage had caused typewritten notices to be pasted in each cell stating that the warden de- sired to make tho inmates as comforta- bic and happy as circumstances would permit; that he well understood how z the most trying rulo to observe was the one imposing silence, and that, in view eff the excellent manner i'll which this rule had been observed, everybody, ex- 2 cept those ln the hospital and extension. would be permitted to laegh, whistle, play musical instruments, shout, talk and sing to their hearts contest, pro- vided DO improper remarks were made or improper songs sung. between 3 and 5 D. III. Pounding on cell doors was not permitted. Notice was also given that the hour of 3 would be announced by three strokes on tho gong and the hour of by five strokes.
 At s o'clock in the morning tho ,3Gn prisoners had breakfast, consisting of chicken, mashed potatoes, bread and tea Then they took their exercise and were locked up until 1030 o'clock, when they were formed in companies for dinner, which they took back with them to thoir cells, to eat when they so desired It consisted Of chicken, in ad- dition to which each man received one third of q miHee pie, one half pound of cheese, four apples, tea, sugar and two cigars.
 Every zebra was waiting anxiously E for the gong to strike 3, and tho quiet excitement among the men was won- derful to witness. Some of them seemed fairly bursting to yell and shout and to hear how their voices sounded again when run at full pressure. Every mo ment was counted, and, by accident, the prisoners had ten minutes more of vocal liberty than the warden had grant ed
 At 3 ;50 messenger from the ward en entered one of the galleries to call a keeper He raised his hand, and tho person in charge of the gong, thinking this q signal to strike, struck, The sharp strokes rang out, and bedlam was ]eJ loose. The biggest dog show ever had was as quiet as a Quaker meeting compared to it. From every cell came yells, howls of delight, songs, shouts of delirious joy. No one paid any atten tion to what any one else was shouting, and so the din continued. Convicts just stretched out on their cots and roared.
 Down in one corner of the prison l, al, ,nl,+ 1..l1 s.+ Fisher, the celebrated female imper- smator, announced that he would sing tho Sidewalks of New York , He did, and the chorus was frightful, but hearty Fisher next sang Home and Mother, his voice tender and pathetic, and there were plenty of tears when he finished
 Convict 9, life prisoner, who has been so long inside the walls that he has forgotten to count the years, had a hard time getting his talking apparatus into working order. For years and years he has only spoken few words in whisper, and when he spoke out loud his voice almost frightened him.
 When Warden Sage passed along the tiers of tho cells, the eonyicts gave him three cheers. The warden is very strict, but the men know he is their best friend and willing to aid them all he can. Not man abused tho talking privilege, and the warden felt proud of the fact.
 When, at o'clock, the big gong sounded again, bedlam ceased as by magic. Many Of the eonvicts were hoarse, and some of them could not have talked and shouted much more. Their supper consisted of the regular prison fare. but nearly all had enough left over from the generous dinner to make an excellent supper, so there was mu-. tual boycott on dry bread. New York Recorder.
 Dairyins In Hle South.
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