Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-09-07
cANARIEs FOR CONNECTS.
Michigan Prisoners Keep Them For Cam
fort and Raise Them For Profit.

Michigan Prisoners Keep Them For Conn
fort and Raise Them For Profit.
Conyicts in the Michigan state prison
have many more fayors than those Of
almost any other penitentiary i'll the
United States, and it is the belief of the
management of the institution that for
this reason there are fewer outbreaks of
lawlessness than are found elsewhere
Among the fayors ~~anted to them here
is that of keepinl d caring for birds
There are fully 600 fcathered songsters
in Michigan's principal penal institu-
ton, all owned and cared for by the
convicts, and as soon as daylight APP
proaches on bright mornings their sweet
notes are heard in striking contrast to
the natural feelings of their owners.
Many of the most hardened criminals,
who from their general appearance and
history would not be expected to care
for anything of refining nature, ten
derby care for and caress their little pets
More than three-quarters of the cells
in the prison contain one or more ca
naries, and they arc also found in vari-
Gus shops throughout the institution.
During the day the cages are hung out
side the cells to give the birds light and
air, but as soon as the convict returns
from work at night the cage is taken
inside.
This practice has been carried on in
the prison for years, and the officials
say that instead of any detrimental eff
feet being noticeable the little songsters
have proved a benefit, as they not only
give the cells a more homelike appear
ance, but they also WELD a decided in
fiuence in the way of humanizing the
most reckless and hardened criminal.
Besides being permitted to keep the
birds for the sake of their company and
influence, the convicts are also allowed
to raise them to sell, and many a dollar
is credited to the accounts of the prison.
ers from this source. OF course the con-
vict handles none of the money real
lied from the sale of the birds until he
is discharged, but it is placed to his
credit in the prison bank.
1t is interesting to walk up and down
the prison corridors and note the differ
ent kinds Of canaries in the cages, and
more particularly to note the different
methods adopted by the convicts in car
ing for their pets.
All styles of cages are to be seen, and
while one bird is provided with yeri-
table palace of home and all the luxu-
ries known in the bird world the one
in front of the next cell will have sim
ply the plainest wood or wire cage and
only the ordinary seed and water hold
ers. This is also true in the shops, and
the character of the convict can i'll al
most every instance be safely estimated
by the care he gives his feathered
friends
Through the day the music of the
birds is hardly noticeable, although it
can be heard more or less at almost any
time, but ON bright morning the song
sters are pleasingly noisy. One of the
officials who has been connected with
the prison for years says that when he
first came to the prison the music of the
birds i'll the morning made him wild,
but he has now become SO accustomed
to it that the place would be terribly
silent without it. = jackson mich }
Letter in Chicago Record