The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-04-25
TepMe.l Shopper year. in advance.
Six Months 80 cents.

there is great difference between the
commttal of crime, and being con-
victed or found out,) stands today in
the same situation as the leper did in
the old days of the Jews. That in the
eyes of a. vast majority of the so-called
Christians, a man who has served
sentence in the state prison, is an out
cast and pariah from the rest of the
community. We speak of these United
States as Christian nation, and yet
how hard do they make it for a man
who has once, aye, or twice gone astray,
to return to the paths of recitude and
good living.
Let man once enter the walls of a
penitentiary, serve his sentence, and go
forth determined to do all that in him
lies, to earn an honest living and to
redeem the past; let such one go
forth, and let us see what he has to en-
counter. He finds that his offence has
been blazoned through the length and
breadth of the land, and often his por
trait-he goes to work. the detectives
or the police know him, his employer is
Informed, he is discharged, or, if still
allowed to earn his bread, the moment
anything goes wrong, he is at once
suspected. and it is very odd If he does
not find himself behind the bars again,
innocent though he may be. No one
seems kindly disposed towards him.
No one will lend him helping hand
to climb up the ladder of life; but
thousand hands will be stretched out
to crush him down if he makes but the
slightest slip. Is it wonder so many
fall again? am glad to see that THE
MIRROR is trying to teach the inmates
of this institution, that it is to them
selves only that they must look to win
the upward path; that it is in spite of
the hindrances which may be put in
their way, and not by the help of others
that they must, inch by inch, and step
: by step, mount upward and onward
until they reach the goal at which
r they aim. This is good sound advice,
7 and trust that there are many here
r who will fellow it, and yet earn for
} themselves name and a future of
l which they may be proud. But this is
y little WOrd-here it has a big mean
5 ing. But there are many here who
S have not the moral stamina of others,
t weak and easily led for good or evil as
the case may be; for these something
more is needed, and that is the heart
felt service, advice, and assistance of
the true Christian. The putting out
the hand and touching the leprosy Of
4 the criminal, and helping him to help
8 himself to become clean once more.
t Such Christianity will surely receive
8 its reward, for the Master said: 81 was
!; in prison and ye came unto me-" and
! they said "Nhen saw we thee in pris-
, on and came unto thee. and He
s answered: ''Inasmuch as ye did it un
!. to the least of these my brethern, ye
Il did it unto me- This is the Christian
o ity-I do not mean the churches, but
h those earnest, whole sOuled, noble
spirits. who. because they loved Christ
e loved their fellOw-man also, who form
e the true and only Christianity Of the
@ present age. This is the Christianity
% that is now needed to aid the state in
a. it's great work of the reformation OF
e. it's criminal population, especially OF
20 the young How they may so aid, il
ii is my purpose to show in another
ID paper; and not only how thew may do
I'd it in this country but how they are
10 already doing it abroad, with grand
results. ii.