The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-26

swer to my look Warden Lynch said that
is the flock STEP" which is considered
one of the best possible forms of discip-
line.
Then Mr.. Lynch introduced me to his
daughter, and we went over TO the offices
and officers rooms, where I met his wife
and the other members of his interesting
family. consisting of five children. the
eldest. son, Bert, who is homo for the
holidays; daughter. Miss Maud, an ex-
tremely pretty and sweet natured girl;
Clyde. another son; Aldine, a bright little
girl of twelve, and the sweetest girl baby
named Eulah.
Mrs. Lynch and her children uni
ted in making me feel their
pleasing hospitality, but while we were
waiting for dinner I managed to make
Mr.. Lynch understand that much as
appreciated and enjoyed it, had come
to see the institution and was anxious to
go about some
He laughed and turning to Col and
Mrs. Pearson said: "a newspaper woman
IS Just like newspaper man, only more
so; nothing escapes either of them"
At a suggestion that they were per-
haps better he said: "rm not going back
on my sex; it will end in US men being
compelled to ask for equal rights next
thing you know"
Then he said Col. Psarsoll the store
keeper would show me the dining room,
and in company with Col Pearsoll
and his wife we went again through
the big iron gates which are unlocked
and locked SO many times day
There was moments delay and l
stopped at the deputy warden's Office
where the prisoners friends are allowed
to visit them
Across the room colored woman has
brought her little flock to see their
father and he looks quite happy as he
munches some cake they have brought
him. The children, the greetings over
are looking curiously about them.
Next to them is a little old woman
bowed above a young mans hand which
she is caressing and kissing. She bends
over SO her face is hid, but her form
shakes with sobs and her boys hand is
being baptized with her tears de sits
there with one arm still drawn up in the
customary position when folded and his
face is as immovable as that of a
statue. In his eyes there is
the expression which 1 suppose is the
look l have SO often seen described as
stony. He does not comfort her; he
reaches out no hand 10. caress. He does
not say don't mother" but sits there
heartless. He ia the stuff criminals are
made of.
Over in this corner an old man 10 just
being led in and looks bewildered. Some
one wants to sec him and it is an un-
usual occurrence. He has put on one OF
the brown coats to cover some of the
stripes; across the back of it are the let
tiers &. S. ?. but be will face about and
no one will see those.
A young man rises to greet him and
smiles little through his tears, but the
old man looks blankly at him. DOM
you know me, father?" comes from the
young man in a trembling voice, "I'm
John" 1t is evident the old man don't
know him, but he takes
Johns word for it, and with a half smoth
cred articulation he falls into a chain
and he and John clasp hands, awkward
ly, though tightly, and sit and look a
each other, while another younger sor
turns away his head. Neither speaks
and I'm glad of it; there's a hard lung
in my throat. 1t is enough that an Off eel
must always sit and watch these inter
views.
Mr.. Nain says, sit don't affect me as i
did at first; can stand it better now"
Then we go over into the dining room
where two pies, four or five apples, sew
| eral small cakes and a generous supply
of sausage is being piled up at eacl
mans plate and I wonder how they arr
to eat it all.
markably intelligent and good looking
fellows are Mr. Pearsoll's "trusty" assist
ants.
Then we come back to watch the
men brought out to dinner.
They walk along with the lock step
and Col, Pearsoll says THAT handsome
healthy looking fellow at the head O
that column is Emmet Dalton"
When attention is drawn to him ht
flushes painfully and looks as if h,
would like to hang his head.
Warden Lynch says Dalton is gilt
edged prisoner. He never gives an.
trouble and never has.
"He is at the head of our cutting de
| partment in the tailor shop and has won
! derful executive ability"
l suggested that this might be fam
lily trait, and that the others were per
! haps fine organizers as we'll.
| Mr.. Lyncn says that people probab l,
think Emmett Dalton is much worse thar
he is. He couldn't have been so yer,
bad, he is so young now, and he has
good face.
AS we walked about where there were
many prisoners and apparently few Off
GERS, did not feel in the least afraid
but had an aversion to appearing t.
pry into their affairs, so l wondered if
could possibly talk TO one of them.
OF course there was the brigh
appearing fellow in tn
| greenhouses, he told me more abou
plants than 1 knew before, but to refe
directly to their trouble, that was differ
| ent
Finally asked to be allowed to talk t.
! Dalton.
Warden Lynch said: "Generally, W
don't allow them to talk SO we can't com
pei them to do it particularly, but II
see if he will talk to you"
He went into the cell house but re
turned in few minutes 20 say that Dial
ton begged to refuse, that he hoped t.
live down his undesirable notoriety, an
the less often his name appeared in tn