The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-07-12
HOW OSCAR WILDE BEARS PRI-
SON LIFE.
HE swooNED ON THE TREADMILL
AND WAS RELIEVED OF THAT
WORK.


dreary Pentonville Prison1 That is
the question often asked nowadays by
thousands in London who were dogg
ed or scandalized by his epigrams,
said or written. 1t has come in the
way Of the present writer to find out
something about it that can be relied
upon, as it comes from the best posi-
BILE source.
The bare cell in which he has been
confined, the limited diet, the hard
routine of daily labor and the restric
ton in enjoyment to the reading Of
the Bible are detestable enough to the
brutal and ignorant wretches-those
"criminal classes" about whose
knowledge of aesthetics Wilde spoke
with such contempt. To Wilde it is
so hideous that he cannot yet believe
that he is not under the spell of some
fruitful dream. He is still sane, but
in a dazed, trance-like condition from
which he is seldom reused.
The first time he showed any sign
of realization of the depths to which
he had sunk was the second day Of
his imprisonment. when he was put
upon the treadmills. This awful
remnant of prison discipline in former
years has a wheel which the convict
must climb for six hours a day, three
hours in the forenoon and three hours
in the afternoon.
The speed of the wheel is thirty-two
feet a minute, and the convict who
pauses while the wheel is in motion is
struck and bruised by the edges of the
ever descending steps. At the end of
every fifteen minutes there is rest Of
five minutes. The second day Wilde,
dazed and automatic, was led out and
put upon the wheel. Mechanically
he trod the step for fifteen minutes,
took the FIVE minutes rest and begar
again. In the second fifteen minutes
he stopped, threw up his arms, gave
vent to horrible scream of anguish
and fell in swoon.
The prison surgeon examined him
and said his heart was in such con-
dition that it would be dangerous to
put him on the wheel again. So
Wilde is allowed to sit in his cell.
They throw in quantity Of oakum
every morning, bul he need not pick
it unless ne wishes to do so. Of late
he has begun to pick the oakum. Any
occupation is better than being idle
and thinking, thinking, thinking.
The second arousipg came through
the gentle, earnest old chaplain. Rev.
w. Frederick Stockton, whose duty
as we'll as pleasure is to labor spiritu-
ally with the convicts. Wilde had
not been in Pentonville many days
before the old clergyman pushed
timidly into his cell. Wilde flushed
angrily.
"What do you mean by intruding
yourself upon mel" he demanded.
The old man looked sympathetic
ally at the fallen Pagan, and said in
his gentest voice:
/" l wish to offer you the consola-
tion of religion and to help you to re-
fleet upon your condition"
I" / do not need the consolation Of
religion, and l am still capable OF
conducting my own reflections said
Oscar, sneeringly.
&c hope you are not unrepentent,"
the old clergyman next ventured.
Wilde jumped to his feet in rage.
"Unrepentant," he SAID, angrily.
"What do you mean2 flow dare
you insult me in this fashion ? l am
innocent of the crimes of which I am
accused. You will kindly leave me
alone"
Mr.. Stockton insisted no further.
He IS waiting now for Wilde to get to
work at the Bible. He feels that
sooner or later he must read it, ant
reading, soften to more receptive
frame of mind. He hopes also tina,
Wilde will send for him. For he is
allowed to see no one from the exter
lor world, but the Chaplain or some
other minister of revealed religion
And under the prison rules, which
are strictly enforced, even the clergy
man may not tell him any news, bring
him any messages or talk to him or
any subject not directly bearing upor
the salvation Of his soul.
Oscar Wilde's wife is now believe
in him. She has taken another name
and with the children has gone ava,
to some quiet place on the Continent
She is clever woman and purpose
to let no one know of her whereabout
and to make the new name an honor
/ able one for the children. 1t is sal
that no one is in her secret.
Wilde will not hear from the ou'
side world for three months. Man
: people believe he will 60 mad Ion
, before that time. But others thinl
and with reason, that he is so facil
and adaptable that he will gradual
and easily slip into the prison routin