The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
trimmings. which would bor. Goa, a. o

ground, they making the brick and ouarryine
the stone, nj an entire expense In cash OF $500.
aud out. would compare favorabiy with that of
frst-class work men. These men were in
structed in brick aud stone work by weeks OF
building up and tearing down plain walls, thcn
making doors, then windows, aud 40 on till
they were thoroughly efficient. This is espe-
cinlly noteworthy when IL is considered that
these prisoners are of a class much moro in
olined TO the punching OF COWS and other
similar felt. sports of the Southwest, includ-
ing the stealing of horses ana the riding away
on them over the bnuudless prairies, The men
are kept at work all the time, even though tho
work may bo useless except ns q tonic. The
prison farm consists of 300 acres. and OIL this
the prisoners raise all thcir vegetables and feed
for horses and other prison stock. They live
we'll, too, the menu compnrlnu fnvorRbly with
that OF N great number OF WASHINGTON board
Ing houses nsr man and tR Wo TGs, is F 9n!y nine S. tents Ter G
letting human beings eat their white bread"
a' long as possible. and he never has any corn
bread on the prison table. There Is n chapel,
attendance belnv voluntary, ard 90 per cent.
% the men GO there Sun lay morning and again
in the afternoon. when there is n secular en-
library of 5000 volumes, and the pris oners
may read till D o'clock at night by electric
467 could read and write. 20 could read only,
and ia could neither read nor write. SO far
the prison school has not boon n success. rs
men ut such n distance from the prison pro-
vented proper use of IL being made.
Warden French wants his guests to say 30 II
they are not satisfied. and he keeps n com
plalnt box in the dining room so that any man
can shy If he doesn't like the way he Is treated.
He may not have paper and PENCIL with him,
but there is q place where he can get them;
md he can write his mind freely and he viii
comes In heWarden talks it all over with him.
and no is put on his honor and manhood. and
as. the majority OF the prisoners nre young
fellows. this kind Of treatment II productive
of excellent results.
Prisoners battle In full once q week, arc
shaved once. change underclothinE once. have
their coils scalded out onco, ana every two
weeks their feet are ut In good condition by
painful feet are the cause OF ugly tempers and
sullenness and lad conduct g ,nerally. While
prisoners ara shaved once n week, those whose
conduct is.gond ure permitted to wear their
mustaches, and 1t Ia remarkable how this little
concession to mans vanity improves his gen.
Music is a helpful means of improving tho
prisoners, and there Is n chapel band coin-
violinsst. and a cornetist. with a choir OF fifty
voices, tho entire combination led bv n colored
man from Topeka. who IS permitted TO lead
color. The men are instructed in singing, and
they are taught the notes and the principles
of music by their black teacher.
Two months a year are allowed for good
conduct. and 96 per cent. of the prlsone IS arc
never punished.
There are three women prisoners. two black
Tor cutting and shooting, and one. white for
selling liquor TO Indians. One of these col
with five stepchildren depending. upon her,
shot a man who attempted to kill her. Evi-
uently Justice mas gone aStray.
This majority of the prisoners are between
tho ages of Ii and 80. and three. fourths of the
convictions arc for larceny. counterfeiting.
violation of revenue and postal laws. and as.
sault. Almost ali calliugs are represented.
there being two editors, II e printers. three
preachers, two bar,enders. one doctor. four
LAWYERS, and 343 farmers. this last being a
most comprehensive term in q section which
is largely out OF doors.
In the erection OF the new prison Warden
French hopes to carry out his ideas of classify
Ing prisoners. so that the vicious may be .epa-
whose conduct is GOOD NAV be granted better
accommodations and other privileges as a re-
ward. He thinks that on the thousand acre
which Congress has granted on this reserva.
ton q grand Federal ~reformatory for bows and
first offenders should be erected. which shall
be as an example 10 all others. AS an evil
dence ot the good that is in these men, War
den French told n number of stories.
rone day" said he, one Of the prisoners
unless lie could sign his name to certain pa
pers, sat his home he would lose his right to all
OF. and II was everything he had in the world.
He was too poor TO employ an attorney. and
he e Go InoE "a very VEL 20 HIMSELF H.; and the f.;
was there to sign for him. and he said his
grandfather would do It, but lie didn't know
was an %,t:erney and that / would fix it ali up
for him. rhle l did. the grandfather 4 ming
all right. he didn't know what TO do except to
stammer. Finally he said: I can't pay You.
W . ' y e'A hEN ll''AiV uihi .
ing YOU want, but III promise you that as long
as have to stay in here III be a good boy
attorneys fee / ever received. though / hsd re-
c"ived some very fair ones when practising
my profession hefore taking uo prison work.
"On another occasion ] was sitting in my
oflce when nm etde:." woman, ACCOMPANIED by
n younger. came in. and the older woman asked
they could II they were relatives. and she told
me her boy was there. and the husband and
said theN had coma Yrn N NnsNpuAa IT md
that they had driven the entire distance Of 500
miles IN a buckhoard with two horses and a
looked and saw the outfit anchore' Just across
the road. SET for the three men, and went
for receiving. and there the poor old mother
broke down on her boys neck and cried.
the boy. a young fellow Of eighteen, brac-
ing up quite, mantu!ly and not showing n
tear. l told her not to cry so. but to cheer up
aud cheer up the others. for the hoy vas a good
bow. and would soon get ont and be all right.
Alter n while SHE las chatting AWAY cheeriiy.
and even got so interested that the boy moved
over where he could soc out Of the s~aIlyport
across the road where the turnout WAS. He
my dog over there. sir Ia Ike to see him
seemed such a small favor that | let him step
out To see the dog, He stood by me and gave
a @ui XIV = ns0T Il T Temsmbs "nq Tue so %ns lTos'd H He
whistled again. and the dog got up and began
e. show signs of excitement. Then he called
gave acry OF Joy and came To the boy with n
rush and flung, himself all over his master.
This boy could keep n stiT upper lip when his
wcpt over him, but he couldn't stand
the dogs 10y. and he broke down and cried
n hnhy. the meantime hurginG the dog
and kissing him "a IL he were n human being.
When he had finally quieted down he said the
horses were his. TOO. and he would like TO step
over and see them. and ! let him 90. The horses |
kpew his voice and whinnied when he spoke,
and he rubbed their noses and laid his face
Oh their necks and went some more. But
II was doing him good and | never interrered.
but LEI him have II out. He came back at last
to 20 IN where lis mother and the others were, |
and ! could see II was = great effort for him to
leave the dog, so ] told him TO take It along
NJ them. and enjoy himself all he could
while he had the chance. lie did Il with many
and when the party broke M Mt Inst
II seemed TO me ain ost as II we had had n re- |
vivRl of religion. and the effect of II on ihnt
hoy ! am tute will never he e:faced II he lives
10 be q thousand" w. j. l..