The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-04

fornia. After tho formation of the A mcri-
can Volunteers sine again turned her
thoughts toward the inmates of prisons
and longed to make the work OF reforming
and helping them practically one of the
chief branches of the labors OF the Volun-
tecrs.
During this past two months Mrs. Booth
has spent considerable time Mt Sing Sing,
and rs n result of her Investigations has
formulated two plans, ono for the benefit
OF discharged convicts, and tho other for
She benefit of those still in confinement.
Dor discharged convicts she proposes to cs-
tablish homes To these homes conyicts
may go as soon rs they have secured their
release. There tho discharged convict will
BIO surrounded with Christian influences.
When he has shown that he hns a sincere
desire to reform and earn an honest living
Mrs Booth will cndcavor To find employ
mont for him. She fully appreciates how
difficult In most cases this will be- Shc
proposes 20 put herself in communication
with the chief employers of labor and to So
cure their cooperation if possible No man
VIII be recommended for employment who
mas not shown In the prison homo that he
Will ii he gets II chance be glad to become
q law abiding citizen.
The first of the homes was oDcncd in
New York recently. 1t is appropriately
named Hope Hall and is beautifully stu
ated III the niiI cr .,:rt of the city, overlook
Ing the HGdsun. Speaking of her plans
for the assistance of released conyicts Mrs
Booth said:
when they come to mo kcrc, they will
I'LL out blank describing themselves. A
corresponding blank will lie filed out by
the warden oil tho prison from which they
nave been released, and there | shall have
thei" records. do not expect them to re-
mai! AZ the hall any longer than is neces-
eary for them to obtain u situation by
earnest search. Ii Shall be no place for n
man tn live in idlrncss. There will be
much for thoin IT, do. The cultivation of
the grounds about the house and the care
OF the building will keep them busy when
not hunting for work.
What hope is there for cx-convicts If
avenues that should open to an honest liv-
Ing are closed before them? shall know
those with whom l deal Many l Shall
have watched through months or years in
prison l shall have the wardcn's testi.
lhony rs 10 their prison record and then
our own knowledge of them while inmates
OF Hope Hall. so shall be able to speak
with some Knowledge and certainty re-
garding their sincerity. Surely | shall
hId some who will help inc by Offering
them employment and who will help them
by forgetting they ever had tho name of
oonvicts.
when prisoner IS released, he must
Ind work or leg or stnrvc 1t Is hard to
realize, eIcep: from experiences, how next
to impossible it is fora ma, once in prison
to obtain employment He may try his
best to hide the disgrace Of his life, and
may 1.-Two within the s;"ictnst letter Of the
law, but tie murder VIII or, ard no firm
wants him in its ciipl ". THO man, in
optic of his best efforts To make living
respectfully. will b. reduced To bcgeary.
Then, too oftco. there Will crop out the
criminal instinct which first carried him
to prison, and ko VIII str.l.
lit is tho tcstinoi.5 i,rison officials
that from so 10 ~ per LIT OF released