New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23
BUILDINGS.

and imrressively II am going there TO see my
mother" There instant change III the
d4nearor Of every man in the party. and the
man who has frs, spoken said. as he removed
his hat at the mention Of that one Workbench
cling word Il beg your pardon" The two men
claspsd hands and gazed deep into each others
eyes for the one word haa been spoken that an
initiates space and distance and draws hearts
close together Somehow the first speaker.
with that spirit Of fippancy that characterizes
this dav and generation. had forgotten for the
moment that there might be something else AT
the beautiful city Oh the Hudson than the one
:hinS which is deemed Objectionable. and which
unfortunately has risen to such prominence IN
.he ce~ eral eve that IT has absorbed within us
<-~fis1frg embrace everything that makes for
r-.rirfpal loneliness and the dignity Of corporate
association. Sing Sing Prison is known wner-
ever honest men have their abiding place Yet
the average traveller UP the broad bosom OF
the lordly Hudson. unless thoroughly acquainted
with the panornna infolded the steamer
rsssas II in review before his constantly oe-
rcrt.l SAFE. generally asks for the name Of the
dis t.t nestles in the encirclins sweep OF
Ctotoa POINT once possessed or the lhloil''a-
,,or s,,,eh, he expresses his astonishment that'
IKE the rest Of the Ncrld, he should have been
so long deceived into confounding two localities
which while hearing he same name, are as
widely separated as he poles Sing sing IS
suburban city i is z city Of homes, which IS
one q the loveies, applications that can be ap-
lied 10 any corporation Its location on 'he
rising ground that extends back from the river
bank its we-yaved streets with their aDuh-
dance OF shade the we-kept grounds surround
ing many OF the more pretentious houses. lhe
wide sweep Of river and the broken line Of the
nd HrT
hine % make an ideal place for restful living,
Yet il is oppressed Fith the presence Of the
place OF punishment and is known 10 the world,
cot for rs beauty Of location nor for the hospi-
.alitv Of It's people which is proverbial. but for
ne dark shadow Of the prison which. while in
il Is not OF il in any correct sense Of the term.
The business men Of the city who have its IN
terests a. heart unite I'm condemning what they
have thus far beer unable 20 mend. the growth
- sentiment which has undoubtedly retarded
the material prosperity OF the city, and which
might have been obviated largely If, in the first
place. the prison had been known by different
name. And there IS a growing feeling that the
time has now come when II may be possible. If
not 70 remove the iripl esson altogether at least
TO lessen the force OF 1t by improving the prison.
and while keeping II none the less prison
within 70 dignity Its exterior by altering its APP
pearanoe.
II is for this reason in part that the advent OF
the new state Constitution was hailed with feel
ings Of qualification b. the business men Of Sing
sing. and the pleasure experienced was due to
the insertion OF one amendment in that docu-
lnen-. The amendment refers to the employment
ot convict labor by contract II reads;
Article III Section %. The Legislature shall by
av. provide for the occups tion and emPoyes, OF
prisoners sentenced 10 the several $40 e, s5ete:
faf Il nd
and on and after January l. 1897 no person III any
SUCH pon pentenary jan GL Sn nnder SER
tenco thereto a, any trade Industry or Occupation
wherein whereby his work or the prouucs %
proat OF his work. shall be farmed out conracteo.
s,ea or SOFA 10 sn,,pn Shall not be construed TO
prevent the Legislature from providing that con-
.s nay "o,A h loi 5,snosed o. TO- the state or any
no,cal division thereof or for any public In
Situation owned or managed and controlled by the
State or any political division thereof
Tho hour FOR fulhlrnent Of this condition is not
.ar distant and contract labor in the prisons o,
the state Of New-York Will be history but the
question is already struggling for answer "ha'
wi. be done with the prisoners? once more the
principle evolved b. Florence Nightingale seems
70 be- rising for adjustment In discussing 'he
problem OF prison reform and the treatment OF
the criminal class Of society she SAID sns De-
ueved that the principle that should underlie the
oesss 70 board and lodge thieves al the cost OF
he people they have robbed. and 10 teach them
d. practical experience that it is cheaper in &C
tual money value 10 work than to steal. II
ta.efs or a forger's sentence were that he had 10
work his way out OF prison By repaying the
amount. or more than the amount he had stolen
and repaying the State besides for his sustenance
out OF his earnings. instead Of being provided for
and lodged in prison. ne might then perhaps
learn this lesson. instead Of the one now actually
taught him, tina; IL is dearer 70 work than 70
steal"
HOW ONE LESSON WAS TAUGHT.
OF course this remark was made more IMAM
thirty years ago: but. somehow it appears 10 III
the case as IL is presented by the new Consti'u-
ton. although no such contingency was IN me
mind Of the writer az the time, speaking as she
did from the English point Of view. Almost e~-
actly the same principle was evolved by another
writer on the same issue writing ABOUT tue sa"'s
tine He was the governor Of a prison. ana was