Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-27
WITHIN AN INCH.

open, and the cool, fragrant air of tho
spring night was struggling with the
smoke laden atmosphere of the room. A
glance out Of doors showed the azure sky
and the brilliant full moon, whose glim-
mering' blush rays shone through the
young LEAKAGE Of the blossoming trees,
which swayed gently to and fro before the
windows in the light breeze. But nothing
was more remote from the minds of our
circle, which met every evening at GER
tain table for social intercourse, than poet
ical ideas. The club, of which / was one,
consisted principally of worthy citizens,
who had far greater liking for bright
gaslight than for dim moonlight and who
appreciated the charms of a good supper
much more than the spell of the loveliest
spring night The topic of our converse
ton was prosaic town gossip, which, as
usual, gradually merged into foolish talk
about politics or discussions concerning
the government, the theater, high taxes
and similar subjects. BY connection of
ideas which do not now recall the ques-
ton had arisen whether it was credible
that PERSONS hair could suddenly turn
gray from violent mental excitement.
Part of the company received the anec-
dotes current about such cases with slight
doubts, while others most pitilessly derid-
ed persons who were simple enough to be-
lieve such nursery tales.
Just as the conversation became most
animated q man of unusual height and
herculean frame, whom we had not preyi-
ously noticed, rose from a side table and
approached us. His intelligent features,
which boro the stamp of resolution, seemed
spiritualized by the large, kindly blue
eyes. But the most striking popularity
in his appearance was tho snow white hair
and the gray beard framing his face,
which, at the utmost, indicated an age Of
only So years.
pardon me if I enter into your CONVEX
sation," he said, bowling courteously.
You are speaking of a subject which
greatly interests me. myself am living
does exert the physical influence which you
all doubt"
His words awakened the utmost inter
est. We made room for him at our table,
and after he had taken his seat unani-
mously urged him to tell us what had
caused the whiteness of his hair.
The stranger feigned no undue modesty,
but yielded to our entreaties and related
the following story:
"If you have ever paid any attention to
American affairs, the name of Auburn
cannot be unfamiliar. 1t has about the
same significance in the United States as
Spielberg has in Austria. You must not
imagine Auburn as an immense gloomy
prison, single large building, but rather
whole colony Of criminals, a metropolis
of the miserable outcasts of society. In
closed by enormous walls, which rise men,
acingly to considerable height above the
plain, are great number of single struc-
lures, houses which contain the cells of the
prisoners the residences of the wardens,
barracks hospitals and workshops, all des-
olate and dreary, with here and there bit
Of turf, a row Of trees, bed Of flowers, like
an innocent memory of childhood among
the evil thoughts of O criminal.
Circumstances which will not weary
you by recounting had led me, after COM
plotting my education in my native city,
Hamburg, to America, and after brief
time in New York I found myself prison
surgeon in Auburn, which, as perhaps you
know, is in the state of New York.
II had charge of a part of the prison
which contained the worst criminals, men,
or rather human hyenas, to whom blood
had ceased to be very special liquid, as
Mephistopheles terms 1t. Two, who were
condemned to lifelong imprisonment In
the institution and were distinguished
among the Others by great bodily strength,
craftiness and intelligence, had, in conse-
quenoe of repeated bold and cunning at
tempts to escape, been placed under more
rigid oversight than the rest. I had in
cured their special hate because I had
once caused the discovery Of several iron
tools, which-heaven knows how obtained
they had concealed under their clothing,
and on another occasion discovered that
they were shamming when, on the plea Of
illness, they desired to be placed in the
hospital, probably because they hoped to
find the conditions there moro favorable
for their plans Of escape. The scoundrels
were separated and heavily chained, but
nevertheless one morning one and few
days later the other vanished, chains and
all, without leaving trace. About fort
night afterward went to Cayuga Bridge
On some private business.
ut was noon when reached the end Of
my ride, and gazed with delight at the
sunlit landscape before my eyes. Cayuga
lake, one Of those which, with Lake Erie,
form the network Of inland lakes in New
York, lay before me in its peculiar lowell
ness. Between rugged, rocky shores, con-
fronting each other like sullen foes, the
long, narrow sheet of silver extended its
clear surface as If striving to reconcile the
two enemies who had stared defiantly at
each other for centuries. Across the lake,
which Is about 40 miles long, and at this
point milo wide, tie railway trains run
on an immense wooden bridge, marvel
Of American enterprise, which has a sta
ton at Cayuga Bridge, an insignificant
village.
MY business was soon completed, and
toward evening set out on my way home.
Are you familiar with the pleasure Of a
ride on summer EVENING" Cayuga Bridge
is surrounded by extensive oak forests,
through which had to ride considerable
distance. The huge, lofty trunks cast
long shadows, and the tops rustled so softly
that one rather felt than heard them. AS
I passed beneath these woodland giants
sweet memories Of my faroff home stole
into my heart Absorbed In thought
loosened the bride Of my horse, which
trotted slowly forward. I admired the be-
witching blending Of colors produced by
the rays Of the setting sun, az they shone
through the dense, dark green foliage and
seemed to kindle the edges Of the leaves.
Suddenly was reused from my dreams
by rustAng In the underbrush on both
sides Of the road. seized my pistol and
turned quickly, but at the same moment
ed ,atass 5e5ee sSs-.annAnH