The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-26
AusTRIA's WOMEN PRISONERS.
Even the Worst Criminals Are err
ing sisters" and Are Treated
Kindly.


ing sisters" ana Are Trented
Kindly.
From the Chicago Record.
In Austria a woman, no matter what she
may do, is never regarded or treated quite
as criminal. She may rob, burn. kill-set
every law at defiance, in fact. and break
all the commandments in turn-without a
fear of ever being called upon TO face a
gallows. She is not even sent to any ordi-
nary prison to do penance for her sins: the
hardest fate that can befall her indeed. is
to be compelled to take up her abode for
a time in convent. There the treatment
melted out to her Is not so much Justice
seasoned with mercy as mercy seasoned.
and none too well. with justice. Even in
official reports she is an "errlng sister,,
one who has, it is true. strayed from the
narrow path. but quite involuntarily.
The convent to which Vienna sends its
erring sisters is at Neudorf. only a feVy
miles away from the city There any wo-
man who is convicted of either crime or
misdemeanor is at once transported. The
judge before whom she is tried decides OF
course how long she shall remain. He may
too, If he deems ii right, give orders that
while there she shall pass day in solitary
confinement from time to time, and on
these occasions be less plentifully supplied
with food than usual. In the great major
ity Of cases, however, no instructions Of
this kind are given: the women are simply
handed over to the keeping Of the super
Tor of the convent. to be dealt with as she
thinks best. She houses them, feeds them
clothes them, and provides them with in
struction and occupations; and the govern
ment gives her for what she does as kre-
uzers a day about pence) for each pris-
oner under her care.
So long as these women are in the con-
vent the responsibility Of their safe keep
ing and general well being rests on the
superior; and, in return, she Is allowed
practically free hand in her management
Of them. There are, IL is true, certain
regulations in force with regard to the
amount of work they may be required to
do and the punishment that may be in
iicted on them; but these are not of a
nature to interfere seriously with her
freedom of action. She is, in fact vir-
tually an autocrat within her own do
main and there are not half dozen
women in Europe to-day who have SO
much power for the veal or woe of
their fellows as she has. The only man
attached to the place-a government in
spector-is little more than her aide-de-
camp; and as for the great officials who
pay her flying visits from time to time
they are more inclined to seek advice
than to give it,
which once upon time was castle, and
seems to have been strongly fortified. The
religious community to which II now be-
longs received II as a present from its
owner, who cared more for the church
than for his heir. There is nothing i'm
the appearance Of the place to show that
1t is prison; the courtyard stands open
the whole day long and there Is never
a guard within sight. The doorkeeper is
a pretty little nun whom a strong woman
could easily seize up in her arms and
run away with. She welcomes all Corners
with the brightest of smiles, and leads
them into the parlor without making a
single inquiry.