The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-03
ACTED AS A WAITER.
Miss Bergen Fed the 'Chuck" TO
the Inmates.


We went down and stood in the cold
corridor and the big GOor in the rear was
thrown wide open by Warden Talbot.
The men who were driving the chuck
wagon were also prisoners, and they wore
the striped suits.
Warden Talbot sw ore at them and ordered
them TO get a move on themselves; as usual
he had IA most rough and hateful mood. TIE
men had boxes OF bread cut in pieces, about
two inches thick, and big cans of tea.
They hauled this stuff cut into the corrldor.
poured tlc tea into cans for the white and
black wards, respectively, and put bread
in tie outstretc he'd apron or the girl VINO
had this TO carry up.
Then we went UPSTAIRS with our burdens.
and the women came Crowding up win
their big tincupS for this tea and bread
Most of them had saved 4 bit OF the tainted
meat from dinner To try to give lh'le
chara cter 10 the repast, and they went back
to gather socially around the long table
The tea was lutte more than hot water.
nnd l DID. not even ina Ike the pretense or
eating and drinking. After the meal. eacn
one took her cup and washed IL at a sink
at the end of the hail. and then tobacco in
some form was produced. and they itdown
to talk over the perpetual story or now
they were arrested, what Tor. what the
judge SAID. and also other crimes OF days
IL was a school of rogucry and vice.
ami could not help but think IL would be
better for these creatures thousand times
10 be locked I'D in their cells when their
work was done, like the coiored girls up
stairs. The Incarceration Is meant Tor
a punishment. The punishment should re
snarp enough in the right place to eradicate
If possible tue tendency TO repeat the OF
fensc.
THESE women who have been going there
for wears Just getting out and promptly
getting put back in again. illustrate that
something is wrong.
Perhaps the wrongBess lies with the
laxity which allows this four hours of lille
sociabi!ity. for the prisoners are not locked
ND until &, and which allows outsiders To
bring in good things 10 eat by which means
some OF the prisoners keep themselves gong
from time to time.
This charity, which Just keeps their head
from going under, is of very little weight.
III the government gave plain, wholesome
food, and allowed no tobacco as Wen as no
liquor ami no sociability, the workhouse
would he more reforniatory Many a be-
piumer is taught vilencsS at these table CIR
Giles. / shall never he able to forget the
yileness that l heard.
| Inspected the cell aud found that 1t had
two iron beds. with mattress OF iron
stats n straw tick. one blanket, one sheer,
one spread. one pillow. The bed idi J;,si
been vacated by 4 prisoner leaving, AMI 1
asked for clean bedding. WAS gwen or
cican sheet ard case. l protested That |
wanted two sheets, or else clean blanket
This the matron told the. with !augh.
was impossible "YOu are Bo better than
the others. You mast share as they 90.
HOW DISEASE Is SPREAD.
complaint, but il the reader considers that
he would not like to share bed covering
with the ordinary strangerin that manner,
and then consider that many OF these pris-
oners are affiicted with the most loa tEcsome
of all diseases, they will understand the ini-
portance OF cleanliness. When | went into
the workhousc Il woman was just leaving
who was very far advanced in this horrible
affiiction. l don't know what was done
n L
that the woman who was my predecessor
was not in some stage or this dread diSesse.
| fold The ptatron what troubled me III
the matter. bat she didn't give any res,Iu
to my statements. 1t could not DC t1;it
after four years OF experience mere sue
could not realize more Intensely thih tne
truth of what l said. She only repheu'
"Oh Jennie was Clcan!
/ liked the bed as best l could am slept
| in nv blue gown during my sojourn at The
institution. But this same matter was
forced unon my attention again.
The only toilet that il is possible to make
after the entrance bath is made N the general
sink, where one can turn on the cold water
and wash the bands ana race as IT. runs
from the faucet. NO soap is suppned,
and 10 combs.
which I used while there. Ono towel IS
supplied for the entire ward Tor whole
week. | was not there week, but was
so informed.
me have towel. promised to keep it
! clean during my stay, and not to ASK Tor
more than one while / was there 1t was
not the rule, and could not have it. So
did as my cel.-inate did dried my lace
on my ticking skirt.
If one goes to the workhousc pure OF dls.
ease, and takes no precautions against
these possible contacts with the oiiiers,
what is the certain prospect; 1t seeins
that 1T is not governmental Iunct.oh 10
arrest as far as possible The spread OF cor
ruption. 1t seems that it is no concern OF
NtSf rie IN
plunged into the abyss OF physical rum II
they take the first triflinS step III way
wardneSs.
I was a case in point. was young.
had no appearance OF depravity. had
never been there before. wanted to make
a decent toilet; nothing but decent one.
My requests were laughed at as entirely
prepostcrOus-
..lyhy we Legan that WAY. We SloMlQ