New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
MRS. BOOTHS NEW PROTEGES
THE LEADER OF THE VOLUNTEERS
WORKING AMONG CONvICTs.
SHE VISITS THEM AND WRITES TO THEM AND
WHEN THEY COME OUT or PRISON SHE
Is GOING TO HAVE A HOME AND EN-


IS GOING TO HAVE HOME AND EN-
PLOYMENT READY FOR THEM.
Mrs Darlington Booth has entered q new held
OF activity, which promises to eclipse her work
in the slums as a Salvation Army leader. The
Volunteers OF America which she and her hus-
band started recently, is a young institution. ana
she is still overwhelmed with the business OF
organizing IT, but. In spite Of the demands IT
makes upon her time, she has taken an hour or
two. or day or two here and there TO map out
n plan for the benefit Of a class who have hither-
to been almost or altogether neglected at the
time when they most in need OF helping
hand. Her new friends-her boys" she calls
them--are the men Of Sing Sing and other pris-
ons, but especially those Of Sing Sing because
they nearer and easier to get at. and because
their welfare Is closely connected with the life
of this city. Tribune reporter who called at
Mrs. Booths office the other day and asked her
to say something about her purposes and her
wishes In this department Of the Volunteers,
found her at first rather unwilling to talk about
them, because she said, so little had as yet
been accomplished.
at has been my way" she explained, ito do
things first and then tell the public that they
done. am willing however to tell you
something Of my plans and leave the rest Till
another day. / have been engaged in this work
only since May -, and you may easily imagine
that there is great deal to be thought Of. The
first prison that ever visited and became In
terested In was the one OF San Quentin Cal. ]
have as) been among the prisoners at Charles
town, Mass. and at Auburn and Sing Sing, In
this State and in time I shall get around to
those in Trenton and other places. The city
prisons I shall not undertake, because there are
already many workers there. while the State
prisons where the long-term men are kept, have
received comparatively little attention.
NO CHANCE FOR A CONVICT
I'm these prisons tn ere are of education
and ability. well as hardened. ignorant Grim
inals. But whatever may be their mental cond-
tion whatever may be their lOngngs and their
aspirations, every one Of them is an outcast and
when his time is up and he is released. he must
confront every hand the fact that he has
been convict. What is he to do? How is he
to be honest?
THE chaplain of the prison at Charlestown
Mass. told me that from careful observation
he had reached the conclusion that fully - per
cent of the men who discharged leave the
prison with an honest determination to lead
better lives. But they can't do it. Another pris
official, who has had every opportunity to
know has told me of cases where men. having
served out their time and gone back into the
world. have sought and sought for work and
then. having at last found 1t. have been over
taken by their prison records and turned loose
to steal again and again to be sent TO Sing Sing
80 this is the problem that l am trying to
solve. / want TO get acquainted with the men
while they are yet in prison and win their conf
hep hoy ont I IL to he
that those who otherwise would not have u
soul in the world 10 care what became OF them
will feel that here is who loves them
and Is anxious to help them. And want to be
situated that when one OF my boys comes to
from prison. will not just talk with him
and pray with him and then have to tell him
that is all can do for him. propose to have
a home for him to go to and place for him TO
work. and a chance for him to be honest.
HOW THE WORK is TO BE DONE
Some time soon but perhaps not till winter
am going to have a meeting in Carnegie Hall.
which the rich people will attend. and | am 60
ing to tell them what | have learned in the
prisons and impress upon them their respons-
bility in the matter that they will furnish
with money to carry my work | am
going TO employers of labor. too and ask
them 10 give my boys chance. You know we
Volunteers believe that there is no real reform
without conversion. And by conversion l don't
mean simply profession of faith. but mean
change that can be seen by ones associates
every day. Well, after of my boys in Sing
Sing has been steadfast in his new life amid the
temptations of prison for year or two. | think
the chances that he Viii remain firm when
he is released Then l shall look up his prison
record and find out how he has behaved him
self. and all the while shall have been getting
acquainted with him and gaining his friendship
So when the time comes for that man to need
work. shall be able to go with him to the per-
who has agreed TO give employment to such
ex-convcts can recommend, and say: This
man has been converted and has never faltered
for year. two years. or whatever the
time may be. His conduct In prison has been
praiseworthy. / know him personally and trust
him, and If | had work to give him he should
have it, In that way he will get start, under
no false pretences. with nothing to conceal, and
with true friend to encourage him.
Some of the men in whom | am Interested
are coming out in September. and | must have
provision made for them-a home where they
may live TIL they can support themselves and
places where they will be received their merits
as workmen. hope that people will sympathze
with my plans and send me money to develop
them. All that they will give me can use to
wonderfully good advantage"
Then Mrs. Booth took out little book and
read the records of some Of her boys" and told
stories about them to illustrate the conditions
she had encountered in the prisons and what she
had already achieved
HER VISITS TO SING SING.
Warden Sage at Sing Sing and the chap
lain" she said, ARE very kind to me- and have
great faith in the lasting good that will come
OF my efforts. Whenever | get a chance I go
up to the prison and hold meetings, and talk
with the men in their cells or at their work
You have no idea. probably. of the surprise
som. Of them exhibit when they find that there
Is IT woman who really cares for them. Many
Of them break down completely and tell me the
stories Of their lives and ask me to find their
mothers or their wives their children for them