The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-05

Institutions Where the Convict 1. Elevated
and Instructed.

The picture of the penal system OF ia
pan. given by Mr. Henry Norman the
distinguished English journalist and tray
eiier. is timely and pertinent II shows a
condition Of affairs I'm the Yankee land Of
the orient. so recently considered barbar-
ic. In striking contrast TO that existing in
THIS boosted land Of civilization. In his
book. "The Real Japan" Mr. Norman
thus describes a visit 10 one of the two
great state prisons near Tokyo:
The entrance is through a nagcive
wooden gateway into "A guard-room. adj
joining which are the offices OF The d.rec-
tor and officials. The prison itself con-
sists of "a score or more cf detached one
story buildings. all Of wood, and some OF
them merely substantial sheds, under
which the rough labor, like stone-break-
ing. is performed. The dormitories are
enormous wooden cages. the front and
part Of the back formed by bars as thick
as ones arm. before which again IL
narrow. covered passage, where IT,
warden on guard walks at night. There
is not q particle of furniture OF single
article OF any kind on the floor. which is
polished until 10 reflects your body Ike
mirror No boot. OF course. ever
touches IT, The thick quilts, or futon"
which constitute everywhere the japan
csc bed. are rolled up. and stacked on
broad shelf. running round the room
overhead. Each dormitory holds ninety
six prisoners and there is n long row OF
them.
The sanitary arrange mems are situat-
cd in a little addition at the back. and 1
WAS assured that these had not been
made pleasant for my inspection. ~ not.
] can only say that i'm this most im.or-
tant respect japanese prison could not
wei be- improved H. fact. the whole
dormiory with SIS perfect ventilation,
its construction Of solid. highly-polished
wood 10 which there are no chances for
yermin To harbor. and its combined sim
nii 'ity and security. IS an almost .deal
prison structure OF course. the fact that
evc,y japanese, from the emperor 10 the
coDlie. sleeps upon quilts spread out on
the floor greatly simplihes The task Of the
prison architect IN Japan.
On leaving the dOrmtOrics We passed
q small. isolated square erection. peaked
AID gabled like Il temple. The door was
soiemniy unlocked and flung back. and
was motioned 10 enter. II was the Dun-
:,hment cell. another spOuess wooden
box. ~eli ventilated. but perfectly dark.
and with walls SO thick as TO render Il
practically silent.
How many prisoners have been I'm il
drtius .hc last month"; asked. The III.
rector summoned the chief warden. ana
ren-atcd my question 10 him None
whatever" was the reply. What other
punishnenis have yOu?' None what
ever ''No noegins?" when this ques-
ton was translated 10 the director and
the little group Of officials. all laughed
together az the bare idea. / could nor
help wondering whether there was an
other prison i'm the world with no method
Of punishment FOR two thousand criminals
except one dark cell. and that not used
for month And the recollection of the
filthy and the sufiOcating sly used as a
punishment cell IN the city prison OF San
Francisco came upon me Ike n nausea.
= Japanese prison Is divided into fwo
paris-d0rmitories and workshops. OF
cells and prison buildings. properly speak
ing. there Is nothing whatever. IL f. n
place OF detention. OF reformation. and OF
profitable labor and in the latter aspect
one Of the greatest surprises 81 life await
cd rs. Walking across the yard, W. en-
tered the workshop. where 2 couple Of
hundred prisoners were making macbln-
cry and steam boilers One warden. arm
ed only with a sword. Is reoulred for
every fifteen men. and here the prisoners
were working on contract orders for out
Side firms under the supervision Of one
skilled teacher. and one representative OF
the firm giving the contract. The prison.
ers work for nine hours day. and are all
dressed i'm cotton suits OF a peculiar terra
Gotta or crushed strawberry color. They
were making large brass and steam
pumps. and had already turned out sew
enty this year and the workshops with
It's buzz Of machinery, and Its intelligent
labor. would have been exactly like A
part OF an arsenal here or In Europe. eN-
cept for the rcd clothes and the humble
rrostrat!on if
The next shop contained the wool
cai-vers and here upwards OF hundred
men were sQuatting. with blocks OF wood
between their knees. carving with the
keenest interest upon all sorts OF things
from thick. simple trays and bowls TO
fragile and delicate. long-lcsged storks.
I bought an admirahiy-carvel tobacco
box. representing the god of laughter he
ing dragged along by his coat by six max
ed bows. and afterwards | asked acme
japanese friends. who supposed that
had picked it up at curio dealers. bow
much IL was worth. They guessed ten
yen.-thirty shiiiings. paid sixty-eight
vsen for it-less than two shilIings. II Is
a piece that would be admired anywhere.
and yet II was the work OF a common
a