Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-05
PLEA. FOR PRISON REFORM.

of Ffienda Fourth and West streetsl |
visited tho New Castle county prison.
We found 1872 prisoners confined, lTS
mon and II. women, y colored women
and 2 white women, 1l5 white men and
60 eoored men 40 Of the white men
and % colored were Migrants or tramps'
These AS white Migrants wore all con-
fined in one room about 40 feet By IL 4
This room had no beds or bed clothing
except some owned by the inmates,
none Furnished them. The ventilation
was NOT good the ollor bad, and the
room filthy. No water in the room.
The laws of health and cleanliness
could not be complied With. There
were 30 eolored Migrants confined in a
room about 10 feet by 50 in quite as
bad condition every way as the white
vagrahts' room. There arc only Al |
cells aud rooms for these 1872 prisoners,
and there have been ~ many % 220
confined at one time. The sheriff has
been eeneured for the bad condition of
the prison, but with'such limited quar-
tiers what can he do? The coils are
mostly Is by feet furnished with two
cot beds and 'water and ventilation and
are suitable for two persons, but at
times six and seven have been crowded
into ono coll. Tho two white women |
have two rooms, stove in one; they
seemed clean and comfortable. The IL
colored women are confined IN three
ceIls and have not thessame means for
cleanliness Or comfort. 1t must be owl
dent to all who arc familiar with the
condition of our prison that 1t 10 not
creiitable to our community and there
should be no unnecessary delay in
taking measures to remedy this evil.
There are now initiatory measures
taken toward building kitchen in one
of the yards, which wonid give more
ROOM but far short of what 10 urgently
needed. Those who have visited the
prison and also the Ferris Industrial
School have had striking object
lesson of the needs Of the prison. Tho
filth, degradation and immortality of
the prison, contrasting with the order,
cleanliness. industry and comfort of
the rcfofmatory home. The address of
the Rev. Thomas A.. McCurdy at tine
home on the 10th anniversary gives a
most Instructive account of the man
agement and success OF that institution
that should be strong incentive to
our Christian citizens to urge the en-
largemeIt and reformation of our
prison. will here insert few ex-
tracts from that excellent address:
81 WAS delighted to find everything
in excellent order, very neat and cleanly
from reception-room to ball grounds.
t'They were remarkably we'll behaved
and quiet in orderly demeanor. Bar
harism says If a man is sick xii
him. - MosRism Gays iHIf a man il
wicked, stone him." The Provert
says, 1.-THE, devil take the hindmost. !
Christianity says, II will take til,
hindmost: If be is lame, | will Civ,
him a staff; if he is an evil doer,
will teach him how TO do we'll; if he i
hungry, will give him meat; thirsty
/ will give him drink; naked, vii
clothe him; in prison, will come unit
him. 1t is right to protect societ
those whom Brother McCurdy style
the elapsed classes, . and therefor
necessary to deprive criminals OF libert
but whom SO confined, Christianit
says convert him, teach him to ceas
to do evil and learn to do we'll; giy
him good improving reading, require
cleanliness aud deceney, and give hi
the means therefor. They, should hay
healthy, useful employment. I'll
tramps would not overrun our prison
il they we're required to make then
selves clean and go to work if the
were able; and good bathing plar
ought to be provided TO enable them
wash and be clean. Oh, Christian
WHO feel concern to preach tho gosp
to tho heather, here are the heatht
in our midst, at our very dnors; d
graded and vile proving upon societ
patronizing the saloons and dsns
infamy; filling our streets and roa
with terror and apprehension to peac
fal travellers. Are there not Howard
Shaftsburgs, Elizabeth Frys, Pot
Coopers hero in Wilmington to he
convert these criminals into good Gil
zena and thus protect society? If
whip a criminal and discharge HIM,
turn him loose upon the communi
filled with malice aud revenge to col
NIT greater crimes; if we can lead b
to conversion through the love
Christ, we then have useful citiz
and protector of society. DO you 5
this is impossible? / answer in |
words of L. M. Child: sin the mi,
of reCklesGness, revenge and desp
there is often a glimmering, eyiael
that tho Divine Spark is not quite
tinguished:
Still thy love o Christ arisen
Yearns to reach these souls in prison,
Through all depths of sin and loss
Drops the plummet Of thy cross,
Never yet abyss was found,
Deeper than that cross could sound.
White
The cause Of our failure to reach
reclaim these Elapsed casses" is t
We have not enough of the love Of {
in US and too much of the spirit of
yenge, that seeks TO punish but no
reclaim. We want moro of Chri
spirit, and that would Danish the sto
and whipping post, those relics of |
.barism, from our State. But / SEQ
our newspapers that the desire for
reform Of our prison is taking I
hold of our people. l rejoice to +
the resolutions, adopted at tho anr
convention Of the Episcopal Chu
held at New Castle june 3d. 7
respectfully ask ''the other religi
bodies of the State to take the ma
of prison reform under eonsidera
aud adopt such resolutions as may c
mend themselves to their judgmer
| rejoice also in reading among
resolutions of tire Women's Chris
Temperance Union, lately held at
Castle, tho following: Whereas,
present prison system of our state
disgrace and an utter failure, an
both degrading and vicious in its
denotes. y Resolved, That wu AZ
urge our Legislature to provide a v
house where persons may be emplo