Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-24
THE CONV ICTS' XMAS.
SAD THOUGHTS THAT THE ANNI-
vERsARY BRINGS TO THEM.
LOOK FOR BOXES FROM HOME.
How the Day Is Spent within the
Prison WalIs-Thc Penitentinry
Philosopher Talks About Crime,
Religion, and Politics.


OF which. as in that of no other, all
the Christlanized world Joins, when
human pulses beat faster, when the tide
OF life seems to ill the cup OF joy to
its full, when old men grow young again,
and gray-haired women sing as in their
girlish days, there comes over prison
walls like a faint echo of the real JOY
something of its pervading spirit.
Ten days, perhaps, before Christmas,
the convict in his cell has caught the
wild whoop of the school-boy in the street.
The familiar shout, "Hurrah for Christ
mas" rings into his ears, and strikes
upon the drums with an almost grating
sound. Not that he would take away
the fire of the boy, but memory links
him back to its first kindling in his
own heart. The great German cynic
poet, Heine, when he had been buried
for eight long years within the folds
Of his mattress grave" IA said TO have
envied the very dogs Of the streets their
freedom, and so l fancy memories throng
the brains Of those for whom life at
best is but existence. | fancy he might
place his own wrecked life in that boys
stead. ana i've over tne Gays AItl AiNN
gathered as it were in one mighty cloud
OF disgrace and shame, and pent up
long did burst at last about his defence
less head-a life like this? never, 1t would
be pure and good and sweet.
HE THINKS OF HOME.
But idle fancy is but poor food for
the convicts soul, and his mind goes
back to his home-to mother, TO wife.
to some sweet sister. perhaps. VIII they
remember him? VIII their pure synpa-
thies beat back the gloom or dishonor
overshadowing him? He would give
worlds did he know they thought OF
him. not az a -, he does not tFe
the word, but as a boy, when each aay
closed at mothers knee. perhaps they
will send him a box" He WOULD IKE
very much TO get a box. But ne Is not
hungry. and he would have TO eat al
the good things alone, and then they
would choke him. But that box, though
very full Of Christmas pies and CAKES
Is fuller of some old fathers, or some
-voman's love-a great deal more 10 MN
And then. there's the poor fellow who
hasn't any home. and never had OF may
be the door Of that home Is closed IL 10
a sad holiday for him.
Christmas comes. There Is 10 Woln'
and with a faint degree Of expectancy
they
strined lIne-winding and twisting as u
moves TO the Christmas dinner. Each
man gets a meat pie and goes BACK 10
bis cell 70 eat il in loneliness, unless
very sober thoughts be compahlolls.
Then. throwing himself on his huinple
cot read n good book. and fall asleep
until next morning. and, on awaKehlhs'
try hard and forget all the good thlhss III
the big outside world. and live IN nope
that some day he can hhu d -.a-..s,,,
even while the dark canopy OF adVersty
bovers so eloomily above him. very
beautiful this and suggestive
IT often say to myself as
sit in the glowing twilight
And gaze on the evening SKY
on the glorious sunset banners
THAT athwart the hilltops Ne
TN the golden eyes OF Heaven look
~, The bondsman and the free;
mt T see the stars through prison Dars'
So what is it all to meE
THE PRISONS PHILOSOPHERS.
A fow DAYS ago / was at the peniten-
,iarv and. i'm the course OF chal WY"
Genial Major Lynn, that gentleman WIZ
ga ro know II | would ike a tax WIN
the PRISONS philosopher. OF COURSE
did and Booker was sent for. -
Rocker came with sober look on IA
INV usage. which he vainly endeaVoreo
IlIN' - ,Ieasant and hopeful. He
tbouebt his time had come. and the
Majors first question was not leassut-
ing. ., hers isn't
&, Rooker?'' asked the Major. Booker
became serious. "Well, yes, Superlntehu-
emit dis is. ,., ,tot
Won came TO pay us the first VISIT
"XeU. Superintendent. il was Ike as
am from good. ole Buckin ham, an one
dav az was goin down de rode passed
gen'man's house, and was so tired
never so tired and hungry In my Hfe-
ar1 Poss got down on de step and
Io,nt hack agin' de do an jes imagine
NV horror when de DO gave way. and
dor unon the table was everything
,o,,ad ,,ost 10 eat An. Boss, I never
was n hungry. An so I just stepped In
an 'ioyed myself. But, Boss, l never
tended 10 took nothing. and dere was
banio a-hangin' on de wall: but I never
took dat-but tits true. Boss, ] can't play
a banjo"
As To THE SECOND TIME.
"An' den. the secon' time; well, II came
ot,o,,t 9ie vvav. [ alius luved my wife,
an, che was very fond of bacon: an 30
I tried to cit her some. The gen man
smoke-house was open. an went IN
sorter sly and just took all could tote;
an started for home all de time thinkin
how Sallie would relish de bacon. got
nearly home an ] was heap more near
" broken down. when de constable come
after me. Boss. he certainly did llghtin'
my burden"
"Rut. Boss. YOU understand all dis. It's
perfectly material fur a niger to steal
dey are born dat way; rs In de bone,
an you can't git it out"
ssRooker. YOU wouldn't steal now2
well Boss. when / gifts out I'm goin
10 form an be a better man; but II
was very hungry. an | was goin along
an see q 'possum. ali done an nice, with
de rich gravy stewing out, don't know
what I'd do"
Major Lynn said he did.
but. Booker. does your conscience
hurt you much?"
Now. Boss, dat's a hard question; but,
I tell YOU TO yourself. Boss. il amt my
conscience OATS troubled me so much as
dat l got cotched."
IN RELIGION AND POLITICS.
"Wen. Booker, you say that a nigger's
moral make up is such that II is natural
for him TO steal; what is a niger re-
ligiously?'
Now. Superintendent. a niger is ma
terally Baptis'. for desc two reasons:
Fust. cause de Baptis' Is right; en-. Sc
con-. cause all de udder niggers is
Ba9tis'."
but. a Niger politically. what is hep
"Irs les es natural for a Niger 10 be
a Publican as It's to breathe. He Is
born a 'Publican he lives Publican.
en- he'd vote 'Publicanly, do he know de
| Dumocrats Is right. For me- I'm Dunno
! crat. But niggers generally are slch
fools: dey don't know dat white folks is
better friends 10 de niggers dan de niger