The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-09
WITHIN AN INCH.

The windows Of the restaurant wer
open, and tho cool, fragrant air Of til
spring night was struggling with tn
smoke laden atmosphere of tho room. 4
glance out of doors showed tho azure SIX.
and the brilliant full moon, whose glm
mering blush rays shone through TIN
young LEAKAGE OF the blossoming trees
which swayed gently to and fro before tn,
windows In tho light breeze. But nothing
was more remote from the minds of oul
circle, which met every evening at cor
tnin table for social intercourse than poet
ical ideas. The club, of which wns one
consisted principally Of worthy citizens,
who had far greater liking for bright
gaslight than for dim moonlight and who
| appreciated tho charms Of good supper
much more than tho spell of tho lovelest
spring night. The topic of our converse.
ton was prosaio town gossip, which, as
usual gradually merged into foolish talk
about politics or discussions concerning
tho government, the thcater, high taxes
and similar subjects. BY a connection of
ideas which do not now recall the ques-
ton had arisen whether it was credible
that PERSONS hair could suddenly turn
gray from violent mental excitement
Part of tho company received the anec.
dotes current about such cases with slight
doubts, while others most pitilessly derid-
ed persons who woro simple enough to be-
lieve such nursery tales
Just as tho conversation became most
animated man of unusual height and
herculean frame, whom we had not prcvi-
ously noticed, rose from a side table and
approached us. His Intelligent features,
which bore the stamp Of resolution seemed
spiritualiged by tho large, kindly blue
eyes. But tho most striking peculiarty
In his appearance was tho snow white hair
and tho gray beard framing his face,
which, at tho utmost, indicated an age Of
only So years.
Pardon mo II enter into your CONVEX
sation," he said, bowling courteously.
"You arc speaking of subject which
greatly interests mo. myself am a living
proof that terrible mental agitation really
docs exert tho physica influence which you
all doubt"
His words awakened the utmost inter
est. We made room for him at our table,
and after he had taken his seat unani-
mously urged him to tell us what had
caused tho whiteness of his hair.
Tho stranger feignod no undue modosty,
but yielded to our ontrcaties and related
the following story:
"1f you have ever paid any attention to
American affairs, tho name of Auburn
cannot DO unfamiliar. 1t has about the
same significance In tho United States as
Spielberg has in Austria. You must not
imagine Auburn as an immense gloomy
prison, q single large building, but rather
whole colony of criminals, u metropolis
of tho miserable outcasts Of society," In.
closed by enormous walls which rise men
acingly to u considerable height above tho
plain, are o great number of single struc.
turcs houses which contain the cells of the
prisoners, the residences Of tho wardcns,
barracks, hospitals and workshops all DIES.
olate and drcary, with here and there bit
of turf, row of trees, bed of flowers, like
an innocent memory Of childhood among
tho evil thoughts of q criminal.
Circumstances which will not weary
you by recounting had led me, after com.
plotting my education in my native city,
Hamburg, to America and aftcr brief
time In New York l found myself prison
surgeon in Auburn, which, as perhaps you
know, Is in tho state of New York
Il had charge of part Of the prison
which contained tho worst criminals, men,
or rather human hyonas, to whom blood
had ceased to BIO very special liquid, as
Mephistopheles terms 1t. Two, who were
condemned TO lifelong Imprisonment In
the Institution and wGro distinguished
among tho others by great bodily strength,
craftiness and intelligence, had, in conse.
quenoo of repeated bold and cunning at.
tempts to escape, been placed under more
rigid oversight than the rest. had in.
CURED their special hate because l had
onco caused tho discovery of several iron
tools, which-heaven knows how obtained
they had concealed under their clothing,
and on another occasion discovered that
they woro shamning wken on tho plea Of
illness, they desired to he placed In the
hospital, probably because they hoped to
find tho conditions there moro favorable |
for their plans of escape. The scoundrels |
were separated and heavily chained, but |
nevertheless ono morning one and few |
days later tho other vanished, chains and
all, without leaving q trace. About n fort.
night aftcrward l went to Cayuga Bridge |
on some private business.
1T was noon when reached the end of |
my rido, and gazcd with delight at the |
sunlit landscape before my eyes. Cayuga
lake, ono Of those which, with Lake Erie,
form tho network Of inland lakes In New
York, lay before mo in its peculiar lowell.
ness. Between rugged, rocky shores, con-
fronting each other like sullen foes, the
long, narrow sheet of silver extended its
clear surface as if striving to reconcile the
two enemies who had stared detantly at
each other for centuries Across tho lake
which is about 40 miles long, and at this
point milo wide, tho railway trains run
on an immense wooden bridge, a marvel
OF American enterprise, which has sta
ton at Cayuga Bridge, an insignificant
village.
MY business was soon completed and
toward evening set out on my way home.
Are you familiar with tho pleasure Of a
ride Oh summer EVENING" Cnyuga Bridge
Is surrounded by extensive oak forests,
through which had to ride q considerable
distance. Tho huge, lofty trunks cast
long shadows, and tho tops rustled so softly
that ono rather felt than heard thom. As
passed beneath these woodland giants
sweet memories Of my faroff homo stole
into my heart. Absorbed in thought, |
oUsened the bride of my horse, which
,rotted slowly forward admired the be-
blending of colors produced by
Tho rays Of tho setting sun, as they shone
through the dense, dark green foliage and
seemed to kindle the edges Of the leaves.
Suddenly was reused from my dreams
by a rlIstllDg in tho underbrush on both