Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-07-17
ARTISTS BEHIND BARS.
Excellent Progress of the Convicts In tho
Art Glass at Sing Sing Prison.

Excellent Progress of the Convicts In tho
Art Glass at Sing Sing Prison.
Go to Sing Sing and you will begin
70 think that genius and crime go hand
in hand There is Il young man wearing
stripes who has, alone and unalded,
made the largest reed organ III the
world. There is another who is decorat-
ing the chanel with sculptures of his
own devising. There are instructors Ill
art so efficient and pupils-a half Il
hundred of thcm-soapt that the record
of the latter's progress would be consid-
cred marvellous i'll tho most famous
academies of America or Europe And
there are tutors of languages and pupils
Of the same who can render IN equally
good account of themselves.
The discovery of these latent aptl-
tudes was not made until very recently.
The new constitution Of New York,
which went into effect at the beginning
of this year, abolished nj convict labor
that produced work competing with
tradesmen and laborers i'll the outside
world.
Then Warden Sage had happy idea.
He would teach his charges trades and
professions. The product of their an
prentice labor. if amy, would not be dis
posed of in the open market, but used
up within the prison.
An art class WAS the first result of
this inspiration. ItSecmcd unlikely that
even long term men in Sing Sing who
had never previously given amy sign of
artistic genius could be turned ut will
into powerful rivals CT Chase or La
Fargo, or even threaten to Gust from
their positions that splendid asgrcGa-
ton of talent which adorus the pages
of the daily and Sunday press. So Il
class of 30 waS started. Ii WAS pat Ill
charge of Il German convict, 4 young
luan of unusual intelligence, who had
learned art III one of the greatest acad-
emies of the old world. y class i'll type
setting and printing was primarily es-
tablished under the care OF an old COM
positor and prcssman. The members
print all the prison documents and also
do such work for the state rs will not
initiate against the constitutional pro-
visions Other classes are taught TO
produce shoes and clothes TO supply the
wants of the prisons and other institu-
tons. No less than 500 men We're put
TO cutting stone Thus work was found
for over 900 out of the l,400 men III
Sing Sing. Unless the legislature inter
fercs Warden Sage hopes before long
to have every man working.
The latest development in this hui
name plan has been the establishment OF
Il lectureship i'll modern languages. 1t
was the members Of the arr class, who,
finding that their daily labors left them
several hours Of idleness, petitioned for
the privilege Of having some OF their
spare time filed III by lessons i'll French
and Spanish.
Why French aud Spanish?
Because South America is the best
place in the world fer an eX-convict
who has reformed and proposes to make
an honest living. Now i'll South Amer
lea Spanish is spoken by the natives,
and French is universal passport.
The warden acceded TO the request.
He found among the convicts two men
who We're qualified to give the neces-
sary instructions. -New York Letter
in PhiluCelDhia Ledger