The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-03-18

honest life is the tongue of slander.
The magic word eek convict" has been
the means of depriving many honest
men from lucrative positions of trust
and honor while trying to conceal their
identity. These foul-mouthed, tale
bearing individuals are curse to any
community and more to be dreaded
than the plague, not only by the ex-
prisoner, but the public in general.
They recognize no virtue or commend
able action in the prisoner that deserve
praise or encouragement. They de-
vote their energies to the heinous
practice of tearing down that which
has required almost superhuman effort
to reconstruct. The friends whom
they had gained by noble deeds of
assistance, kindness and sympathy,
while in the midst of misfortune, will
stand aghast as they listen to this
hydra headed individual talk about
things that have no other foundation
than that which exists in his disorded
intellectual faculties. If the ex-pris-
Oner wishes to avoid this class of
people, and the humiliation that must
inevitably follow exposure, he will
have to build upon sure foundation
"a foundation that will protect not
only himself, but his employer.
The xprisoner has not, as a great
many suppose, undergone a complete
reformative change while confined in
a penal institution. His perceptive
and sympathetic powers remain ever
the same, and his reformation usually
depends upon the treatment accorded
him when he reenters society. The
fact that he is an ex-prisoner out on
parole, should never be taken advan-
tage of by his employers in regard to
treatment. If he performs an honest
days work, he should be given its
equivalent the same as any other work
man. But if his services are under
estimated and he is compelled to put
up with harsh treatment, we can hope
for no decrease in the population of
second timers.
The work that is being accomplished
by the prisoners aid society, which was
organized in this state some time ago.
is doing considerable toward helping
the discharged prisoner demonstrate
the fact that he is still human being,
capable of leading an honest life and
living up to the requirements of the
law if only given a chance. This soci-
ETY. tries to furnish employment to
those who are unable to help them
selves. The ex-prisoner heretofore, in
this respect, was seriously handicapped; !;
for upon his discharge from prison, he
had no recommendation that would aid
him in getting work; no reputable
friends to assist him; no funds to en-
bark in the commercial world; no trade
that he could turn to, but compelled to
drift hither and thither like derelict
on the waters.
Although this important difficulty
has been remedied so as to secure en-
ployment for the discharged prisoner,
he still has a great many disadvantages
to work against. If he is ambitious
and wishes to rise above the conditions
of the common, everyday farm hand,
he becomes shining mark for his
opponents to heap criticism and ridi-
cule upon on account of his previous
record. Notwithstanding all that is
being done toward helping the dis
charged prisoner, his future career
will ever be impeded by the unfortu-
nate mistake of the past. JASPER.
Written for The Prison Mirror,