The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-29
FELONS AS STUDENTS.

CGAON0 AS "a OOGNx0.
The school at the state penitentiary
at Deer Lodge, Mont, seems to have
become one of the fixed institutions of
the state. Started little more than a
year ago, simply as an experiment and
to furnish some kind of occupation for
the inmates, it has proved from the
first pronounced success and up to
the present time teachers and pupils
are alike interested and enthusiastic,
while the state board of prison COM
missioners, on retiring from Office at
the beginning of the year, earnestly
recommended to the incoming board
the continuance of the school.
The school has been maintained
chiefly by voluntary contributions from
outsiders interested in the success of
the enterprise and it's progress has been
greatly hampered by the lack of books
and other necessary supplies. OF eff
cient teachers in the different branches
there is no deficiency. Many of the in
mates are men of natural ability and
good education, some of them being
graduates from the leading schools and
colleges Of the United States and of
other countries. But whatever the
hindrances and obstacles which these
teachers and their pupils have had to
encounter, in the lack Of supplies, they
have made the best possible use of all
that has been furnished to'them.
The branches taught are reading.
spelling, grammar, history geography,
arithmetic, algebra, penmanship, book
keeping, typewriting and telegraphy.
The men have manifested an unusual
degree of interest in telegraphy and to
facilitate study in this direction the
state board of commissioners purchased
a complete telegraphic instrument and
apparatus and this has proved one of
the most interesting studies of the
school. A number of typewriting ma.
chimes, which had been in use for some
time in the various state offices, were
repaired and sent to the penitentiary
for the benefit.o the students.
Contrary to the expectation of many
who were engaged in the experiment,
all classes in the penitentiary are alike
interested in the school. From the
oldest to the youngest of the prisoners
all show willingness to take advans
tage Of this opportunity for improve.
ment and it is apparent that decided
advance has been made, mentally and
morally, by those who have been able
to attend the school regularly. Great
pains have been taken by the state
board to bring the efficiency of the
school up to the highest possible stand.
ard with the means at it's command
and every effort has been made to i'm
prove the conditions of the prisoners
and to make their time pass as rapidly
and as protitably as possible. A great
change for the better is noticeable in
the appearance and conduct of the con.
victs.
The total number of convicts in the
penitentiary is 312. OF this number
twenty-five are serving life sentences,
one sixty-year sentence and two are
serving forty-year sentences. There
are few in for sentences of thirty five
twenty-five, fifteen and eleven years,
while twenty eight have sentences of
ten years. A great many are in for
still shorter sentences -thirty-seven for
five years and twenty-three each for
three years and two years, so that most
of them have prospect for long terms
in which to advance in their mental
condition. Of the various counties in
the state, Silver Bow has furnished
fifty-eight convicts, the largest number
of criminals from any one county
Chicago Record.