The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-11-30
w AyLeseuRY PRISON.
70 u che oaty oas England Was rec We
man ConVicNs.

| -6ANNNNN
men conyiots,
England has only one prison 70,
female conviots. It IL now situated
in Aylesbury, which for many
years was the general prison fol
Buckinghamshire, though previous
to November, 1896, the female prison
had been at Woking for 2s years.
The change to Aylesbury was ne
oessitated by the requirements Of
the war department, which tool
over the buildings at Woking and
converted them into barracks. Nei
ther the convicts nor the officials
were particularly pleased at the re.
moval, for the contrast between the
two places was marked.
The discipline for tho women is
not as severe as in tho mems pris.
ons. In the latter absolutely no con-
versation is permitted, but at Ayles-
bury well behaved women are al
lowed an hour for conversation each
day. In modern prison discipline,
punishment plays small part; in
the women s prison corporal punish
ment does not exist.
The great hold of the prison Off
cials over prisoners is obtained by
the mark system. A prisoner is as
keen on marks as high school girl.
BY marks she can earn higher
class in prison, as well as the remis-
sion of third part of her sentence.
Thus three years penal sentence
may be worked out in two years.
This is called earning the ticket. "
For the remaining year the prisoner
out on her ticket has only to report
herself every month at Scotland
Yard.
Prisoners are classed as proba-
TONERS, class 3, class and class /.
PI obationers have nine months of
solitary work in their cells; the diff
ferent classes have associated labor
for the main part The rules vary for
exeroise-an hour daily, except for
class /, which has ~ hours. The
diet, too, is different according to
class, class being the best. In class
2prisoners have tea in the afternoon,
but the doctor permits almost all the
women prisoners to have tea and
the two ounces of extra bread given
with it. The doctor has the right
of ordering them to the infirmary,
where the diet is often generous, in
Guiding such delioacies as chicken,
stew, rissoles and coffee.
Several minor industries are car.
ried on at Aylesbury. In large
workroom SO women are employed
in making suits for naval scholars
at Greenwich, the suit consisting of
blue serge blouse with large sailor
collar and trousers. Other prisoners
make suits of navy serge Of excel
lent quality for the women warders.
Others again work at making strong
bags of stiff canvas for the postoffice.
In the laundry considerable num-
Der Of women are employed. The
prisoners are anxious to have their
work admired.
Other industries, such as knitting
stockings, hand sewed liberty"
shirts ito be worn by men set at lib
erty) and other garments, are car
ried on by the women in their cells.
they much prefer associ-
ated labor, for the propinquity Of
fellow prisoners and the chance of
word to or from the matron about
the work arc blessings in prison
life that are never despised. A
small farm Of two acres gives work
to eight women. In many cases,
open air work is more beneficial
than any other, since it rebuilds the
constitution and appears to work
out good deal of superfluous
naughtiness.- New York Press.