The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-28

considering the welfare of 9TH
~ ers, are in favor of starting a
- reform similar to that recently
decided upon in Pittsburg,
where a fund of $1,000000 Is be-
ing collected for the purpose of estab-
fishing a model prison. This IDEAL
place of detention is to do away with
all the horrors of reputed prison life.
The desires of the prisoners are to be
considered and their comfort is to be
the prime object.
Now we really need such a reform in
Scranton. Jail life is no doubt very
wearing in Lackawanna county AS it
is now about two-thirds of the wander
ing Willies, three -fourths of the Hurri-
cane Salies and about seven-eighths
of the street-beggar criminals are well
coined here, or at least are packed off
upon us by other generous communi-
ties. If it were thoroughly under
stood that our county Jail was to be
nicely fitted up with rooms 20 feet
square, such as the Pittsburg philan-
thropists propose, with nice springs
and comfortable mattresses, not to
mentioned elder down quilts and Tur-
key rugs, there would be an increase
age the circulation swearer.
1t may seem rather a. pity to throw
cold water on such a beautiful, golden
ruly scheme, but somehow the Jail and
prison work undertaken in this region
has not, in the main, brought results
such as would commend it very hearth
ly to the skeptical mind.
One of the illustrations that seems to
| come uppermost in my thought just at
present is that of a young woman in
terested in prison work and who from
that developed a phenomenally active
interest in thief incarcerated in our
county Jail, He was suffering from the
effects of a fall gained in an attempt
to escape, and she comforted him with
apples, tracts and other delicacies, neg
lecting her home and family in the
meantime. Finally, when he had suf-
| ficiently recovered. she ran off with
him, leaving her three little children tc
the card of an irate husband. Natur-
ally, they eventually landed in the
Home for the Friendless, where they
probably We're better treated than ever
before in their brief experience.
Singularly enough, a criminal behind
the bars often holds fascination for a
woman which, If it does not lead hel
into any indiscretion, is nearly sure tC
blind her judgment and intuitions, nc
matter how practical and sensible she
may be. There may be those women
who are fitted by nature to wisely con-
| duct system of Jail and prison vista
tion but they are few, and perhaps II
is just as well for the peace of many
homes that the feminine evangelizatior
is no more popular than it is as regards
personal and exclusive communication
with criminals. While there Is not a
doubt but that women have thus done
| much good to the outcasts of society
1t is also to be deprecated that ir
many places, and indeed in this city
young girls have been urged into such
ministrations. Happily, they hac
mothers who we're not hen-headed
enough to see their fair and impression.
able daughters thrown into the whir
of temptation from which results emo-
tional mawkishness; and the little fad
had its little day then, peaceably max
ing way for something else, probably
the wheel, or yellow sofa cushions, OF
monogram fans, or college trophies.
SAUCY BESS.