New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-11
WOOD CARVING AND SPANISH
BENEFICIAL RESULTS OF THE NEW SYS-
| TEN AT SING SING PRISON.
ARTISTIC PRODUCTIONS OF CONVICT woRKMEN-
THE wARDENs OFFICE TO BE REFITTEp-
HOW THE ABILITIES OF THE PRIs-
ONERS ARE UTILIZED.

ONEftS AXE UTILIZED
The so-caIled art school at the State prison at
Sing Sing has ceased to be mere experiment or a
time killer, instituted for the purpose of keeping
the minds Of a certain number OF convicts
pied. The first impression that the visitor receives
at the present time, seeing the men at their
work and inspecting the products Of their labor IS
that the school is a practical place. and that it is
teaching a comparatively rare trade TO a number
of individuals who ought to be able 10 benefit by
II when again thrown upon their own resources,
tho State at the same time gaining by the results
of their labors while 1t has thcei in Its keeping.
When the class OF Nifty first organized
weeks were spent in instructng them IN the art Of
copying simple designs in lead pencil: then tools
for carving in wood were placed In their hands
and they wcre taught the elements of the wood
carver's trade month or six weeks ago the
men were carving designs in wildwood for. no
other purpose than to acquire proficiency In the
art To-day they patiently developing beauti-
ful forms and figures In oak and other valuable
woods TO be used in chairs. tables. dados and other
articles Of interior decoration.
Tho advance the class has made a whole can
be appreciated by taking the record Of one OF its
members-a colored man. about forty years old.
He entered the class when 1t was first formed. and
was entirely unfamiliar with the of a pencil.
beyond writing his name. and had never handled
chisel In his life. He has just finished a handsome
table for the superintendent Office In the Capitol
at Albany. 1t is OF oak. about ten feet long. and
somewhat narrow, as IL Is intended 10 support q
cabinet Of some sort. The ornamentation. designed
by the convict instructor Of the class Is elaborate.
and has been worked out in the most painstakng
manner After being carved by the coored con-
Wet, tho various pieces composing the table were
passed on to John Y. McKane. under whose super
vision they were joined together and finished
number of the members of the class are now
engaged upon the most important work yet at
tempted Tho Wardens office is TO be entirely fin
ished In oak including walls. ceiling, closets. man
telpece and furniture. The convict instructor has
! already completed most Of the designs which are
In the Renaissance style, and some OF the panels
are now In the hands of tie carvers In order that
the designs may be executed properly, II Is neces-
sary tina, they first be produced in clay. Modelling
In clay is another branch of the trade that is
taught In the school. there being about twelve men
In the class. and some Of the models OF the ara
besques TO he used in decorating the Warden's
ONCE now completed. show how skful the con-
wet pupils have become in harding this material.
The designs for the mantelpiece. the desk ana a
closet for the Office. already completed indicate
that this apartment will be triumph OF the wood
carver's and decorators arts when finished. They
prison was a designer and architect Of more than
ordinary ability and since he has been In the m
with an Industry that is remarkable. Designs for
every Imaginable purpose are produced, with
he has a. an assistant who is also bright. able ana
skilful, but IT. keeps them busy 70 Instruct and
enthmsiastic as themselves in Tie trade in which
the State is endeavoring TO train them.
Citizens who visit the art school ana see hang
Ing around upon the walls Of the big room finished
landscapes in pencil, graceful architectural de-
signs. handsome bits OF wood-earyng and plaster
convicts cannot but feel the anomaly OF the
whole thing: at the same time they acknowledge
that In thus trying 10 develop that which Is best
In its prisoners the State has taken wise and
humane step. -,
Warden Sage first thought OF the art school
as n means OF giving his idle men something TO
do. II has developed into department OF valuable
send out men capable OF producing for their own
support work that will be IN demand ana a heneht
10 any community IN which II Is produced
Every afternoon at 3 o'clock the members OF the
art school lay aside their pencils and chsels and
form the class In Spanish. They gather In
OF the aisles between two OF the long rows OF
benches and submit their written Lessons. prepared
In their cells the night before. to their teacher.
bright, Intelligent Spaniard Many OF these ex-
erciees are written Ia excellent hand and show
great care In preparation The instruction Is given
BY the teacher going from pupil 10 pupil asking
each one TO translate verbally into Spanish