davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
WILL 1T BECOME A LAW.

The Massachusetts legislature
has bill under consideration the
main provisions of which are
that the state shall maintain and
govern all county jails and houses
of correction under supervision Of
board of prison commissioners.
This board is empowered to APP
point a qualified prison inspector.
The gist of the bill is to make all
jails of the state practical refOrma-
tories as far as possible. To avoid
the undesirable commingling of
Youthful offenders with the more
hardened criminals. We hope the
bill will become a law. If it does
it will be eagerly watched by lead
ing penologists of other states and
is certain to be copied if the re-
suits justify what may be reason
ably expected by the most con-
sentative. One fact we already
know to a moral certainty: it is
next to impossible to enact any
law that will make the present
jails any more pernicious in their
effects upon young criminals than
what they are at present. There
fore, we may rightfully expect
some improvement from state con-
troll of jails.
To any one who has had the mis-
fortune to pass any length Of time
in even our best conducted jails
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

plishment, without the necessity of
labor. That is the monkeys lead
ing trait. But we believe that
even the simian tribes would have
sense enough to avoid repetition
of that which would cause them
punishment similar to what the
convicted criminal must undergo.
That is where Mr.. Monkey shows
superior intelligence to many of
us who deliberately walk into the
same trap that has caught us once.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

The bright, vigorous man, the
one not afraid or ashamed to use
his muscles, when there is no mar
ket for the special brain power he
may possess, is the man who will
ultimately get there to use an
expressive phrase. The lexicon
surfeited gent who thinks he was
born especially to be bank presi-
dent or a political manager with
treasuryship attachment, the indi-
vidual who loves manual labor
only in the abstract, is generally
kept busy washing beer stains
from his only suit of clothes.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
OUR SIMIAN QUALITIES.

The noted Darwin must have
been primarily melted to seek the
origin of the human family OF
''missing link" connecting us with
the monkey species by mans
prominent characteristic of imita-
ting: doing the most foolish things
just because others do them.
Did you ever ask a man or boy
why he started in using whisky,
tobacco, or cigarettes Git is unjust
to class cigarettes as tobacco)? If
SO you invariably receive the ans
wer: because my father uses it:
or so and so uses it, No one can
honestly admit liking whisky fo1
it's taste or first effects. 1t is sim
ply the force of eXample-a sample
of our initiative qualities. It is
sad to recall that the virtues are
not as eagerly initiated as the
vices, and that they are not is only
accounted for from our further i'm
itation Of the simian species love
for ''sweet doing nothing" Fool
ish habits are more easily acquired
by us than they are by monkeys
It takes a little exertion. little
more forbearance to acquire use.
full habits least we think il
does that is why we are lax in
that line. It is our belief that il
some suicides could come to earth
again they would offer as an ex-
cuse for their rash act that they
were impelled to do it merely be.
cause others had done the same
before them. Even the criminal
INDUCES in his nefarious calling
because some other fellow steals
and he presumes it is the easiest
way of getting through life. It is
wonderful how eagerly we grasp
at any thing that is easy Of accom-.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

A NEW system Of curing" chill
dren with criminal tendencies is
being applied in La Petit Roquette,
a new prison on the outskirts of
Paris, France. The institution is
not spoken of or commented on as
a prison. The keepers are called
teachers. The principal curative
tonic is that Of complete individ-
ual isolation. The children, (or
youths, must wear mask when
not in their cells, whether at school
or taking exercise. Talking is con-
sidered a greater otfense than an
attempt to escape. In the school
room each enter an individual stall
close half door after them which
leaves Just room to see the teacher
without chance of watching any
humorous or distracting antics of
their fellows. This plan may work
satisfactorily from punitive stand
point by inspiring the inmates
with a dread of prison life. Some
French parents are already
charmed with it as they claim
that the mention of LA Petite
Roquette' is sufficient to make
the worst boy extremely tractable.
The question is: How long will
this ''dread' last-will it entirely
eradicate the criminal tendencies
or merely bank the criminal fire
for time to have it burst forth in
it's full strength when they grow
mp
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
COMMENCE AT THE CRADLE.

WITH all the great advances
being made in the treatment Of
criminals there never will and
never can be any desirable de-
crease Of crime till we begin at
the cradle. The foundation of a
criminal career is formed between
the ages of three and seven years.
The substructure may not be built
upon for a long time and in some
fortunate cases may never be used
These are but the exceptions that
prove the existence of the fact.
Every mother knows that child
is always the greatest trouble and
will do the strangest things at the
ages spoken of. It is the formative
period to which parents as a rule
pay so slight attention and Of
which the majority Of them know
comparatively little and care less
But the impressions made on, and
the acts of the child at that age
are the index to it's future life.
Many will put forward the plea
that the children of ignorant par
ents brought up amid the poorest
surroundings are sometimes the
most honest. We admit this is
true in many instances. But do
you take into consideration the
other crimes committed by those
same people that are never aired
in the daylight but which often
leave a curse on their posterity and
are the direct cause of the alarming
increase of insanity? No: this
phase of the question is seldom
enlarged upon. But our insane
asylums tell their own story.
It is imperative that parents
should take extreme pains in mold
ing the character of their offspring
during this formative period SO
fraught with destinies of precious
lives. l. is not sufficient to merely
protect children from hearing or
seeing that which is wrong. 1t is
even more necessary to form the
then plastic mentality Of the child
into an enthusiastic love and re-
spect for the good and beautiful
in life The destiny of the boy or
girl with character so formed will
be it's own reward to parents in
after years for all their trouble and
anxiety caused in the springtide of
childhood
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

existence. The next day phil
osopher of the same school uses
his five-dollar-a line pen to show
how cruel we are to dogs in allow
ing them to sleep on the bare floor
of a we'll heated room. But this
time there is no reference to the
DOOR human wretches who are COM
PEELED to sleep on the bare floor of
very chilly room.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

A GOOD example is without
doubt stronger incentive to the
aspiring youth than the most bril-
liant grafton. The main trouble
with the average young man is
that he seeks to gain the same en-
inence as his ideal without going
through the intermediate hard
ships and privations that were the
lot of his exemplar. We all seek
the roses at the summit but fail
to appreciate the fact that the in
tervening thorny ascent must be
trodden with humility and forbear-
ance.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
Is CRIME ON THE INCREASE

IS CRIME ON THE INCREASE.
PEssIMIsTs throughout the coun-
try are gloating over the fact that
crime is ever on the increase re-
gardless Of the various salutary
principles now in vogue in the
more advanced prison systems for
the remodelling of the criminal
character In their case the wish
is usually father to the thought.
A list of dry statistics is looked at.
''There you are they say: $50
many arrests and convictions this
year: so many twenty years ago;
an alarming increased" Do they
take the increased population into
consideration? Do they even give
a thought to the immense advan-
tages the police system of today
has over that of even twenty years
ago? Certainly not; there is an
increase of crime-or rather of
criminals convicted-t that is all
they care to know. They do not
take into consideration that out of
500 crimes committed nowadays
someone is punished for at least
$50 of them. Whereas, even
twenty years ago people had to
feel contented if the ends of JUS
tice were subserved in 40 per cent.
of the crimes committed.
The reformatory methods of the
present day in connection with the
parole system and board Of par
dons in the more enlightened states
must ultimately show good results.
Some people seemingly think that
if they plant an acorn at night
there should be a we'll developed
oak tree awaiting the woodlands
AK in the morning. Give the sys-
tenn a chance to work out it's good
results. This cannot be accom-
plished to any appreciate extent
in few years. Had the present
excellent systems been started
twenty years ago we might be in
position to chronicle decided
decrease in the crimes committed.
That is the full intent of the re-
formatory systemic decrease the
number of CRIMES committed: to
make honest men out of the dis
honest ones, and not merely to
sharpen their abilities sufficiently
to avoid arrest and conviction
again.
If we take into consideration
the varying conditions of the last
five years, that is, the great bust
ness stagnation: the immense num-
Der of men thrown out of employ
ment thereby without any resources
to live upon, and the exceptional
ability shown in the arrest and
conviction Of criminals, together
with the inflated population of the
cities, and the low grade of some
accessions to our population from
foreign lands, we must honestly
admit that crime, practically speak
ing is NOT on the increase. Even
at this early date, when advanced
reformatory principles are but in
their infancy, the most pessimistic
misanthrope can easily convince
himself that good results are
visible and the outlook for an early
decrease in the criminal population
very favorable.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
THE MIRROR is a weekly paper published

THE MIRROR is a weekly paper published
in the Minnesota State Prison. 1t was founded
In 1887 by the prisoners and is edited and man
aged by them. Its objects are to be home
newspaper: to encourage moral and intellectual
improvement among the prisoners; to acquaint
the public with the true STATUS Ofthe prisoners
to disseminate pathological information and to aid
in dispelling that prejudice which has ever been
the bar sinister to fallen mans self-redemptiOn.
The paper is entirely dependent on the public for
its financial support. If at any time there should
accrue surplus of funds, the money would be
expended in the interests of the prison library.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
The nOXiOus cigarette will SO

The noxious cigarette will soon
be made very expensive luxury
or the smokers of them will be
ridiculed out of existence if the
newspapers of the day keep on
their present tack. When the press
of this great country unites in an
effort to Danish an evil it gener-
ally succeeds, regardless of the
combined power of such an octo-
pus as the present Tobacco Trust.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

AN ANCIENT platitude infers that
1T takes a smart man to be fool. :"
If the saying is truism there are
great many people in prisons
and lunatic asylums who wish
they were not smart men, at a
certain period Of their existence
Just previous to incarceration.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

WE HAVE not the slightest doubt
but that all chewers of gum will
be delighted to know that a late
news item informs the world that
"Pepsin is now made from the
stomachs of hogs"
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
N 0 T IC E..

THOSE receiving copies of The MIR
ROR who are not subscribers will
please consider them as sample cop
les. If, after reading them, you should
conclude that TIE MIRROR is
worthy of your patronage. send one
dollar to this office and we will enter
your name on our books for a
years subscription.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
BE MODEST in your ambition
and destinys surprises will be
more sanguinely appreciated.

IF YOU cannot do a man a good
turn never do him a mean one. for
lit is better to have the goodwill
than the enmity of even a dog"
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

WHITTIER are our learned seers
and philosophers drifting? One
day we are RECALLED with erudite
essays on the scandalous extrava-
gance of people spending money a
la Bradley-Martin fashion when
there are SO many people in dire
need of the actual necessaries to
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

IF THE same amount of time and
thought wasted in wishing" to be
rich was appropriated to trying to
be sensible there would be a
chance of our being tolerably COM
Portable at some period of life.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

Should THE MIRROR fail to reach subscriber
each week. notice should be sent to this Office
and the matter will be attended to at once.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

This paper Will be forwarded to subscribers
until ordered discontinued and all arrears are
paid.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

THE MIRROR is issued every Thursday at the
following rates:
One Year S1.OO
Six Months 30
Three Months %
To inmates of penal institutOns,!5O cts per year.
Address all communications
Editor PRISON MIRROR.
saltwater, Mimi.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

Contributions solicited from any and all sour
ces. Rejected manuscript will not be returned.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

Entered at the POst-office at saltwater, Mimi,
as SecOnd-claSs mail matter.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
the 2risom Mirrnr.

Edited and Published by the Inmates
of the Minnesota State Prison.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15
<<doNlF5q:;''N:!R kX2''eN'!SySSis:

England's reckless bravery / in
pulling down Cretan homes is at
tracing widespread admiration,
She brings down the house in
every act.-Cleveland Plaindealer.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-04-15

Men and women ought, perhaps,
to enjoy equal rights, and yet if
we saw men wearing millinery and
kissing each other on the street we
would throw bricks at EN- Bede's
Budget.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-22
Domestic Ports.

domestic PORTS
NEW YoRk /. goth, schs Nantasket; Cup;
till, Boston; + III Odiorne. White. do: VIM ii
Davenport Stacy Gardner; Hattie MEG Buck,
Low, Bangor; Chase. Snow, kockland; Mary Z
Crosby. Cummings, New Bedford.
All 21st, scls Kit Carson, Somes Sound Adm
Richardson, Bangor; Lavnia Bell, Calais; Ira
Bliss, Rockland; Maynard Sumner, Vinahaven
H Kimball, RockpOrt
Cid goth, schs Fred Balano, Sawyer. Cover
nors Harbor; Sarah A Fuller, Brown, Port au
Prince.
Passed He'll Gate GOTH. schs Emma. Elizabeth
port for Portland; Anna w Barker, do for Cas-
Lizzie Cochran. Amboy for Bar Harbor.
BOSTON-Ar Goth. schs Edna. Donovan, Ho-
boken; VIM Cobb, Cook, Baltimore: J 4 Bod s
ton: Richd Hill. Whittemore. New Work; Cata-
wamteak Maker. New York.
CID goth, ship B Walker, Wallace. NYork
schs Lucy II Russell. Bishop, Brunswick, to
load for Perth Amboy; Maud Sherwood, Kelley
Kennebec and Norfolk.
Ar 21st,. barque Lapland Gates, FIN Trinidad
sch Celia f, West. Satilia River.
Sid Dist, ship j b Walker, New York. schs
Edna, and Richard Hill, for Maine; Mand Sher-
wood, Tor Kennebec and Norfolk.
Sid 21st sch Abbie q Cole tor Portland.
At anchor off Highland Light 2Uuh, schs En-
nest L Lee, Tampa. and McNichOls
Passed Highland Light 21st. steamer Read
ing with barge Hercules. from Philadelphia for
BALTIMoRE--Ar 18th. sch W H oler, stud
Ar Goth, schs Mary Z H 6 Dow. Malcolmson
Boston: Sarah W Lawrence Boston.
Ar goth, sch Oliver Barrett, Erwin. Wash
BRUNswIcK-sld 10Th. sch Harry Prescott
Gray, Darien and New Haven.
BATH@ I'll. 7 2lst, schs Ernma ANGEL Bos.
ton. Philadelphia for Gardiner; Abbie Bowker,
New York; Maud Sherwood. Boston; Annie
Lee New York for Augusta.
Sid 21St, Schs Maud, for New York; John
AmeS. Washington
BANGOR-Ar 2lst. schs Hattie Lewis, Clark,
and Olive Branch. SWEET. Portland Veto, Laid.
do; Ella Clifton, Strout. Millbridge.
LUBEC-Ar Goth, sch Portland Packet, Gar
diner Portland.
MILLBRIDGE- SID 10th, schs Bertha V,
Wilson. Boston; EldOra do.
MACHIASPORT-Ar 18th. sch Addie Fuller,
and HortenSia, Boston.
Ar goth, schs Nepture, Boston; Ragini, edo.
NEWPORT NEWS-Ar Goth, sch Alice B
.NOBSKA-. Passed east goth, sch Annie 7
Bailey, Otis, philadelphia for Gardiner.
Passed 21st, steamer Wiliamsport, with barge
ElmWo0G. from Philadelphia for Portland.
NORFOLk-Ar goth. sch VIM 0 Snow, from
Sid 9th. sch Annie L Green, Caswell, New
NEW BEDFoRD-Ar goth, sch Chrome, Gott
PENsACOLA-Ar goth, sch Andrew Adams,
Hodgland, Galveston.
PHILADELPHIA-Ar goth, scbs Matilda D
Borda. Kenhebec; Cox & Green. do; Susie IL
Davidson. do.
CID goth, .schs VIM X Park, Bangor: Alice
Holbrook. Boston; Oracle d Buchanan, do;
Nathan Lawrence, do
Sid 10th, tug Carbonero, with barge Rattle
snake, for Portland.
Sid i'm Delaware Breakwater 21st. barqus
Lunt for New York,
PORTSMOUTH = Ar 2uth. schs Lizzie II
Brayton. Rogers, Philadelphia; Abel Bah
Below 2oth, schs Angola, Cole, Bangor for
for quincy.
Sarah Hill. Boston for Portland. Julia Baker,
Boothbay for Gloucester
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-22
Gloucester Fish Market.

FOR TIE WEEK ENDING May 81. 1897.
Last sales fresh halibut &c u fb for white
"1 Iast t. sales Of Georges Cod from vessel 50 76
for large and s1s4 for medium; Bank do 269
$l25. so g.
81 70 for medium.
We quote prime Georges Goldfish new SIS rs
N q 90 for large and O0A$3 E5 for small Bank
4 25@4 90 for large and s214@S21a for small !;
Dry Bank az 90 and So 90; Shore IS 90 and
S. for large and small. Newfoundland =.
We quote cured cusk at $3s4 4$A % qtl; hake
at 81 81; haddock at So heavy sailed pollock
81 76as2 ooibotl land English cured do s2% %
Best handline homeless Geoges cod &c for me-
dunn to TING large: middles s 5O0$e; homeless
Shore do 5G7c; Grand Bank do 6Q7 1sc :cusk,
5M 961ac; haddock 3sz @94s4 make at 21a@4;
fancy brands of entirely boned cod IL to 1bc
~ N Smoked Halibut straight strips at loo
u H.; extra thick 1O1s medium Sc; small Sis !;
chunks 1O@11c.
Mackerei bloaters at s22gs25 y Dbl: No
$1SGs20 kbl;2s, $l29s16: So, $1O9$12 90;
bullseyes 9 co.
Smoked salmon 1sc p fb Med herring o al2c
box; tucks loc: lengthwise DC: No Is at Sc /;
Bloatrers 9OcG$l. shore do at 1 10: canned
lobtsers 2 20; CLANS 81. American sardines,
quarter oils, So rs; half oils, So so; three-ouar-
ter muStards. $2h, spiced. SO.
Large Newfoundland herring SO 90 Dbl. Nova
Scotia large split 81 bu; med 3 rs: large round
shore So :choice layer packed do S31a9S3 10;
Extra large split Labrador 81 OOGs 90.
Picked Goldfish saga so; paddock 8 25 hall
but heads So; sound 81 90; tongues and sounds
81,
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-22
OBITUARY.
Nathan Coombs.

Hon. Nathan Coombs died at his resi-
dence at Cumberland Mills, from heart
failure and acute Bright's disease yester-
day morning at about half past six.
Mr.. Coombs was born at Brunswick,
Me-, November 80, 1919. In early life he
taught in the schools of his own and adj
joining towns ..- for many winters, and
during the summer seasons worked upon
his fathers farm and at his trade as a
mason In 1915 he married Jeltje Maria
Beth, who survives him and who was the
daughter of Captain Frederick Beth of
Brunswick. In 1S4S they moved to Bath,
Me- where Mr. Coombs engaged in bust
ness as builder and contractor.
He served several years as deputy
sheriff of Sagadahoc county, during
which period he improved the opportuni-
ty to study law, and in 1874, having been
admitted to the bar, he associated himself
with Francis Adams, forming copart-
nership under the name of Adams &
Coombs which continued until August,
1896. In 1887 he accepted an unsolicited
appointment as judge of the Municipal
court of Bath, which office he held for
eight years, being reappointed by Gov
Burleigh in 1891.
In August Of last year Judge Coombs
retired from practice and removed with
his family to Cumberland Mills, where he
purchased home and continued to reside
until his decease. He was the president
of the Coombs- Fogg company, which pur-
chased the stock of the late Alden Cloudy
Charles 1. Fogg, being the business man
ager.
Judge Coombs leaves widow and two
children Ardon W. Coombs, ESQ.,, of
Portland, and Harriet Jordan wife of
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-22
VENICE.
Rev. F. C. Rogers of Pine ST. Church
Lectures in Bangor.

The Bangor Wing says: Grace church
was the scene of pleasant and profitable
occasion Thursday evening it being
lecture by Rev. f. G. Rogers OF Port
land, formerly pastor of Grace church'
and a reception in honor OF Rev MI
Rogers and wife. The lecture came first,
in the church auditorium, and there was
a good sized audience in attendance.
Mr. Rogerss subject was Venice, 1.-THE
Dream City, and it was admirably
handled. Mr. Rogers is an extremely
interesting speaker and he was given very
appreciative attention last evening, as
his lecture gave personal experienc es in
fascinating Venice, as well as realistic
descriptions of the various features and
characteristics of the city.
Mr.. Rogers spoke of early Venice, then
the modern city, built upon the water.
The canals, gondolas and gondoliers, the
cathedrals, Doge's palace with its horri-
BILE dungeons underneath, the lace and
glass works, the Bridge of Signs, people
of the city, including the poor and their
humble quarters, places where scenes
from ''Othello" and 1.-THE Merchant of
Venice are said to have been located,
ETC., were entertainingly described by
the speaker.
The lecture was followed by a round
of appreciative applause After the lect-
ure q reception was given in the vestry
in honor of Rev Mr.. Rogers and his
wife. The occasion was very pleasant
one and many friends had an opportuni-
ty to again meet them socially.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-22
Miss Grace C. Bailey.
Steamer Movelnents.

Glasgow, May 21.-Arrived, steamer
Manitoban, Montreal.
Liverpool, May at.-sailed, steamer
Georgia, New York
=, Queenstown, May 21.-Sailed, steamer
Gallia, Boston.
Southampton. May 21.-Sailed, steam
er Normania, New York
Glasgow, May 20.-Arrived, steamers
Tritonia, Montreal; Zanzibar, St. John.
Neville, May 21.-Sailed, steamer Van
couver, from Liverpool, Montreal.
Hamburg, May 21.-Arrived steamer
Columbia, New York via Plymouth and
Cherbourg.
Halifax, May 21.-Arrived, steamer
Ulunda, Fleming, Liverpool, via St.
Johns. Sailed, steamer st. John City,
Harrison, London. Cleared, steamer
Nab. Rasmussen. Bristol
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-22
I otlon n arkeEs
by Telegraph.,

MAY II, 1887.
NEW YORK-The Cotton market to-day was
quiet; middling uplands at tn C gull do at &c;
sales LAP bales.
CHARLESToN-The Cotton market to-day
was steady; Middlng 7ssc.
NEW oRLEA NS--The Cotton market to-day
was steady; middlpg 71sc.
MEMPHIS-The Cotton market to-day was
dull middlings 5.16c.
sAVANNAH-The Cotton market to-day was
easy; middling 7asc
MOBILE-The Cotton market to-day was
quiet; middlings TAG.