davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
A BRUTALIZING LAW.

The people Of New York state
who were instrumental in urging
the passage Of the anti-convict
labor law are now being daily
shown the benefcial(?) effects Of
their sublime forethought in the
interest of few political ward
heelers and labor agitators. In
the Kings County penitentiary at
Brooklyn twenty convicts have
become violently insane since the
passage of the law. It must be
taken into consideration that this
prison, situated in Brooklyn, is
one of the smaller prisons of the
Empire state. It is also we'll to
bear in mind that a prisoner in
any of the New York institutions
must be in the worst stages Of
lunacy before it is considered
necessary to remove him to an
insane asylum. Last week alone
nine men had to be removed to
asylums. How many more there
are within the prison who are
''harmlessly" crazy is not known.
The prison officials are moi in any
way to blame; the stringent law
which went into effect in January
leaves them practically powerless
as to employing the prisoners
What will be done to overcome
this refined torture of enforced
idleness is not known. In the
present status of affairs the electro
cution chair is preferable to a
term of such monotonous, brain
destroying punishment as results
from continual brooding in idle
ness
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29

to take an interest in the better
ment of the human race. While
there is no individual money gain
to any of us from the resources of
The MIRROR we feel just as
strongly interested in the welfare
Of the paper as though our con-
tinued livelihood depended upon
it's financial success.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
INSPIRING RECOLLECTION

No MATTER how reckless or de-
PRAYED a man may become, if he
has ever had any home ties that
appeal to the ordinary mortal there
is some hope of his becoming
reconciled to the better side of
life. And where is the man, be he
poor or rich, who cannot recall
halcyon boyhood days? Where is
the one who can think of the
chums of school days without a
bitter sigh for the vanished hap
piness of those days?
It is a remarkable feature Of
prison life that more than four
fifths Of the average prison popu-
lation is drawn from the nomadic
portion of humanity that is ever
on the move from state to state
with the probable intent of better
ing their condition. Taking this
state as an example, we find that
by far the majority Of even the
younger inmates had their homes
in other states, and left the pater-
nal roost on wild-goose chase in
search of more liberty, more money
and easier times, as they thought
This fact of itself is but further
proof of the efficacy Of the home
in keeping men within the path Of
probity and consequent happiness.
To these wanderers who we're in
such haste to leave the mother
nest we would recall thoughts of
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
AS OTHERS SEE US.

The MIRROR fully appreciates,
and is truly thankful, for the many
kind expressions of goodwill and
cheering inspiration given us by
the press of this and other states.
OF late we have refrained from
publishing any Of these comments
in our columns simply to avoid the
charge Of being considered vain.
We appreciate the kindly feeling
of the press nonetheless, however,
and will say that our "home" con-
tributors are also entitled to large
share of the credit for keeping up
the standard of The MIRROR. We
take pleasure this week in copying
the following from the editorial
page Of The Fourth Estate, a high
class n. Y. publication devoted to
the interests of the makers of
newspapers:
Saltwater, Mimi, has weekly news
paper called THE MIRROR, which bears
the appropriate title, ut is never too
late to mend" This paper is edited
and printed by the prisoners in the
Minnesota state prison. 1t is well
written and cleverly conceived. * * x
THE MIRROR reflects the lives of men
stamped by society as criminal, and
yet is so full of hopefulness and trust
that it's weekly visits are really well
come. There is no hypocrisy about
the paper, and though it is printed in
a penltentiary, yet it is honest in
thought and purpose. 4 x Believ-
ing in the intent and ability of this
paper we rejoice in its existence and
feel assured that the men who make it
will continue their brave uphill work,
and that when they are free they shall
be welcomed among their fellowmen, as
the returned prodigal was.
1t would help good many philan-
thropists if they would subscribe to
and study the Minnesota prison paper.
1t should be generally supported, and
we extend to the local tradesmen of
MIRROR our most sincere regards.
We feel greatly indebted to The
Fourth Estate, for the prominence
thus given to The MIRROR, and
also for the kindly allusion to us
individually, though modesty COM
PEELED us to omit it from the above
Our readers will understand the
value of the space given to our
paper when it is known that The
Fourth Estate is the organ of the
best journalism Of this country
and reaches all advertisers and
newspaper publishers of any pre-
tentions.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
ALLEGED AMERICAN NOVELS.

AMONG the causes tending to
engender a fippant, un-American
spirit in the growing generation
may be cited some of the so-called
"American' novels of the last few
years. Many Of them are far worse
than the effusions Of the most
erotic Of the tabooed French
school. And they have not even
the excuse Of posing under true
colors. They are published as
works suitable for family reading
thereby adding deceit to their real
viciousness. They are far worse
in their ultimate results than many
works prohibited the mails. Like
the wolf in sleeps clothing their
depraved heroes and heroines are
masked by a slight veneer of pre-
sumptive responsibility. Given to
the reader as an "American" novel,
their characters are usually scrofula-
SCARED, imported mobiles Of loose
character and idle habits, with a
few clap-trap ''villains'' and the in
evitable American heroine who at
last Twins the affections and hon.
ored (?) escutcheon of Lord Fitz-
Foppleton" by her answering be-
lief in his donkeyish astheticism.
These works are always thickly
splattered with supposed "char-
acter" studies and idyllic love
scenes Of such rank suggestiveness
that even the partly depraved
reader sickens Of further perusal.
Their noxious double entendres'
may not be harmful to the mature
reader; but to allow the growing
generation to become slaves to
such fiction is putting a premium
on future immortality, counting
effeminacy among the coming men,
and establishing unwomanly in
stincts in the hallowed realms of
motherhood.
Aside from erotic pabulum these
works have for their main charac-
tiers men and women who, to use
an expressive Americanism, live on
Easy street. They are not troubled
with the necessity Of working for
a living. The author very cleverly
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
OUR DECENNIAL.

WITH this issue THE MIRROR
begins it's second decade. August
10th 1887 the first issue Of our
paper was sent forth. At that
time there were two practical
printers in the institution, one of
whom had had considerable ex-
perience as a writer as we'll as be-
ing good compositor. The sub
ject of an institutional paper was
preached to the Warden and he
gave the necessary permission.
Fifteen of the inmates willingly
subscribed enough cash from their
good time earnings to purchase
type and the other paraphernalia
of a printing office. In short
time the funds advanced by indi-
vidual inmates was returned to
their accounts with interest, the
paper thus becoming the general
property of the prisoners. Not
single issue has been missed or in
any way delayed since Vol. I No. l
came from the press. We have
always received and been benefited
by the moral support and aid of
the Warden and his executive
officers and shall endeavor to keep
The MIRROR up to a standard that
will be a credit to them and the
institution. No hypocritical goody-
goodness or bids for sentimental
sympathy will be tolerated in our
columns. We are fully cognizant
of the unenviable position of a
prisoner, but shall continue in so
far as we are able to engender
thoughts in our fellow-unfortu-
mates that may lead them to clear
realization of the folly of continu-
ing in criminal career, whether
viewed from a worldly or moral
standpoint. Our editorial motto
is and shall be: "There is no ex-
cuse for crime" We have no
sympathy for ourself, individually,
or for any one else caught openly
defying the law that will protect
us as fully as the ones injured,
in all Legitimate undertakings.
We shall look for and expect to
70 receive aid, by way Of subscrip-
tions, from any and all who claim
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
N 0 7 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 The 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, 1897-07-29

''The careful shelter of the girls
of the stately Colonial days in
American history is as possible
with us today as it was in the olden
times writes Edward w. Box,
deprecating, in the August Ladies'
Home Journal, the too great lib
erty given young girls by their
parents. "Not in the letter, per-
haps, but in the spirit. But be-
fore we can bring back those ideal
influences it is necessary that we
should return to one or two of the
conditions which existed and made
those influences possible. Our
mothers should be more familiar
with their daughters than they are.
The multifarious outside duties
into which women of this latter
day have gone have not served to
strengthen the tie between mother
and daughter. If anything, they
have loosened the relation. The
Colonial mother lived in her home:
the mother of today lives too much
outside Of it. The daughter in the
Knickerbocker home was the first
thought of the mother: the daugh-
ter of today is all too often the last
thought of her mother. Such
changes in home affairs are not
marks of progress. In fact, it re-
quires reading of old books some
times to see how little actual
progress we have really made.
More often, the wisest progress
would be for us to 60 back bit,
and see whence we started. There
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29

The August McClure's is issued
as a special midsummer fiction
number, and without ignoring
serious interests, it justifies it's title
in an eminent and most entertain
ing degree. A complete novelette,
by Rudyard Kipling, dealing with
school life in England and army
life in India, and obviously written
straight and hot from the authors
own personal experience, would
alone, especially with it's admirable
illustrations, make the number
distinguished.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29

are potent lessons for us in the
past. Our grandmothers knew a
thing or two. Some things they
knew better than do their grand
children.''
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
THE MIRROR is weekly paper published

THE MIRROR is a weekly paper puDiisneu
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 a home
newspaper; to encourage moral and intellectual
improvement among the prisoners; to acquaint
the public with the true STATUS Ofthe prisoner;
to disseminate pathological information and to aid
in dispelling that prejudice which has ever been
the bar sinister to fallen mans sef-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, 1897-07-29
~s@MMzZ\A
) -;

Miss Gwendolen Overton con-
tributes one of her admirable
stories of army life to the San
Francisco Argonaut Of July Goth.
It is entitled His Brothers
Keeper and tells Of a lieutenant
who, being crossed in love, trans
fers his ambition to his younger
brother who, however, is a good
for-nothing and comes to an in
glorious end.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29
>i0KF NeXSl&Xs

A fellow with not enough money
to get to Klondyke may be in great
luck and not know it.-Chicago
Inter Ocean.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-29

The calamity bowler which every
community has, is as much a
blight as a mouse at a ladies'
sewing circle, or a pole-cat at
picnic.-Mazeppa Independent.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
Happy Switzerland.

Recent press dispatches make known
the passage of a legislative enactment
in Switzerland by which the railroads
OF the country are to pass into the
hands of the government at a price
less by some $30,0O0,000 than even the
present deprecated cost of their stock
There Is rejoicing in Switzerland over
the circumstance, and one of the great
well springs of satisfaction is patriot
ism. The railroads of Switzerland are
or were previous to this purchase
largely controlled by foreigners. The
securities were massed in Berlin. The
Swiss then We're in the same fix pre-
cisely as the people of the United
States, whose freight and passenger
rates are to all intents and purposes
dictated by foreign flnanciers In Lon
don. No matter, then, what ones
opinion as to patriotism, and the gov
eminent ownership of railroads may
be, 1t is in order to rejoice with the
people of Switzerland because of their
emancipation from the rule of alien
credit brokers.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
The Fighting Lemmlnr.

II the jennings powers were pro-
portioned to his pluck, he would
make things lively for the hunter. 1t
attacks with reckless fury the harm
less passerby. One of these creatures,
smaller than rat, will assail without
second thought couple of human
beings weighing $50 pounds apiece.
1t will spring to ones knees, barking
and biting and in purblind fury fall
back "all-ends-up" to the earth, only
TO renew the attack again and again.
Today, while one lemming was flying
at me, another from beyond small
stream Joined in the demonstration,
and presently swan across to get to
close quarters. l was not quite sure
that the first fall into the water was
not accidental but hardly think so,
since once there it came straight to
the charge.-Wild Norway.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
Successful soul winnin 8.

Nearly every regenerate person can
trace his religious life to the agency
of some individual. Sometimes it is a
mothers prayers, sometimes a fathers
counsel sometimes the holy living of
one Of Gods children. But even more
frequently our religious experience can
be traced to word directly spoken
by some one in whose Christian char
acter we had confidence An unsaved
person may sit under the most faith
full preaching for years and remain
unmoved, while the simple question,
directly spoken, Are you a Chris
tian2" may do more to awaken his
conscience than any number of SER
mona
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
DAYS. months wears passed The n

Days, months, years passed. Tne un-
known lived silently, without words
and apparently without thoughts. She
loved to be out of doors and mixed with
other people. seeming by all exterior
appearances to be like them. At the
table of the marquis. in this family of
refined ancient race, she carried her
self with the grace and dignity of one
accustomed to a similar world, and
Pontus often said, This child is a great
lady"
In spite of the most thorough inves-
legations not a ray of light, even the
taintest pierced the mystery. 1t could
not even be conjectured what the boat,
lost at the coast. had been. nor who
this woman was who accepted placidly
the care Of strangers, showed neither
sadness nor JOY had no desires and
lived, unconsciously, the life of a
beautiful white bird in a cage Of gold.
Little by little the marquis grew at
tached to her. His house was large and
he refused to have her confined in a
hospital, repeating that she was his
charge and sacred to him above every
thing. And sometimes when he
watched her walking in the park of the
chateau, Pontus would grow very sad
ana murmur, IF this beautiful girl
mad soul how / would love her." And
Pontus, who was then in his seth year,
refused obstinately to marry-on ac-
1 count of the unknown.
1 Ana SO he grew older, and with the
years came deeper melancholy How
i ever, In his voluntary seclusion there
was some sweetness. The woman
seemed to like to be near him, though
her manner was like that of a petted
animal She ran to him when she saw
MIN and looked at him with her clear
eyes, In which shone fugitive light OF
recognition and devotion. But the next
moment she would run away again,
oftensinto the woods, where she wan
dered about all day, returning always
at dusk, for she had a great dread OF
the darkness.
One stormy night in November she
shuddered at the sound of the wind
from the sea and moaned softly. with
her hands c1asped to her breast in an
attitude of deep sadness. A little la
ter she uttered a hoarse cry and fell
to the floor unconscious. 1t was Jwst
twelve years since she had come to
life In the chateau. Pontus, very much
alarmed, hurried to the village for help.
A doctor was summoned, and returned
with him in great haste. The patient
was examined and the case diagnosed
as quick consumption. She had car
ried the germs of the fatal disease in
her system for some time. Pontus was
in despair.
One morning in the winter the I'M
known passed quietly away, in the arms
or the marquis. At the supreme mo-
ment the mysterious sick woman
seemed to regain her reason suddenly.
She looked about with eyes frightened
but comprehensive, which seemed to
say Where am /? Who are these
men?" She opened her lips to speak
at last in her native language. but
death, Jealous of the mystery, sealed
her tongue with his icy touch.
The marquis. inconsolable had had
engraved on her tombstone the epitaph:
"Tacita Transit"
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18

1t is sometimes easier to resist
great temptation than little one. We
do not realize the lowering effect of
a succession of trifing transgressions,
and SO we make no effort to say no
to them as they confront us one by
one. But we do realize the probable
consequences of yielding to that which
stands before us in the guse of a
great power, and we the more reso-
lutely withstand it. Persons some
times wonder how great a temptation
they could resist; but it might be a
good moral exercise to try how small
a one they can withstand.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
THE MEXICAN RIVER GUARD
He's a Dashing and Gsudy Cavalier and
Rides Wen.

If in this territory any intelligent,
active, courageous man wants a nice
easy thing of 1t, let him go down to
Eagle Pass, Texas, where no can hire
out as a river guard" It will be his
duty to prevent smuggling along a
shallow and traitorous stream for
something like 1000 miles The pay
will be $50 a month, and he must fur
rish his horse. He will get one hours
sleep each week and the chance is
that he will be shot before his term
expires. While he is alive he will be
allowed to board himself and pay his
own Doctors bills. In addition to this
he will have the satisfaction of serv-
ing his country and the knowledge
that he can no more stop smuggling
than he can fly. The life has its
compensations, of course. A man is in
the open air. The climate is balmy
He is much looked up to by dwellers
along the banks. There is always
some Mexican girl to love him because
he wears a six-shooter. If his scruples
be not rigid there is constant oppor-
tunity to make money. This is done
by being somewhere else when goods
grown wealthy. This is particularly so
with those on the Mexican side. There
Is, for instance, a heavy Mexican tariff
on American cattle. 1t is q kind of
retaliatory duty. The Mexican popu-
lace loves beef, of which it does not
get any too much. If a Texas stock
man desires to make an honest dollar
exporting 1000 head and he can find
the right kind of a guard on the other
side, why he will make the honest
dollar. The guard will make several
honest dollars.
The river guard is generally a pic
turesque animal. Almost always he is
young and sometimes he is cookbook
ing. His horse is fat and speedy. His
saddle, weighing 80 pounds, is be-
dizened. The small gold plates at
tached to his bride reins near the bit
flash in the sun. He wears a crimson
scarf about his waist. Tile calls this
banda" and uses it to keep up his
tight trousers. His short jacket has
metal buttons and his hat, of the high,
wide brimmed Mexican brand, is trim
med with silver braid. Around his
middle is broad belt holding cart
ridges, and from it swings a Colts re-
volyer. Under his right knee nestlea
a Winchester 'carbine. One would sup
pose that a less conspicuous dress
would conduce to efficiency and safety
but with the river guard efficiency and
safety do not count for anything
against looking pretty. He does not
reflect that few corpses are attractive
His calculation is that it is the other
fellow who is going to get hurt. With
all his vanity, he is vigilant and con-
stantly moving. He makes long and
lonely rides along the yellow river
night and day. If he encounters a
band in the act of crossing, he has
a fight on his hands. Single guards
have been known to fight and put to
flight bands of a dozen smugglers
They have been known also to have
be<4 killed When this happens a sui.
len splash in the stream closes the
chapter. One Of the hardest riders,
g2nsst fighters and most keen-scented
officers ever upon this frontier was
Trinidad Cruz, but nobody knows
where Trinidad's bones are now. He
disappeared about year ago, and tive
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
SIOO To ANY Man.
WILL PAY 500 FOR ANY CASE
OF Weakness In Men They Treat and
Fail to Cure,


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Life Force in old and Young men No
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WONDERFUL TREATMENr-magica in it's
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This MAGICAL TREATMENT may be taken
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prefer to go there for treatment il they
fail to cure. They are perfectly reliable,
have no Free Prescriptions, Free Cure.
Free Sample, or e, @. u. fake They have
e250,OO0 capital, and guarantee to cure
every case they treat or refund every dol
lar; or their charges may be deposited In a
bank to be paid to them when a ,ure ia
effected. Write them today.
Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-08-18
mons.


1t is blessed secret, this living BY
the day. Any one can carry his bur
den, however heavy, until nightfall.
Any one can do his work, however
hard, for one day. Any one can live
sweetly, patiently, lovingly and purely
until the sun goes down. And this is
all that life ever really means to us
Just one little day. do today's duty:
fight today's temptations, and do not
weaken and distract yourself by look
Ing forward to things you cannot see,
and could not understand If you saw
them" God gives us nights to shut
down the curtain of darkness on our
little days. We cannot see beyond.
Short horizons make life easier, and
give us enc of the blessed secrets of
brave, true, holy living.