The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-05-06

AOI IVOs OCOOuu RUs.......-.......
silence is so intense it might easily be
hewed off in goodly sized chunks and
used as an anaSthetic to saloon braWls
in the cities.
~;
This brings to mind the fact that the
land now occupied by the prison build
ings was once the scene of bitter con-
fict between two rival tribes of the
aboriginal Americans, and was then
and afterwards known as "Squaw HOl-
low" This was just preceding the
''good old days" when the meek and
modest Minnesotan was so pestered by
the willy redskin that it was nothing
unusual for him to kill a couple of In
dams before he could sit down in peace
to his matutinal meal. But what
change in the present day! And yet
although so exceedingly quiet, the
same ground is but an improved bat
tie ground on which continual warfare
is made against our baser passions
and perverted brains. The chief mill
tant accessories are our own sober
judgment and common sense battling
against the lower proclivities of our
animal nature. And this warfare is
going on continually in the tomb-like
silence so opposite to the noisy gla-
mour of the careless life that brought
us here.
~
It is very evident that our individual
instincts are in nowise responsible for
this all-pervading quietude. The prob
abilities are that if left to our own de-
vices there would be enough reserve
tongue-muscle in use to satisfy the
most exacting candidate at political
barbecue. There are, no doubt, many
who would preserve quiet demeanOr
for Individual reasons. But as the say
ing goes "Misery loves company and
we may add, the more vOluble the COM
pany, the better it is liked. 1t is "the
nature of the beast" as the saying goes
for healthy, vivacious man to make
plenty of noise and buster. Where
we made the grand mistake while free
was in not knowing when to stop and
knuckle down to some sensible, quiet
thinking. Result: We have to be quiet.
we have to THINK, now.
~
There we have the whole matter i'm
nutshell. 1t is highly proper to enjoy
life, exercise our lungs, and have
good time generally. But there is
limit to each and all of these that MUST
be respected. We did not show due
Difference to that limit; that is why we
are here today. In our estimation life
was to be one continual round of pleas
ure regardless of cost; of how the nee
essary expenses thereof were to be met.
We meant well, thought we were doing
WELL and probably if left alone, most
of us would never have done any phys
ical harm to fellow being aside from
making imperative loans from him
without going through the regular
legal methods.
*
We never placed ourself in the posi-
ton Of the sober, abiding citizen
long enough to see how it would feel
if we were the one to be held up or
defrauded in some other way. Had
we been so placed for time it might
not have been necessary for us to make
this enforced sojOurn in such a quiet
retreat, so we'll adapted to the most
obdurate thinker. "Well,' the reader
will naturally say, what are you talk
ing about, what are you driving at?
am talking about my own foolishness
and yours; am driving at slow pace
trying to figure out how many more
chumps like myself and others incar-
cerated here, there are in the world.
Do you see the point now? 1t may
not be very sharp but it should be suf-
ficiently so to encourage lis to use our
thinker" to better advantage when
free again and be like sensible men
appreciate a clear conscience and the
ordinary joys of life-not be seeking
something for nothing only to pay for
| L l.