Evening journal., 1898-10-29
JAIL, ALMSHOUSg, FLOW R MISSION


Following is the report Of Mrs. N. d.
Smithers. state superintendent OF Jail.
almshouse and flower mission work Of
the W. C. T. u, read at the state con-
vention Of that body recently held in
Camden:
1t is hardly necessary to say that l
have nothing new to bring you. feel
have long ago, as far as 1 am able,
exhausted this subject There is moth
Ing new that can be said, nothing new
need be said, If men would only act up
TO their convictions of the right. Prison
reform is not popular movement in
Delaware. Our people seem to regard
It net only as something unnecessary.
but as a proposition to be rejeeted.
Oar arguments are met with scowllng
faces, and our petitions with sneer.
IL Is almost as IL we sought to intro
duce among the people some danger
Gus and dreadful thing, rather than
an institution for their benefit and up
lifting. We are treated as enemies Of
The state rather than friends, as people
seeking to destroy rather than build.
All we ask the State of Delaware 10
do, is to stand in line with her sister
states in this work. It is no wild and
visionary scheme. 1t is not a thing OF
doubtful results. 1t is a practical, we'll
tested truth. We have but to look be-
yond our borders to see it in all its
beneficial operation. But our Legisla-
lures thus far have declined to see.
That is why I have nothing new TO
bring you. BY and by when the band
age shall fail from their eyes, and
our prisons shall no longer be regard
cd as instruments of revenge, then !
may come to you with a new story.
But the time is not yet.
Our common jaiis are still cherished
by our people. They still continue to
BE pest houses, where both sexes, OF
al ages. and every degree of crime, are
huddled together indiscriminately Idle
neglected, despised, Stunned except &c
{ be gazed at and commented upon by
e the curious visitor-they sink lower
and lower, growing more and more des
perate as they plot and scheme againsf
/ eociety, which they very naturally re.
5 gard as their enemy. The moment th'
heavy door is closed on a man, no mat
e .er how small the crime. he is doomed
The weight Of his disgrace causes bu
! momentary shudder, he becomes de
fant and finally loses himself in des
lperation. You that seldom visit ou
n fails can scarcely form any idea OF hoT
e they are managed, nor of the grea
: need Of better conditions. Perhaps III
! most glaring and outrageous defect
S the enforced idleness to which the pris
/ onera are subjected, for on this hang
O all the others Employment is one o
: the very necessary things to our mora
I, as we'll as our physical welfare. Idle
r ness is the twin sister OF vice
r Voluntary idleness is a sin. Enforce
). idleness is a crime, and Of this un
o punished crime the State Of Delawar
IS guilty every day. "By the sweat o
thy face shalt thou eat bread" say
It the Bible, therefore is idleness a viola
e ton OF the law Of God.
Some Of these prisoners in our Jail
q are sentenced to two, five and ten years
e and it very often happens that tnes
s long term prisoners cannot read. Is
l. not terrible to compel a man to SIT d
y idleness for ten long years? The mora
"a sense of the best citizens Of the state
II shocked at this condition, and the
d have petitioned and demonstrated an
l. urged that a work-house be builtwher
+ labor, cleanliness and decency can b
T. enforced, instead Of idleness, fifth an
n immortality.
e Under the present conditions tn
); Jail system is a menace to our peoD.'
;; Punishment does not stop crime; lon
sentences do not prevent it, nor wi
4 any Of these things reform men. Their
= must be something for them to d.
= something that will divert thei
u thoughts. give to the mind healthie
tone, and make It more susceptible ,
:. good impressions. We want 10 81
j. away from the idea, and we want tn
ir prisoners to get away from it, that the
IS are no better than animals Gagged up in
T. mensgerie. In our jail in Dover w
y have now about thirty able-Dodie
II men, and twice that many in New Cas-
t. tie, with nothing in the world 10 d.
rut to plan how 10 escape. Punish
'e ment for the offender is right, as far q
~ It goes. Let every offender pay th
w full penalty OF the law. Society mus
l. be protected. but is it not better prC
st tocted by reforming vicious men an
y women. than by turning them ot
y again. more desperate than ever
. Scarcely a week passeS that the nee
4. of a work-house is not apparent. Yer
il. freouentlv there arc come arres