The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-10-01
a FickIe .WcaenorcocK.

An old saying, 'Fickle as weather
cock" once received q striking refu-
tation In the experience Of DIR. w. e..
Charming. The famous Boston preach
er, being Of feeble constitution, was
led to go to extremes In protecting him
self against the cold, penetrating air Of
the winter in Boston; at such times
nothing would induce him to 60 out Of
tho house. even In q carriage, II the
wind was from the east,
A friend not having heard from DR..
Charming for three weeks, notwith-
standing that the weather had been un-
usually mild and agreeable, feared that
he might be i'll and called at his home
to inquire. He found Charming in his
library, the sun streaming through the
closed windows, and blazing fire in
the crate: the room was almost suffo-
eating. The doctor himself seemed In
his usual health and spirits. Natural
", the visitor asked why he was not
enjoying the soft DIR and sunshine.
Charming shook his head and said:
Impossible, my friend. I dare not,
and you know I never venture out OF
doors in an east wind"
"But the wind has been In the south
for the last three weeksv' urged his
friend. n
"You are greatly mistaken" rejosned
the doctor. Look at the weather
vancw and he pointed triumphantly to
the weathercock Of neighboring
church.
"But that vane has not moved for the
last three weeks. It wants oiling," was
the response.
The good doctor had been kept pris-
oner for three weeks by rusty wealth
ercockl-Youth's Companion.
DIR. Frederick Fl. Wines, Of Illinois,
has been discussing the subject of the
youth OF the prisoners in the penal In
situations Of the United States, and his
conclusions show that the convicts Of
the country are more youthful set Of
men than 1t Is generally supposed they
arc. OF the S2.320 prisoners in the
country one-eighth are to be found In
New York, Pennsylvania and Massa-
chusetts. The average age Of the pris-
oners was under 81, and nearly one
half were under 30. about third under
Is and nearly one-eighth under 20. The
average age Of the public pauper Is 81
years. The average age Of negro
prisoner Is 27h years, OF native. white.
prisoner 80 years and Of foreign white
prisoner 81 years and 8 months. The
youth Of these convictS raises the
queries whether they are born Grimm
ais, and. II not, what has driven them
to life Of crime at so early an age?
If they have become evil-docrs through
force Of circumstances, what proper
ton Of them can be saved by proper
treatment, so that they will become
lawabiding citizens? 1t is matter Of
no little Importance that the Volunteers
Of America have undertaken to deal
with all the questions involved In this
condition OF affairs, in practical way,
with q view to rescuing these young
criminals when they shall have COM
pleted their term Of servitude. The
directors Of this movement assume that
IN the hearts Of most Of these men there
Is sincere wish to live better lives,
and that II the opportunity Is given
them very many will embrace 1t aud
become upright and reputable citizens.
At the New York State reformatory
at Elmira the system Of manual train
ing has been introduced to educate the
degenerates to work, 1t being proved
that they have been led into lives of
crime through associations that have
brought about total adherence of
honest labor. The system employed
tends to q civilization of the will
as we'll as the education of the hand,
and so far It has been remarkably sue
ceSSfu1,