New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
THE PRISON POET.
HIS CHRISTMAS SONG, AND HOW HE
FELL FROM GRACE.

FELL FROM GRACE.
In speaking of the Christmas cheer which is
provided every year for the unfortunates in the
prisons. Warden Sage OF Sing Sing recalled the
fact that there is probably inmate Of
Dannemora who will think with regret of the
gray stone building the Hudson. where he
spent several years Of his convict life He is
'life man." whose gifts as a rhymester. come
dian, singer and performer on several musical in
strunents made him star at the prison
entertainments He had good barytone voice
ard sang not only the songs of others. but
those of which he wrote both words and music
few years ago he wrote this Christmas song,
which was heard for the first time" at the
concert given in the prison chapel Oh Christmas
Day
'Tis hard to be shut up in prison on this day
above all of the rest;
Still. worrying don't make it easy: keep brave,
manly heart in your breast;
And If life now looks gloomy and dismal, 1t may
brighten before very long.
1t will learn us very good lesson in future to
rever do wrong.
Many days have we spent that were happy and
gay;
When we think of them now they bring sorrow
our way;
Yet wen cherish the memory of the closing
year.
And try and be happy, for Christmas is here.
CHORUS.
Young men apart from your mothers. others
apart from their wives.
And those that have left friends forever, are
sentenced here for lives.
Let this be a bright day among you; brace up,
boys and be of good cheer,
For wish you all a Merry Christmas and also
Happy New Year
II life seems to US naueht but misery. feel con-
tented with this little thought
For some thOughtleSS deed word or action, we
this sorrow upon ourselves brought
And when all seems to go hard against you. to
loved ones just let your thoughts rOam
Some wife father, mother or sister is praying
for You at home.
So content yourselves now, though your lots
very hard
The harder the struggle the better reward.
The skies may soon clear you can blot out the
When happy days come and you're safe home
al last.
The man who wrote the Christmas song be-
longed TO the Catholic chapel. and because Of
his superior attainments and his good conduct
be worked himself into good place. one of
those coveted places which the prisoners look
upon as soft snaps. He was a clerk in the
clothing department and the captain of his COM
pany The captain is the man who leads the
march in the daily lock-step to and from the
mess hall and around the yard for exercise. He
is front man" leader, and does not suffer
the humiliation Of putting his hand on another
convict's shoulder. His place is one which every
man in the company wishes to attain. for the
captains in Sing Sing are among the leaders IN
the prison society" part of the aristocracy
and the man who is well posted on prison rules
and usages can pick the leaders, office men and
assistants out Of crowd Of cOnvicts by the
better grade Of clothing which they wear.
FOUR GRADES FOR CONDUCT
II was several months after the Christmas
Gong had been written and sung that the cir
cumstance took place which resulted In the
social fall of the convict poet and reduced him
in standing from. a prison swell to ID class
man AS A is the first 50 ID is the lowest OF the
classes into which the convict community Is
a;,;d.d A frst-offence man who behaves MINI
self Is in Glass a: secOnd-term men enter as Is
class and remain s. during their time OF ser
vice unless by bad conduct they sup INTO the
u class Class is made up OF men VINO are
serving a third OF fourth term. AS man ad-
,.,cae in the alphabetical divisions his cnahce>