The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-02
PENITENTIARY CASTERS.

Mrs. Darlington Booth Tells of Two
Easter Experiences Within Prison
Walls.
There are two casters in my life" said
Mrs. BalIington Booth, the Little Mother
of the state convicts, (which stand OK
with the brilliancy of the stars on a moon
less night. The first was spent in Clinton,
a state prison at Dannemora, n. Y. 1t
was an ideal festival, such day as I
believe was made forever holy by the first
resurrection.
I'VE started at 10 o'clock for the chapel,
and when we entered, found it packed and
crowded to its utmost capacity. Long
planks had been placed across the aisles
TO form impromptu seats, and every place
was filled The platform a the rear OF
the room was a mass of flowers. The
standard of the Volunteers Prison League
was draped against one side of the wall,
while on the other was the Stars and
Stripes All the work of my boys and
you have no idea how beautiful il was.
you've carried Your Burden"
"Then followed the usual service or,
rather, l should say, the most unusual ser
vice, for never before had l met an audi
ence like that one There were no sullen
expressions no faces of scoffers among
those who l looked down upon. They sill
wore the prison stripes, and many looked
as though the waters of the earth had
rolled over them. But it had left them
hope. and that hope made their faces ra-
diant. AS / arose to sing, my little daugh-
ter, who sat with the Wardens family in
the audience, and who was making her
first visit to a prison, became impa tent
and leaving her seat, quietly slipped on
the platform. She chung so tightly to my
skirts that I finally lifted and placed her
on the desk at my side. When l had
given out You've Carried Your Burden
l asked her If she would not sing verse
Of it for the boys Much TO my sur
prise she Immediately began, and sang the
verse through without a break.
Il shall never forget that scene The
childish voice rang out sweet and clear
and so distinctly that every word was
heard. The little figure in white, with her
golden curls about her face, smiliugly
sang her message, and tears streamed
down the faces of the men as the baby
voice repeated, @ bring it to Jesus. He's
loving and strong I believe more than
one lonely, aching heart who perhaps for
manyfyears had not heard childish voice
was llghtened that Easter day and found
for the first time the great Burden Bearer.
"In the afternoon we held our second
service, and il was like gathering in a
harvest. There wasn't much said there
seemed no need for talking, but when
left Dannemora that evening 1 felt that
Christ had risen again aud that to maav
men l was leaving, though in stripes and
behind prison bars, the peace that passeth
understanding, a renewal of hope and faith
in God and mankind
An EASTERN the West
Now, my other memora BILE Easter was
spent in the state prison at Joliet Ill If
was my first visit to my boys after nv
Illness, and after the doctors had Hmited
my span of life. For, you know they
have read my death warrant and told me
just how much longer l shall be allowed
to finish my work. And when your time
is limited. it makes you love your WORK
all the more, and makes every moman,
more precious, and each incident stands
out like a milestone.
well, this Easter was as sunny ana
beautiful as the one of which l have lust
spoken. Iron bars and stone walls could
not keep out the sunlight that morning.
and when I entered the chapel for the
morning service l found il wreathed with
spring blossoms. Not ported plants 40
had been used at Dannemora, but flowers.
most of them wild flowers, sent IN by
friends of the league and arranged by the
prisoners. never saw my boys with more
smiling faces, or heard them sing more
Justify.
THE prison orchestra was unusually fine
and as every voice joined in singing the
opening hymn, We're Marching to Zion
IL did not seem as II we were really in
prison. The grey uniforms seemed to fade
out OF sight, sadness and hefplessness were
dispelled for the time being, and the bows
appeared 10 catch the spirit of the moment
and TO look beyond present surroundings
and TO realize that there was a better. a
happier home beyond, to which all who
loved the Lord were steadily marching
But IL was the closing scene that made
me most grateful. When at the last /
made my final plea 10 those who had not
confessed Christ more than one hundred
one by one, stood up and dedicated them
selves to God. That Easter day had opened
with live hundred members Of the league
In Joliet prison. and before the services
closed nearly two hundred more had been
added TO The list.