davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

where we started from-the sur
rounding conditions.
There are no men but who
under certain possible combina-
tions of conditions would commit
crime. Distorted, civic, social OF
political conditions will be found
to be the direct or indirect cause
Of all crime.
What are you going to do with
the man who feels that all virtuous
people are his enemies and all
property his legitimate prey :!
Put him in prison? Very we'll.
But you haven't changed his be-
lief; you have only confirmed them.
You haven't made him better.
You have only protected yourself;
done the very thing that he con-
ceived himself to have been doing.
His conception was wrong. You
blame and punish him, whereas
the blame is to be found in ten
generations Of ancestors, and in ten
sets of distorted and distorting
conditions which surrounded his
life from it's inception and over
which he had absolutely no con-
troll. He had no voice in his
being placed in the world nor any
hand in the selection of the sights
and sounds that should surround
his early life and mould or dis
tort is early ideas Of things. His
habits of life many times were
formed before he knew right from
wrong. The sum of mans
habits constitute his character.
I am not searching for excuses.
[ am trying to find causes. Some
will be reformed by religion; some,
with sound clear brains will figure
carefully the gains and the losses
Of criminality and will conclude
that it DOESN'T PAY and thus be
reformed; others will doubtless
come into new trends Of thought
as a result of new gathered ideas
and sober communion with them
selves during confinement; but the
great bulk of criminals will never
be reformed until the remedy be
applied to the very root of the
evil.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25
CIVICS.

A township is geographical
division six miles square.
A town is a political organiza-
ton usually covering township.
A town is corporate body and
officers are Gin most states) three
supervisors; town clerk; an as
SCISSOR; treasurer; two justices of
the peace; two constables; as many
road overseers as there are road
districts; and a pound master.
To be eligible to Office one must
be an elector of the town.
The term Of Office is for one
year, except justices and consta-
bles who are elected for two years.
The annual town meeting is al
ways held in the spring, usually
in March or April, notices Of
which are posted by the town
clerk in several conspicuous places
in the town at least ten days be-
fore the date of said meeting.
All officers are elected by ballot
except road overseers who are
elected by reclamation at l o'clock
P. NJ.
The town supervisors are the
judges of election.
The clerks Of election are the
town clerk and another duly ap-
pointed, who should be of differ
ent political party. Before the
polls are declared open one of the
judges of election opens the ballot
box, inverts it and then shows it
to the other judges, and to any
one else who wishes to see, then
locks it, and it must remain locked
until the polls are closed and it is
opened to count the votes.
The polls are open continuously
from the opening hour g A. NJ
until the closing hour usually 5
or 7 Pm.
The usual routine business tran
sacted at the town meeting is
deciding on improvements neces-
sary and voting the amounts re-
quired to pay for such improve
ments.
The counting Of the ballots
must be public and the result
made known at the close Of the
count.
All persons elected to office at
the town meeting must Equality"
within ten days, and most town
officers are required to give bond
for the faithful discharge of duties.
The names of the persons elect
ed as supervisors, clerk, treasurer,
and assessor are sent to the county
auditor, and the names of the
justices and constables are sent to
the clerk of court.
The supervisors have charge of
all the affairs of the town that are
not by law committed to other
town officers. They shall meet
annually on the Tuesday preceding
the annual town meeting, and at
such other times as they may deem
necessary, and shall receive per
diem compensation for each day
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

THE MIRROR is weekly paper published
In the Minnesota State Prison. 1t was founded
in 1887 by the prisoners and is edited and man
aged by them. Its objects are to be home
newspaper; to encourage moral and intellectual
improvement among the prisoners; to acquaint
the public with the true STATUS of the prisoner;
to disseminate pathological information and to aid
in dispelling that prejudice which has ever been
the bar sinister to fallen mans self-redemptiOn.
The paper is entirely dependent on the public for
its financial support If at any time there should
accrue surplus of funds, the money would be
expended in the interests of the prison library.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

A PRISON physician once said to
me that he regarded the prisoners
as SO many patients needing treat
ment. There are many strong
arguments in support Of this view.
Certain physical laws being out of
harmony produce morbid mental
conditions and distorted views and
crime is the result.
AS he spoke [ was reminded
that I had come to think of them
as lot of disobedient children.
[ had quoted to myself Dryden's
words men are but children, older
grown There had been times
when it seemed to me that if all
could have had the proper amount
Of teaching in good schools by
kind and thoughtful teachers that
they would have been saved from
crime. 1 expect the chaplain sees
in them so many sinners to be
saved from their sins by the atom
ing blood Of the crucifed Christ.
These views are the result of
certain habits of life, and come
upon one as certain subconcious-
ness, and are separate and aside
from what may be called logical
deduction. All are true from the
single point Of observation; yet no
single one Of them comprehends
the whole truth. The preacher
says that the religion of Jesus
Christ can save every man
who will let it save him. Very
we'll! But how about the man
who cannot will to let it save
him? His will is defective and the
will is property of the mentality.
He must now be turned over to
the teacher. who soon finds that
he lacks the brain fibre, and calls
in the doctor, since brain is a ply
steal property and clearly comes
within the physicians field of
operation. There you have the
three human planes inextricably
interlaced. The three different
views are all thus seen to be correct
so far as they 60. It will be seen
from this that the man who can
successfully cope with the different
phenomena Of crime must combine
in himself the qualities of physi-
clan, teacher and a minister OF
the Gospel. Occasionally the
greatest Of religionists have be.
come criminals; men Of deepest
learning have committed hideous
crimes; and there are cases where
men who have been considered
perfect physically, mentally and
morally have committed crime
So our theories are all set al
naught; and we are placed back
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

Memorial day will be observed
at the prison. The poet laureate
Of the Minneapolis press, G. L.
Smith, will read a few selections;
Miss Shessly of St. Paul will sing
and Charles Fairchild, also of ST..
Paul, will furnish the fun. A
good band has been engaged.
saltwater Messenger.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25
N 0 TIC E..

ALL PERSONS receiving copies of
THE MIRROR who are not Oh our
regular lists will please consider
such as sample copies. If, after
reading. you conclude that THE
MIRROR is worthy of patronage
send your name to this office for a
trial subscription at rates as pub
lished above.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

This paper will be forwarded to
subscribers until ordered discontinued
and all arrears are paid.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

Entered at the Post office at saltwater, Minn,
as SecOnd.claS mail matter.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

necessarily devoted to the interests.
of the town. Statutory law, how
ever, limits the number Of days
each year for which they can re-
ceive compensation.
The town clerk is also clerk of
the board of supervisors, and
must be present at all of their
meetings. Two Of the board con-
stitute quorum to do business.
The town clerk has three char
acteristic duties: to record pro-
ceedings, to issue orders and no.
tees, and to act as custodian of
papers. He is paid partly by
salary and partly by fees.
The town treasurer shall receive
and safely keep all monies belong
ing to the town, and shall pay over
and account for the same on town
orders. He receives as compensa-
ton 2 per cent Of all money hand
led by him.
The duties of the assessor are to
list the taxable property, both real
and personal, in the town and
place a valuation thereon. Real
estate is assessed only once in two:
years, and the assessor must per-
sonally view each forty of land.
Personal property is assessed an
nually.
Questions pertaining to this COL
umn will be cheerfully answered.
D. w. K.
Ques.-Mr. Editor: The other
day saw a full grown wasp. Can
you tell me what becomes Of these
insects during the long cold
winter? III.
Ans.-As autumn approaches, the
queen wasp takes unto herself a
husband, who, after he has assured
himself that his spouse is enceinte,
"goes off and dies 1t is still an
open question whether this pro-
cedure is the result Of ennui, or
a consciousness Of his supreme
no-accountness. He certainly sets
good example by taking himself
out of the way when no longer
needed.
The queen then seeks crack,
Granny or hole in the ground, and.
as cold weather comes on, falls
into a bl1ssful state of contempla-
tive motherhood, where she re-
mains until the May sunshine
arouses her to a renewed sense of
duties and responsibilities. She
is the Noah's Ark of the wasp
world; for none but fruitful queens
ever survive the winter. All the
males and neuters are dead and
gone.
It was one Of these mother
wasps in search of a favorable
spot to commence spring house.
keeping which you saw; and who
performs the almost increditable
task Of building a house entirely
of wood fiber, prepared by her
own labors in which she domiciles
her young and ever increasing
family, to feed and care for until
such time as they become strong
enough to help her. So don't be
impatient with her if she appears
little snappish and cross, for she
is very busy wasp.
Ques.-In meeting lady bicy-
clist on the path, which side should
a gentleman take? b. A.
Ans.-In all cases of doubt, take
the safe side; but should the lady
chance to be your wife, and you
with another woman, we would
advise you to take to the woods
Hardas, Bluebena Co., Mo.
Editor PRISON MIRROR.
Dear Sir:-I have been taking
vocal culture now for some time
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

Should THE MIRROR fail to reach a subscriber
each week, notice should be sent to this office
and the matter will be attended to at once.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

Edited and Published by the In
mates of the Minnesota State Prison.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-25

Contributions solicited from all sOuI :es
Rejected manuscript will not be returned.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
The Craze For Records.

Charles NJ. Murphy, bicycle man of
New York, has made the fastest time
ever ridden ON bicycle. lie covered a
mile in 81 i-5 seconds. But of what
avail is the record? pertinently asks the
Boston Traveller. The manner in which
it was attained makes the performance
of no practical utility. 1t proves simply
that a man can undertake deadly, dan
gerous task and live to tell the story.
Murphy was paced" by a locomotive.
From the rear of railroad car a pro-
tecting shield was built out and in the
shelter of this the cyclist wheeled over a
two mile track that had been built of
wood between the rails.
The rush of the train made a tire,
mendous current of air that seemed to
draw Murphy within it with such force
that the front of his machine several
times struck violently against the rub.
her coated guard rail built out behind
the train to keep machine and rider
from going beneath the wheels. When
his task was completed he was so weak
and dazed that he was saved from death
only by men who were on the rear plat
form STOPPING down and drawing hin
up to them. For some time he was un
conscious and after he recovered hi.
mind wandered.
No one anticipates that bicycling be
hind railroad trains at 20 miles an houl
will become popular, and no important
fact is demonstrated by Murphy's feat
It's only object apparently was desir,
for notoriety. The craze for records ha.
outdone itself in this latest exploit.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
ROADS OF GRAVEL.
when Properly Built. They Form 9
Satisfactory Highway.


When good packing gravel lie easily
obtained. . satisfactory road can be
made by covering the prepared surface
with a greater or less depth Of this ma
terial Blue gravel or hardPan and
clean bank gravel. when properly mixed
and placed. give a surface almost Ike
concrete in hardness.
The most excellent gravel for road
building stands perpendicular in the
bank. compact and firm. and cannot be
dislodged except by use Of the pick
and when il is dislodged falls in great
solid chunks Such material contains
Just enough cementing properties TO en-
able il to readily pack and consolidate
and when properly placed ON the pre-
pared roadbed makes surface whlch
possesses almost all the qualities OF
good stone road. Rounded or water
worn gravel should never be used for
the surfacing Of roads, as such gravel
remains loose and shifting. like materi-
ais in a shaken sieve For the wearing
surface gravel should be comparatively
clean. hard. angular and tough. Such
gravel is easily consolidated and viii
not readily pulverize into dust and
mud.
The foundations for stone and gravel
roads are too often neglected. Ii is well
to remember that without a durable
foundation there is no durable road.
The cross section Of the foundation
should conform to that Of the finished
road, and should be so thoroughly
rolled that wagons passing over II make
no perceptible impression.
A layer of gravel not less than foul
inches nor more than six inches II
thickness should then be spread Of
sprinkled thoroughly and rolled unit
very compact and firm. Next spread
another layer of the best gravel avail
able over the surface to depth OF mo-
exceeding four inches. All inequalities
together with stone and gravels exceed
ing forrths of an inch in diam
eter, should then be raked out. 1t II
again spripkled and rolled until the de
sired hardness and smoothness are oh
tanned. The roller is doubtless the mos
important piece of machinery connect
cd with the building and maintenance
of roads. and it cannot be used too Of
ten, especially in spring. when tn
frosts and rains are 80 destructive
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07

in the towns as the limits for state mid
If the citizens wish wider roads, they
must do the remaining work at their
own cost The roads are now costing
from 30 to 20 cents per square yard.
depending on the locality, availability
of stone, etc.
Before the advent OF stone roads the
leading highways, not graveled, were
almost a bed of sand, and teams carried
40 or so baskets of produce to Philadel'
phia markets with difficulty. Farmers
shipped produce mainly by railways
and boats as being the cheaper method.
The farmers now cart to market
instead of sending by boat and return
with from three to FIVE tons of manure,
and thus effect large saving When
carting an average load of $50 baskets,
the farmer saves by the use of his own
team about $40 per day. He also saves
commission of 10 per cent, or about
SO on $50 baskets. by marketing his
own produce.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
State Aid for Roads.
What the System has done for the
Farmers Of New Jersey.

Road building by state aid Is sieadi-
ly increasing in New Jersey. says En-
cheering News The principal CON
struction has been in the direction Of
roads four. six and eight inches deep.
as experience has shown that properly
drained earth is a sufficiently good
foundation for any road superstucture.
and all that is wanted is enough
metal" ON the surface to stand up
under the wear until the roads have to
be resurfaced. This happens when the
roads are subjected to two or three
inches of wear To cheaply maintain
the surface an application of coarse
sand or gravel and loan containing
oxide of iron will keep the surface in
good condition and make a soft cushion
for the feet of horses
The authorities of New Jersey have
decided on roads 10. ~ and Ia feet
wide in the country and is feet wide
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07

in this manner Is constantly disturbed
by the larger stones which work to the
surface and which arc knocked hither
and thither by the wheels of vehicles
and the feet Of animals. Such methods
of construction cannot be too severely
condemned.
The first course of foundF ton Of the
macadam road can be made of the
coarsest stones from the crusher, pro-
vided that they are Of uniform size and
that each stone shall weigh not over
six ounces and will pass through a az
inch ring. Where the road is to be
eight inches thick this foundation
should be four inches after rolling. If
the road is to be of greater thickness
than eight inches, the foundation
should be composed Of two courses
separately rolled.
After having thoroughly rolled this
foundation apply enough ground stone
or coarse sand to fill the iuterstices
This should be wetted and thoroughly
rolled until hard and uniform surface
is obtained.
Upon this foundation the surface
material should be placed. wetted and
thoroughly rolled. The stones of which
this surface material is composed
should be if possible crushed to a size
of one inch in diameter; but If that is
not possible they should never be lar.
ger in diameter than * inches.
Ground stone screenings should then be
spread upon the surface, wetted and
rolled as before, until hard smooth
surface Is the result
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
FREE OF CHARGE.

Any adult suffering from cold set
tied on the breast, bronchitis, throat or
lung troubles of any nature, who will
call at Thurston's drug store, will be
presented with a sample bottle of Bos,
CHEFS GERMAN SYRUP, FREE OF
CHARGE. Only one bottle given to one
person, and none to children without or
der from parents.
No throat or lung remedy ever had
such a sale as BosCHEE's GERMAN
SYRUP. In all parts of the civilized
world Twenty years ago millions OF
bottles were given away, and your drug,
gists will tell you its success was mar.
velous. 1t is really the only Throat and
Lung Remedy generally endorsed by
physicians. One IS cent bottle will cure
or prove its value. Sold by all druggists
in this place.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
An Effective Narration

According to the Waterville, Me-, Mail
this letter to the Pension Department
brought pension to Henry johnson of
Winslow, Me-:
The following communication
Is written in relation
TO my delayed application
Of my pension appropriation
Some sort of explanation
Of so much hesitation
And continued procrastination
a year after application
Before an order for. examination
Reached it's destination.
went before the board without pertur-
baton.
They correctly reported my Situation.
1t was a total prostration
OF my physical organization.
ton,
In utter CONSERVATION,
That cataracts were causing cessation
And soon termination
TO my visual observation.
In my crippled situation
] have labored in desperation
To protect from want and starvation
My ten children, my appropriation
TO the strength of the Nation
And to increase its population.
My age is II, near the termination
Of my earthly probation,
Twenty years widower, more than half
generation.
Charity furnishes me habtation
And portion of my daily ration.
Blindness denies me the qualification
OF reading any newsy mention
For general information
And but for my daughters kind minis
tration
should be driven to desperation.
She prepares frugal ration,
Reads to me some new publication.
Attending to my daily wants is her vo.
cation.
ii could obtain an increased remun
Grafton
TO keep me from want and privation
1t would give me great consolation
Until my life's termination.
For its further continuation
If you reject this application
The poorhouse is my destination.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07

Another great discovery has been made,
and that too, by lady in this country.
"Disease fastened it's clutches upon her
and for seven years she withstood it's
severest tests, but her vital organs were
undermined and death seemed immin ent.
For three months she coughed incessant-
ly, and could not sleep. She finally dis
covered way to recovery, by purchasing
of us bottle of DR.. Kings New Discov-
cry for consumption, and was so much
relieved on taking first dose, that she
slept all night; and with two bottles, has
been absolutely cured. Her name is Mrs.
Luther Lutz," Thus writes w. c. Ham
nick & Co., of Shelby, N. c. Trial bot
ties free at J. w. Thurstons Drug Store.
Regular size so cents and Sl.O0, Every
bottle guaranteed,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07

THE BEST SALvE in the world fol
Cuts Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum
Fever Sores, letter, Chapped Hands
Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Erup
tions, and positively cures Piles, or nc
pay required 1t is guaranteed to give
perfect satisfaction, or money refunded
Price % cents box. For sale by j
W. Thurston.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-07
Petition in Chancery.

State of Vermont Essex County Court of
Chancery,
Essex County, IS. J September Term 1899.
George II. Fitzgerald VS.. Louis Grassctt and
Joseph Grassett.
The petition of George II FITZGERALD to said
Court shows that on the 81 st day of March,
A. ID. 1899, defendant Louis Grassett duly
executed to said Geo. II Fitzgerald a mort
gage deed of certain land lying in Brighton,
in the County of Essex and State of Vermont
and described as follows, viz: Eighty acres
off from the north east portion of lot number
twenty in the third range of lots in said
Brighton. which was formerly called CaldeS-
hurgh conditioned for the payment of five
hundred and fifty dollars specified in seven
promssory notes described as follows dated
March Fl, 1899, six of them being for the
sum of ScventY-fve dollars each, aud one for
one hundred dollars and payable in ore. two,
three. four, five. six and seven years from
date respectively to George II. Fitzgerald or
order, with interest annually; and that said
notes are unpaid. And further showing that
since the execution of said mortgage said
Louis Grassctt conveyed said premises to
Joseph GraSSett, then of said Brighton, and
said Joseph GrasSett on the 9th day of No
vember 1889. executed a mortgage of said
premises to said Louis Grassett and said
Joseph Grassett has some other pretended
claims said premises, Just what the Peti-
toner is not informed.
Wherefore the Petitioner prays that the
equity of redemption of the said Louis Gras-
Sett and Joseph GrasSett i'll the premises may
be forecloSed.
GEO. II. FITZGERALD.
And whereas, said petition was duly filed
i'll the Essex County Clerks Office on the 9th
day of June A. D. 1899, and it being made o
appear that said defendants are out Of this
State so that subpoena cannot be served on
them it is ordered that said defendants be no.
tilted of the pendcncy of this suit by pubica-
tion of the substance of the petition, together
with this order three weeks Successively in
the Essex County Herald, a newspaper pub
iished at Island Pond in said County of Essex
the last of which publications shall lie at
least twenty days previous to the first
Wednesday after the first Tuesday in Septem-
her A. u. 1899, of which time and place no.
tice is hereby given, and said defendants are
required to appear at said last mentioned
| time at Guldhal in said Essex County and
answer to said petition and abide the orders
and DEGREES which shall be made therein
Dated at Guildhall this Goth day of Juue
a. u. 1899. GEORGE A. HupBARD Clerk
GEO. N. DALE, Solicitor for Orator