New-York tribune., 1899-12-17
rVRISTMAS AT SING SING.
-,t>rrs THE CONVICTS ARE ALLOWED
TO RECEIVE FROM THE OUT
SIDE WORLD
.- TERM MIN OFTEN FORGOTTEN III LES
FOR ADMITTING FRIENDS RE
NENBRANCES.

II ,.eclaces intended for the inmates of sing
g., Prison must pass is in the midst Of his
- season. and the little office at the foot of
-. stone stairway 10y which prisoners enter the
,s,itution is well filed with parcels of all kinds
,-on, the outer world sent to the convicts by
,-snds and relatives who in that way try to
hiring Christmas cheer to the gloomy place. The
,.g,,lations of the prison allow convict to re
..tvs cer.ain thiugs from outside" once in
thirty DAYS and among the parcels which come
=. christmas time are many for convicts whose
last packac4 came less than thirty days he
fore But the authorities usually wink at the
slight infraction of the rule and let the Christ
mas box pass.
PRESENTS FROM THEIR EARNINGS.
There are Not many men in the institution
ybo do not hear from their friends at Christ
mas time and packages OF tobacco cooked food.
NUT books and little decorations for the cells
ar taken To- men who never have a visitor and
never see letter from the free world
The short term men are never forgotten at
Christmas time said prison official, and
packages come for them in great numbers. But
The long term men do not fare so well. and one
nav see in their cases how people are forgotten
and how families become reconciled 20 afllc-
tons which they thought they would never get
over some men who in their first years Of inn
prisonment received calls as often &C he regu-
hiiOns allowed. ana gifts every sixty days and
an additional box al Christmas time. often wait
In vain for an order to 60 to the reception room
to take away their Christmas box Their friends
iie or grow cold and Indifferent. and Christmas
to them would be no more than any other day il
the prison authorities did not take pity on them
When The last boxes have been received and
becomes pretty certain that the convict has
been forgotten. if the man is "a deserving fellow
part Of his earnings. sum ranging from 81 to
s.. is taken and invested in Christmas box for
hin, and the poor fellow has his share of the
good things OF the world even though his
friends on the outside did nothing for him"
The prison regulations provide that box for
prisoner shall not weigh over thirty-fye
pounds but that rule is also not strictly en-
ioIceo at Christmas time and while the sender
Is warned never 10 do it again" and the con
T'i told that the package is overweight the
ri IS usually allowed to pass. The tinfoi is
2ken off Of the tobacco packages and the other
tens are ClOset ScrutiniZed and examined; un-
0oked food is conhScated and books are care
fly opened to see that no money has been So
r-ted between the leaves. and then the box or
lack2ge is sent to the cell where il belongs Many
pas oners divide their Christmas gifts with fel-
low conycts. and it is nothing unusual to see
nah make ~ d large package out of his store
Of good things for some less fortunate member
Of his company.
CIGARS EXCLUDED.
AmDns ne popular Christmas gifts that come
to prisoners are roasted chickens and turkeys
sakes, loaf sugar shoes. socks. bed clothes to-
5aooo books ana fruit Gifts of cigars and
Cigarettes aIe returned to the senders as they
Nl'ag 10 the excluded" class Fruit and vege-
%'eS in cans and glass jars are also received in
ARE quantities. These packages. like all the
aaaEs, ar opened in M. Jackson's office
"once year at least" said d prison officer.
many Of 'he convicts who must be satisfied
su' bootleg coffee ana other prison deHcafcs
la'o a chance 10 taste the food Of the outside
'1Hd and only the people connected with the
Nson know how many and peculiar forms the
'unuons 80 th, relatives and friends Of the
phsoaers .oh- We receive Ole fashioned pies
az ho"er.a., fTiedcdkes ana elaborately
N'-ed am .rual.ynted cakes: jam and sweet
Itas dir~,t from the larder Of fond mothers.
*4 frleQ oyster. in a box from restaurants.
y. by people who have no homes. Koscher
"ag1@S and .c,ok-d eansebrust come for some
" h~ cour.,s. a.! oar,hcn fishes with beans
o-s-d AT norr' arr spnt To men 10 show that
1rs are not forgotten"
Ihr prisoners NiIl nave a Christmas dinner
~- year af which chicken. pie apples and
15a's will Ia served This must be served in