The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-28
coMrosuRE OF LTFE PRISONERS.
They Are Much Happier Than Men
with Definite Sentences.

From the New York Sun
The composure of the life prisoner Is
one Of the many mysteries OF prison life.
It Is difficult 10 understand how such men
can go through the routine Of work smil-
ing and happy, and apparently at peace
with the world. Nothing seems more hor-
rible TO the observant visitor to a large
prison than the life of its inmates. For
The first time he realizes not only how
long a year is. but how long a day IS, es-
peciaEy "a day uubToken by anything I'M
usual Yet more placid, apparently con-
tented lot Of men than The life prisoners
in large prisons ii would be difficult 10
find.
The effect of prison life on the life man
Is in such contrast TO that on the convict
with whom the law has dealt more merci-
fully that one becomes more and more
amazed as he observes It. Sing Sing
prison furnishes as many If not more,
Illustrations of these peculiartles as any
prison la the country. The man who
comes there with FIVE. ten or fifteen-year
sentence to serve be he man experienced
in PRISON life or new to II, enters on his
enforced stay within four walls in a fer
ment of nervousness. IL takes weeks,
sometimes months to whip him into shape
ana chen his agua lion Is only suppressed,
and he is a man who must be constantly
watched not because he is likely TO make
iroube-for long-term men rarely lake a
chance of losing their communatiton-but
because hes IS likely 10 make a mental or
physical wreck OF himself
From the day that a limited sentence
man dons his suit Of stripes he begins 10
look forward 90 the day of his release. II
may be twelve, II may be fifteen years
away. but he knows the very day Of the
week on which il VIII come, and knows
a.most to the minute when he will be sum
moned to the wardens office to receive
his civilians clothing and the few dollar,
his years Of Toll have earned for him, and
to be tod that he rs free. He doesn't
have a happy moment until that day roll.
around.
The way the convict figures out his time
is one OF the interesting things about a
prison Few Of them have calendars on
which to mark off the days; they carry Il
In their heads and there isn't a case
known al Sing Sing prison where a man
lost track of his count A keeper az Sing
Sing prison recently explained this pecu-
liarity Of the prisoners TO a distinguished
visitor. The visitor was incredulous.
ASK any man in this room how long
he has got TO serve" said the keeper.
The visitor was in the shoe shop. He
put the question To convict.
Three years and thirteen days" said
the prisoner without looking up.
Seven years and twenty-seven days"
said another.
A dozen other convicts answered with
equal promptness. They knew to the very
day when they would be released.
II is the last year Of a mans term that
is the hardest for MIN to bear Toward the
end he becomes unusually nervous. He
fears that he may Involuntary commit
some lnfracUon that will lose him the three
or four years he has shaved off of his
term by exemplary conduct Then again,
the end 50 near, but yet a year Off, makes
that year almost unbearable. There is to-
day in Sing Sing prison young man who
has served all but one year OF a ten-years'
sentence for arson. He Is handsome
chap and is the Beau Brummel of the
prison lie keeps his striped coat and
trousers neatly pressed wears silk shirts
and calf shoes, VIII ch his famlly-said TO
be well 70 do-send 10 him, and does his
daily work In the principal keepers office
He went through all the drudgery OF the
common convicts life up 20 a short time
ago when man was needed who could
attend 10 books Now that his long sem
tence is nearing an end his condition is
pIuul. Every evening the sun goes
down ne goes out OF the principal keepers