The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-01-26
TERMS. $1.O0 per year, in advance
Six Months so cents,

from their seats constitutes full recla-
nation and publication from all their
past pollutions.
In my view the religious require.
ments of Mrs. Booths plan for reclaim
ing prisoners is its most censura-
BILE feature. 1t is more than censura-
BILE, it is wholly wrong. Now and then
man may be sincere and stick to an
honest commendable purpose, but in
the majority of cases, Mrs. Booths
method is only a bid for shameful
hypocrisy. Is any method justifable
that will hold out the temptation to
single man to play the hypocrite and
disgrace the cause of religion? That
hypocrisy is a prominent factor in this
matter is abundantly evidenced every
day right here in this prison. 1 have
observed members of the "V. p. L."
who, if they said their required pray
ers at six o'clock a. m. forgot them
before nine a. m.
Many men have gone from here to
the New York "Hope Hail." some of
whom, we are told, are doing we'll for
the present. A few did we'll until they
got good situations and were Oblidged
to go to work, and then broke down,
couldn't stand it any longer, and one
will soon be returned to this place for
a very long term if all reports are true.
Of the few who will continue to do
we'll during the time they can be kept
track of, nine out of ten of them would
prove to be childishminded fellows
who were never smart enough to steal,
or to be criminals in any line except in
some of the most disgusting and un-
natural offenses And they are re-
claimed. and held up as the only ones
who were reclaimable, the others are
all incorrigible, hardened criminals
because they are not susceptible to the
milk and water influences brought to
bear on them, or because they had too
much self esteem to get mixed up with
repulsive element.
1t may not be quite safe or fair to
anticipate the total failure and collapse
of Mrs. Booths scheme, but any one
who has been a close observer of the
men who most eagerly enlist in her
movement, cannot have much conf
dence in the ultimate success of the
plan. If it fails it will be in conse-
quence of too many serious betrayals
of Mrs. Booths confidence. Is that
likely? l maintain that it is imminent
ly probable, and then the result will be
to do every man in prison very great
injury. 1t would be useless for any
one to broach the subject of aiding dis
charged prisoners after that People
would Immediately refer to Mrs.
Booths efforts for them and how she
moved heaven and earth in their behalf
only to become discouraged through
repeated betrayals eff her confidence,
and, of course, the impulsive men
whom she had received, mostly, into
her confidence would be claimed to be
little above the average of prisoners
in manliness. l say that because it has
been remarked right here in this prison
that the reason why more of us do not
join the "V. Z. L." is because we are
"not manly enough" "afraid of little
ridicule," etc. It does not strike me as
evidencing very manly trait of char.
acter that will prompt young, hearty,
intelligent, able. bodied man to take the
few dollars given him on leaving this
prison and pay his fare to New FORK
City to enter slope Hail." If man
possesses manIiness enough to desire
and be willing to work for a living and
has that purpose firmly fixed in his
mind, he need not be out of this prison
twenty four hours or leave Boston
without securing job. 1t may not be
exactly to his taste. The pay may not
be more than fifty cents day, but it
will be good stepping stone to so me-
better, and he will feel more, ten times
more, self. esteem than if he bu rdened
Mrs. Booth to care for him at one of
her "Hope Hail." mixed up with thirty
or forty, more or less, ex-prisoners from
half-dOZen, or more different state
prisons. 1t NAV be fine place to COM
pare notes and discuss the merits of
the various prisons. That will do for
cripples, for homeless and friendless
men leaving prison in poor health, and
for idiots; but not for self.respecting
and able-bodied and able.minded men.
It does not seem very creditable for
Massachusetts, to send her discharged
prisoners to New York for assistance.
l don't know that New York kicks
against it, but let Mrs. Booth open
"Hope Hall" in Massachusetts, and in
vite discharged prisoners from other
states to come here and find protection,
and we will see how long it will be toll
Grated by the blue-blo0d, puritanical
defendants of the Mayfower.
SIX. A