The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
MRS. BOOTHS PRISON WORK
En- Conflicts FOR WHOM SHE HAS
GOT 4 FRESH START IN LIFE.

ton Booths work in the State prisons; how for
nearly three years she has visited and talked
with the men In the various institutions form
Ing helnful leagues among them and holding
out new standard OF life and the ambition to
set Themselves straight with the world once
they are free and atone fsr past slips. Every
body knows about the work. but the practical
every day evidence us to its good results Is
more OF u secret Factory owners. machine
shop foremen. farmers and shopk eepers all
over the country report favorably on the good
behavior and efficient work done by ex-con-
vcts whom they have employed on Mrs
Booths recommendation. and by careful COM
putation il Is proved that only small percent
age Of the reformed prisoners turn out badly
There are town. village and country homes
| dotted about from Massachusetts To CALIFORNIA
| all through Illinois aud away up IN New York
4 but for her exertiou to obtain emp!oyment for
! the newly, released felon, and the whe,i ewithal
n fair start with his nsghbors. The other day
there came IN the mail to Mrs booth photo
na o@ K oSGH at ", S Ga GnSsn pan
| prosperous looking little one. and the mother
IN the backgronnd looked content and what the
| world calls well liked"
my boys, seid Mrs. Booth " ne was IN, State
prison at %, strong, physically Handsome
with bearing that any man might envy, and
that showed even in his prison garb; az 81 II
| dviduay many times I wrote, too, sent him
reading mater, and did everything 70 impress
@ M ha Volta nEc t anS 5ea s4e rrss
il he did not achieve some good when
he had done his term; 10 my mind the
| form as To- punish, and no mntter how gray. "a
iHlonS offence may have been, ! feel lhat he
should not ho shut out from all chance OF rom
statement once his !anlt is cxpintcd, but lie
encouraged 70 better things. We'll. this like
mHsn tt Than , ' ANYTHING could ID say as to the
| h9refulness otthe argument
,,',. On IN coming out OF prisSSn two years ago
good report from the Warden as to his con,
duet after jGp,ing my league He was well
where h" married good Christian girl whose
10 condor" it. His Ike il now. and believe in
the future it will continue, to be. as clean and
c"ttage home and had evidence from his EN-
| pIoyer and the people he lives among.
Another reformation that regard rs per
| maneDt Is the eN convict head gardener OF
family estate in New Jersey With real talent
for hi. business 'hiI man: who IA! , stun bied
Where did you. work last is asked d, every
! worked in State Prison it is all over with him.
II he rSMceaIs the fact he goes S to- W9rs %th ma
md dismissal present The only way to
holster NJ mans principles when they are
weak Is Though, spiritual awakening; and |
or until have belief in their ability TO vindi-
| cate their own resolve. | have the Wardens
hand knowledge, OF ia" men while inmates
temporarily Of the homes have established
: 30 one one can realize tn, blank helnlessness
hye or tcn. or tnc"n years peIaity. lie has
not even III clothes TO solicit work in. and feels
| shamefaced ani afraid Of Sights. No matter
how earnest his detcrminatton may be 10 get
again. the odds are against him. ON the out
| skirts OF Chicago. in New York. and in Massa-
p comfo Where oSa NV Pr GSSn LeaF"e
! eN-"ouvicts can ind shelter during these first
two months before work can be, got for him.
| sometimes only Il week. or couple of days, be-
fore, chance Offers: but IN ,he interim he
PLACE. each home having veGetahl e garden. a
stable. &c. that REQUIRES work to keep M.
There are industrial homes where newly
lihe rated prisoners NAV obtain work. but only
cx-ronvicts are employed IN such, and the
never has the chance 10 fling Off the prison at.
mosphcre and look up in tn" world again. Ny
conditions. forgetting as far AZ may be the
blight that they put upon their lives. Two OF
eight men each: others are NOT SO large or well
established. Their address is kept secret. AS
he mon are sensitive. and m, plans are most
iurthered by screening them from the intru-
sive or curious visitors, who might not respect
the motive o the homes existence.
One of my reforms. n mlddlc-age man, has
just been taken into II prosperous business
Partnership. and has sent US substantial re;
emhrzzling and fell from a good social and
business position thrc ugh the too great cont
htmrf rtrosed III n!m q" mnt seek TO- SXguse
that his mother had lisowncd him. emhittcred
by the disgrace: that his wit" had got
and that in all the world there was no
single friend or rcletiyG who Gnve him
and extended all III" heIp could Once was
enabled to- see his family. and rcpr"srntfdhls
state OF mind and expressed my personal inter-
est him belief TINT he would atone for
the past. On liberation helped get him work.
work ,ha1 J., he tex np heartily and "Xecnted SO
sors has now taken him into partnership. The
hest Of all Is that three mouths ngo he was re-
who had been justly indignant at the slur cast
unon her innocent children.
Yesterday an old laundress, sturdy but
scanned with years and trouble. came to thank
me for my intrrCession with her son. now a
cn %44 IN h rnr arnk @
as | could the old soul said. and it took tho
heart o1t OF mo when he went wr r; and WAS
again. Mrs Booth. and II was the shock and
YOU that did it. some folks has t" hn KNOCKED
walk in the strai ght path NV hOy'l never 20
wrong again ! can soc that. nnh n" girl he
and took him back
Some Of my convicts never hnI a mothers
care or a home in any sense. They are men
whose earliest aud most impressonaGe years
were spent among the worst associations IN
the low quarters OF big city. and who, when
advancement did come. were employed in n
business the very essence Of which was deceit
and imm"ra,i'y. On liberation from III" i'm
prisonmrnt TINT, in their ease, is an absolute
Kindness: these outcnStS. II properly looked
after. Will benefit hv the first really clean and
iair opportunities they ever had Some Sin
back, former traditions and associations
being too strong IN Offset. hut many tax"
new lease OF lite and develop into creditahIe
citizens Some "onVlcts NJ" in prison because
they stole when in strong need. or when their
families were suffering Many ar" there be-
cauSc, hcing ipre.Gners, they took TOO elastic I,
view OF New World posi- lllttrs, and, not
understanding the laws aud bang mage. were
dirpes Tor o hers TO profit hv Thrsr appeal To-
me strongly: ~ fact. the work grows N ecuIe
| and interest rvnry day. and NOR" nud moro
long to present III" convict : ease ms -" it, To
people art to think Of ~ prisoners as n
class when they arc no more Of one class than
So icty out OF prison Is OF one class
.ITT HnRSI- TJE- ,nJ.N1Iy