The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-07-19
The PENITENTIARY
Has its Quaintness and Pictur-
esqueness.
The One for this State is Splendidiy
and Economically Managed.

No one doubts that a prison has
its romance, it's mysteries ard its
quaint and human side. The state
penitentiary at Moundsville is nc
exception to this view. 1t looks like
an ancient castle and the visitor sees
after he is admitted to it much to
interest, amuse and touch him Ey-
cry face, even those who sleep in
cells of stone and iron, is not alto
gether an evil one. The penitentia-
ry is worthy of visit from the OBJ
server of passing events, from the
student OF human nature.
THE WARDEN AND HIS FAMILY.
Mr.. S. A. Hawk at this time has
charge of the institution at Mounds
vile, as warden. He is not only a
competent officer, but genial and
intelligent man. He lives in a part
of the building that is reached by
the elevator, and after the apart
ments occupied by him and his fam
lily are entered, there is little to sug-
gest the fact that they are within
prison walls. No sound seems to
reach the home like place from the
Gagged creatures below, and smiling
river valley spreads away to enchant
the sight, while the sky is so bright
ly blue above, in June, as to suggest
that heaven may be near to a place
where many, lost to society, to liber
ty, to home and to the state, are
held in durance.
Mrs. S. E. Hawk, the warden's
wife, is charming hostess. Three
bright boys sit at the table when
you dine, il there are not too many
guests-the family to be perfect on
ly lacking sweet girl or two-al-
though Mrs Hawk, for the matter
OF that, looks like miss of twenty.
The names of the boys are Willie,
Mallory and Russell Hawk
PECULIAR SIGHT.
One of the highly interesting
things about the prison is to see
the convicts enter their cells at the
close Of the days work Each man
goes in stands at the heavy iron
door, with his hands through the
bars, until the cells are locked and
everyone, by system of counting,
ascertained to be in his place Con
victs have been known to place DUN
my figures in their cells and endeav
or to escape, when they have not
been required to stand in view.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PRISON.
Warden Hawk has done away
with the idea that tyranny and cru
city are necessary to the government
of a prison. Out OF all the six hun
dred and over inmates of the prison,
there is not one who is incorrigible,
so far as conduct in the present is
concerned, although there are muir
derers, burglars, forgers, train rob
bers and so on, through the cata-
lcgue of crime, here. Prisoners who
are entitled to it by good conduct,
are relieved of their striped suits
and given plain ones and nearly all
wear the latter. The general health
of nearly every man and woman in
the penitentiary is excellent. not
half dozen being in the hospital.
The prisoners work like beavers
and the warden saysit is amazing to
see their intense interest in the labor
in which they are engaged When
their nine hours work is done they
are allow, d to march around the en-
closed grounds.
These facts speak volumes for the
management of Warden Hawk. The
discipline, cleanliness, good order
and kindness are all worthy of the
highest commentator.