Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02
QUAINT EASTER CUSTOMS
Wonderfully Impressive Experiences Within
Prison Walls,
o3SERyANCES IN THE OLD WORLD
Scenes Mt Sacred Shrincs in Jerusn-
1cm-Trees of Ancient Lineage
Love Fcnsts, Miracles and
Supcrstitions.
o3SERyANCsS IN THE OLD woRLI

with the brillancy Of the stars on a moon
less night. The first was spent in Clinton.
a state prison at Dannemora, y. Y. 1t was
an ideal festival such day as ] believe was
made forever holy by the first resurrection.
1--WE started at 10 o'clock for the chapel
and when we entered found 1t packed and
crowded to its utmost capacity. Long planks
had been placed across the aisles to form
impromptu seats and every place was filled.
The platform at the rear of the room. was
n mass of flowers. The standard Of the Vol
unteers' Prison league was draped against
one side of the wall, while on the other was
the stars and stripes All the work of
my boys and you have no idea how beauti
full 1t was.
Then followed the usual service, or
rather, should say, the most unusual serv-
ice, for never before had met an audience
like that one. There were no sulen eX-
pressons. no faces of scoffers among those
who looked down upon. They all wore the
prison stripes and many looked as though
the waters of the earth had rolled over them
But it had left them hope and that hope
made their faces radiant. AS | rose to sing
my little daughter, who sat with the war
den's family in the audience and who was
making her first visit to a prison. became
impatient and, leaving her seat quietly
tightly to my skirts that l finally lifted and
placed her on the desk at my side. When
had given out You've Carried Your Bur-
den,' l asked her if she would not sing a
verse of it for the boys Much to my sur
prise she Immediately began and sang the
verse through without break.
4 Memorable Scene.
"I shall never forget that scene. The
childish voice rang out sweet and clear, and
go distinctly that every word was heard
The little figure in white, with her golden
curls about her face, smlingly sang her
message, and tears streamed down the faces
OF the men as the baby voice repeated, %
Bring 1t to Jesus, He's Loving and Strong.
believe more than one lonely, aching heart,
who perhaps for many years had not heard
childish voice, was lightened that Easter
day, and found for the first time the great
Burden Bearer.
I'm the afternoon we held our second SER
vice, and 1t was like gathering in harvest.
There wasn't much said; there seemed no
need for talking, but when l left Danne-
mora that evening l felt that Christ had
risen again and that to many men I was
leaving though in stripes and behind prison
bars the peace that passeth understanding.
renewal of hope and faith in God and
mankind.
An Easter in the West.
''Now, my other memorable Easter was
spent in the state prison at Joliet, III. It
was my first visit to my boys after NV ill
ness, and after the doctors had limited my
span Of life. For, you know, they have read
my death warrant and told me lust how
much longer 1 shall be allowed to finish my
work. And when your time is limited it
makes you love your work all the more, and
makes every moment more precious, and
each incident stands out like milestone
well, this Easter was as sunny and
beautiful as the one of which | have lust
spoken. Iron bars and stone walls could no.
Keep out the sunlight that morning, and
when | entered the chapel for the morning
service l found 1t wreathed with spring blos>
SONS. Not potted plants, as had been used
at Dannemora, but flowers, most of them
wild flowers, sent in by friends of the
league and arranged by the prisoners I
never saw my boys with more smiling faces
or heard them sing more Justify.
The prison orchestra was unusually fine
and as every voice Joined in singing the
opening hymn, We're Marching to Zion Il
did not seem as If we were really in prison
The grey uniforms seemed to fade out o.
sight, sadness and helplessness were dis
PEELED for the time being, and the boys ap
peared TO catch the spirit of the momen
and look beyond present surroundings ant
20 realize that there was a better a happier
home beyond, to which all who loved tn,
Lord were steadily marching.
But it was the closing scene that made
me most grateful. When at the last | mad,
my final plea to those who had not con
fessed Christ more than 100, one by one
stood up and dedicated themselves to God
That Easter day had opened with 500 mem
bers of the league in Joliet prison, and be
fore the services closed nearly 200 more hat
been added to the list
$50 | call these the two great Casters o
my life Days when prisoners hardened b.
crime and bad passions gave themselves vi
10 God cast their burdens on the Grea
Burden Bearer and became like little chill
dren l have had many letters, both from
my boys and the wardens Of these prisons
and do not know of single instance wher
the converts of these two days have no
lived up to their pledges Some OF then
will never again know the blessings o
liberty in this world but they live with
hope of a better world and determination
10 act well their part in this, even though /
be behind prison bars and in the uniform o
a state prison."
Historical Easter Miracle.
1t was in the year 1893 when the armies
of the great Napoleon were passing over tn
continent Of Europe and Conquering all tha
came in their way 1t was Easter morning
and the sun shone brightly on Feldkirch
little town situated on the III river, jus
within the borders of Austria. The III flow
into the Rhine.
Quite early on this morning there sud
denly appeared on the nights above the
town, to the west, the glitterng weapon:
OF $4,000 French soldiers. 1t was the di-
vision under the command of General Mas
sena.
There was not time to make preparations
for defence and what could 5000 or 1000 OF
peaceful people do against such an army?
So there was hasty assembling of the
town council and it was decided that
dcputation be sent to Massena with the keys
Of the town and petition for mercy,
In the midst of all the confusion OF tbs
hurrying to and fro and the anxious con-
mtation the old dean of the church stood VI