The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-21

and as the door closed there came from
her one Of the most pitiful means that I
have ever heard, and as they drove
cries would have melted heart Of stone
What are We doing, my favored sisters,
that We allow such things to go on In our
own city without protest, without care?
Such cries go up to God against US. Let
us heed the warning. Let the day of in
difference pass. Let us remember that
"a child's sob in the silence curses deeper
than the strong man in his wrath" and
see to 1t that a deeper condemnation fall
not upon our lives
Just before Secretary Hart left for his
new work in Chicago, I went with him
while I was pleased with the general
order and cleanliness of the place, the ar
rangements for the women seemed totally
inadequate Beyond laundry work and
mending clothes for the male prisoners,
there was no effort made to instruct them,
and the fact that the proximity Of so
many male criminals made 1t impossible
Tor them to be out Of doors once, even
itself a sufficient condemnation. The one
thing that seemed utterly ineXcusable was
the fact, that while there was ostensibly
a matron to look after the women. she
was given duties that interfered with this
first obligation. When We went into the
laundry We found two women ironing at
one table, a man and a woman at anoth-
err while male keeper. with his chair
tipped against the wall, was In a most in
different manner taking charge of the
room. A few moments later we came on
woman in the basement who was In
troduced as the matron and who proudly
showed the butter that one of the male
prisoners had just churned under her d.
rection. The pleasure she displayed in ex-
hibitlng all the conveniences for that part
Of the work convinced me that we had not
stumbled on an accidental departure from
general rules, but the usual arrange
ments.
If you should go up and down Seventh
street Saturday night after Saturday
night, as 1 have done, from to IL, either
alone or in company with one who could
disclose the situation fully, you would be
as shocked as I have been to see the
many temptations thrown around sensi-
tive and refined girls whose employment
compels them to be out at that time.
There are seen those of formerly good
position who, falling themselves, In turn
become a menace to those around them.
Wrong forced on those who would will
ingly avoid it, and sin Haunting in its
most aggressive form.
The Salvation Army stretches out its
helping hand, and the House of the Good
Shepherd helps all who come within it's
doors, but they only touch with per-
suasive force while what in most in
stances is needed is the strong arm Of the
law, compelling attention, backed by a
public sentiment which will guide it's de.
ciSions and render them invincible, to-
gether lending their united forces to the
elevation rather than the disgrace of evil
doors. Let us condemn only to the extent
that shall lead us to lend our whole
force to save.
/ would have for the state of Minnesota
a reformatory for women modelled after
that In Massachusetts which for over
twenty years has been showing to a
scoffing world that women can be re-
deemed, and that society will accept one
hot foa 10 h Of
self-restraint and is ready again to take
her place as a reliable person in this
work-a-day world.
If you could stand beside me in the long
corridor down which nearly three hum
dred women march on their way to the
chapel, you would mark the plainness yet
absolute cleanliness Of the building: the
general air Of good order about the
Wholesomeness, showing that regenera-
ton had already begun All the officers
In this institution are women, and every
effort Is made to have the inmates forget
their past and look forward with hope to
the future. AS an incentive, they are
raised from grade to grade by earning
credit marks; they are taught fine laun-
dry work, cooking, sewing, and, as far as
possible, how to make butter and care
for domestic fowls. In fact, are led to re-
spect themselves and become ready to
take positions in the homes Of neighbor-
Ing families, while they are still under
the supervision of the reformatory until
the expiration of their sentences, which
may be greatly shortened by good con-
duct
The statement as to results has been
received again and again with incredulity,
but as years have gone by the most skep-
teal have been obliged to accept them as
beyond question.
-Four years ago. of 2O1 released on parole.
only one was returned as unworthy Of trust,
the remaining 200 proving themselves ca
pable of leading an upright life amid the
temptations which must inevitably come
to those known to have stepped from the
paths of rectitude. The report for the
past year is particularly interesting. At
the beginning there were 278 In the re-
formatory and 200 were admitted during
the year. OF these 49S women only sixty
three served out full sentences, while for
good conduct seventy had them shortened,
and of the 12S paroled only two were re-
turned as untrustworthy. Such a result
would seem almost incredible were not
similar ones reported year after year, and
the fact that there are more homes open
for the reception of paroled prisoners
than there are women to accept the posi-
tons.
Finally, let us work heartily and to-
gether to improve and beautify the ma
terial part of our city, but In so doing let
us not neglect the subtler and deeper
spiritual necessities, lest unhappily we be
found to have placed a laurel wreath
upon skull, and covered cancer with
rose.
Dr. Bissell suggested that a committee
Of three be appointed from the league to
look thoroughly into the cases of these
delinquents, with view to arriving at
some solution Of the problem. A resolu-
ton was passed empowering Mrs. Ham,
lin, on her return. to appoint such COM
mittee.
Rev. A. J. D. Haupt read brief paper
on Dangers to Young Men" The latter,
he thought, were quite as much in need
OF protection as the women. A deiin-
quent woman was more dangerous to a
community than a delinquent man. She
must hve.~and under the present condi-
tions Of society, she has little hope Of
reformation or of sympathy. For the
purity of future homes, for the sake OF
daughters and mothers. every possible
step should be taken to snatch away
from boys and young men this subtle
danger.
Mrs. Chester G.. Higbee spoke briefly
Among criminal women she said, I've
can feel only sympathy for those who
are born in poverty. There is no house
keeping for them to 90. for there are no
houses for them to keep. The harden
ing process begins before the children
leave home" Mrs. Higbee referred to
the Milwaukee training school for de-
linquent girls, saying that its statistics
prove that the majority of girls sent
there are really reformed and lead use