Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-11
SCENES IN THE FRENCH PRISONS.

the walls of their cells and upon their
tables while they print letters in the
snow white cloth. Many one dreams
that before the tri-color fades they may
be as free as the air in which the faS
is to float. But the little flags perish
and the makers stay in the gloom Of
the old prison walls.
The Venetian lanterns require many
workers-sOme to cut, others to paint,
dry, to roll the damp sheets of paper,
to make the accordion plaits and final
ly the finishers. And the number Of
persons who help to make a doll baby
which is to cost, when finished, two
sous, is surprising. In the first place,
the limbs done by one are nodded, the
body is of wood, which must be COW
cred with cloth or leather. After be-
ing nodded the limbs are allowed to
dry for twelve hours; then they are
treated to a rosy bath which is sup
posed to give a most life-like appear
ance. The shoes are painted, the curly
hair securely fastened to the bald pate.
the eyes of brown Or blue fill the empty
sockets, the limbs are joined to the
body and Miss Dolly is ready for some
of the final touches. For each of these
! details separate workman is en-
ployed
At Sainte Pelagie we found three
distinct quarters, the first most luxu-
rious abode known as the Pavilion of
Princes. It is celebrated for being the
lo5o;po plona of poJ:fsoo1 rrioororS op1
journalists who have been a little too
vehement. Here certain Of the prison
ers live the lives of kings, receiving
visitors from outside and having the
| best to eat drink and smoke that Paris
affords. They are the fortunate ones.
! The common prisoners, securely fast
ened in the interior of the prison. have
the most wretched existence The
truth is. Sainte Pelagie is the most
abominable prison in Paris Happily,
| it has been condemned, and in three or
! four years is to be replaced by a grand
new prison now under course of con-
struction. Now the work rooms are
damp and dark, but in winter the enor
nous fires make the work room a lit
tie nearer supportable.
The young offenders of Paris FORM
Of course, an interesting part of the
whole long list of prisoners. At all
times there are between 700 and 800
sentenced for the most part to from
one to six months in prison. The
greatest variety of employments has
been devised for these juveniles, who
are confined in the Petite oQuette.
The prison is divided into sections
lradiating from the famous chapel
school, where the prisoners closely
locked in their cells. see the master
and the priest, and are often seen by
outsiders without seeing each other.
The isolation is complete. Never do
the young people hold any communica-
ton, never do they see each other,
Frequently during the day they are
| visited for a few moments by the SUI
perintendant, the priest and the school
master. who break in upon the desola-
ton of complete loneliness.
The young children make beautiful
designs in stamped and hammered
leather; funeral crowns and wreaths
give employment TO many, while the
artificial flowers arranged in pillows
and hearts and crosses keep many lit
tie restless hands busted with stringing
beads Of various colored glass on
thread and wire and then forming the