The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15

behind walls crimed with the dirt. of
tnany generations, there lie in The heart
of the city of Richmond to-day, twelve
hundred souls Filth is there, rermin
oyerr,n the place, the oppressive odor
of uncleanliness pervades every corner,
hut the uncleanliness is that of i'll SAM
cation rather than that OF neglect on the
mart of the keepers. 1t is 1nuSty cuor
of decay, combined with the doors winch
distinguish any place wherein human be-
tngs are crowded together like sheep'
save in this case it is a thousand times
sptenSified.
Ti SsIas jefferson designed thu Virginia
henitcntary, ami since that blessed cay
rrarts of it have been left in all their
roristipe glory. Aaron Burr was once a
prisoner within its walls, and the original
walls still stand, being used for Identical
ay the same purpose to-day In lhe
horseshoe prison in the rear of the ad-
sninistration building may yet be traced
the marks of noted criminals of the past,
and still here has been little change for
the better Ventilation is comparatively
"a thing unknown in the prison. In VIM
ter the heat is sitting: in summer the
ventilation is such that it affects the
lungs of nearly every unfortunate VINO
has ever spent any length of tune I'D 'hc
prison. -
As stated there are now nearly twelve
hundred persons in the great prison. AT
the WIDEST stretch it could only accom-
,nodate. beautifully, five hundred. NO"
there are crowded from tWsh give 70
thirty-two men in cell, which should
only accommodate five. In single cels,
Or cells designed for single cells, there
ure frequently three. four and five. Ihey
slaen no one knows how one above the
other. at the top Of the cell. where Inc
heat gathers They cat, surrounded by
Sermin and yet they live and work Tor Tie
State whose laws they have broken.
How they live is one of the mysteries
sn this place of mysteries. mat th2y 90
live and work, a revenue OF something
between forty and fifty thousand dollars
a year from the prison to the STATE Is
substantial proof. Yet the lowest beasts
were never offered such nel!-ho.cs. IN
(which to at and breathe as are the slaves
of4the State; they have never been oner-
cd the opportunity OF being allowed 10
(which to eat and breathe as are tha saves
of the money they make Tor the stat
F,or them it is all slavery, Weiconl one
ne 1t known since 1t holds the mind from
the engulfing despair of being IN piisoA'
filth, verrnin and dirt
WENT OVER THE PRISON
With Dr. Charles V. Darlington, sur
eeon of the penitenitiarY, mace d eoul
OF the penitendary and personally 50"
she frightful conditions eHs.Has theie
.It's a perfect hell said DIR. Caring
ton as he led the way from cell 10 cen.
EFT SURPRISES belief that a State IKE
Virginia should tolerate such conditions
when by theapplication OF one year OF 1he
nrofits from the penitenuary THESE eSiis
could be practically removed.
Possibly one of the most comprehensive
revelations OF the penitentiary ano the
fearful conditions existing there is con-
J1r "a, e.
gently printed in the Virginia Medical
Semi-rnottly In part this paper is as
follows:
Disease, by way of epidemic, fills the
mind of every citizen with horror. and
all. as with one accord, work toward pre-
venting its approach. Disease. con
sagious. strikes with terror, and a. 4iat
science and medical skill can 90 IS oone {
to stamp it out. 1t is quarahtnse
against; it is isolated; it is fought on
avery side. and no stone is lett unturned
to llproot it, Disease, compuisoriiS anu
.1eediessiy generated in the penltentiafy'
however is regarded with silent apathy,
and 10 permitted that 1t becomes a sln'
crying TO Heaven for vengeance.
OBJECTS OF A PRISON.
nr Darlington touches upon the three
objects of the Imprisonment. of criminals
as punitive deterrent and reformatory.
These objects he, says can not oe feacHec
sn the Virginia Senitentiary lie says:
MEN OF dangerous .ne:.tal tenS.sns,2s
are hacked into cells like SO many sar-
dimes. with men OF better mind; and 1t
IS q dozen 10 oGe that it i, the better
man that suffers. The good man is
forced into committing an apparent
crime. frequently by way of self-defence.
s.,h,a lid must undergo all tho pains and
..enaitsas wh.cs sn attraction o. the
r..lss ;nraoses. I~nsls, :1ss STATE. = nos ca
Tectly tho cause OF the crime. furnishes
certainly the occasion for IL. the results
of4 which neither the immediate authors
ties the directors, nor the surgeon, are
powerful TO prevent.
SIT is 80 with Juveniles. The congresate
.,,an in vogue IN tbs peEitntiary throws
.oashes mon hardened irl crime with
.soi-Srs wso hardly know SIS meaning rSsc
that they have been convicted of II For
these tuyemlcs the penitentiary be-
Comes q, school OF v:ce-and of form CT
,,,ce. toe. frequently, that shrink trom
as.esrssig TO, much more OF declaring open
Nor - this the only trouble Of the
<,reymowded cells. an SAFE in SAYING
That every man consigned TO mem IS
daily suffering a species of enforced m
eerins n.e, which might bs more properly
termed living death.
pr. Darlington declares tl:et fwo thoa-
nsnd cubic fset OF air per hoir arc nee