The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-09-05
THE = ll.1t YOUNG ERs-,4 UUDY.

L III
Mi. " TIE - STUDY.
Time is a stern parent to some while
to others it is an indulgent and patient
guardian and a lullaby mother who
takes to her bosom the unruly child
and bushes it to the peaceful slumbers
of a new nature and being m But Fate
does not step in to decide what Time
shall be to frail mankind, for man him
self must choose the character and
kind of his masters nurse or guardian.
This, has been strikingly illustrated in
the lives OF. the Younger boys-Cole
| and Jim-who were bandits and out
laws % years ago, but who to-day are
travelling. statesmen for manufacturer
of fine monuments and artistic memo
rails. Whenthey entered the Saltwater
}penitentiary % years ago, they were.
under life sentence, and the world knew
them no more. To most men under
the same circumstances and with such
To-
career as the Youngers werercredited
with, there would have been not the.
faintest ray of hope to. brighten an
horizon of eternal darkness. But with
their unflinching nerve and will power,
they would not say die, and they set
about to adjust themselves to their new
conditions and. to become masters and
not menials of the situation, How we'll
they succeeded the world knows. Dur
ing. their long Incarceration, and COW
:erfng nearly four times the: average,
length Of service of '@lifer,'' not a. sim.
gle infraction of prison rules was:ever
charged against them. They started
in TO- live: new lives: and to make the
best Of their opportunities, vet what
life convict would ever dream OF hav-
ing an opportunity: But by their own
election and choice they came to know
Time. as a fond parent, who gave them
every advantage that it was possible in
their condition to grant them. Step
by step they assembled to the confidence
of prison officials and to the citizens of
the State, and slowly but surely the
movement for their release from prison
life progressed, until at last the doors
swung open and they stepped out into
the world to become useful citizens.
Little has been said OF the many
hidden deeds of the Youngers, while
in prison. It is related of Jim that he
at one time turned young man from
the life of a tough to that of useful
citizen. The young man was under
short sentence for some offense and
Jim engaged him in conversation one
time. The boy stated he wished to be-
come though" member of society," but
Jim gave him some heart-to-heart
talks. He wrote home to his mother
for him, and Jim would write letters,to
the boy, and sign the boys mothers
name to them. When the boys letters
to his mother had improved him Jim
forwarded them, and when the young
convict was released he was new man
and went home, married and became
good citizen. Jim received from the
young man picture of the latter's
family few years later. Since Jim has
been travelling he at one time stopped
at a farm house for meal, and when
he started to leave he handed the
farmers son his card with his name
written thereon. 'Why, mother, this
is Jim Younger" said the excited boy,
and the old lady grasped Jim with
motherly affection, and cried, "God
bless you..'' with tears in her eyes. It
was Jim who had showed the mothers
hayward son in prison the folly of try
! ing to lead a hayward life, and the son
had in time returned home and left
happy memory Of Jim Younger. Cole
has many such deeds to his credit also.
Sentiment does not inspire such strange
recitals. There is much in psychology
and mental science that is not exactly
commonplace in the world as yet, and
the Younger boys are striking exam
plies of the wonderful results of the
radical change such forces can work in
man.
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