The suburban citizen., 1901-08-17
THE WARDEN'S RECRUIT
IS FyYSTYY 55YSY579 . Vs3535-'55YSI9S9$ -
A TRUE STORY.
Dy John Dickinson sherman.

7 n Pokin, upholding the dignity of
the Stars and Stripes, there is
young United States marine with
an unusual history. The war
den 0f a State penirentiary is willing
TO guarantee that the young marine
will serve his country faithfully and
well. William Simmons is not the
marines name, but so we may call
him; and this Is his story-the true
story Of the value Of a kind word:
Simmons's bcyhocd was passed in
the slum districts Of the West Side of
Chicago. His companions We're ruf-
fans and thieves, and in time lie be-
came the leader Of a gang, and bold
and reckless criminal. His history
during his young manhood is written
in the blotrers Of the West Side sta
tions and in the records Of the Grim
inal court.
Two years ago a series Of daring
highway robberies raised an unusual
outcry. SimI ons was under suspicion,
and thought it best % leave Chicago.
He hung about n town in indiana for
several weeks. Then the safe OF q
storekeeper was blown open one night
and several hundred dollars taken. A
week or two later Simmons was
caught at Fort Wayne in rle very act
OF opening a safe. He was sentenced
to the peuitenJlary for one year.
Simmons did not make a model con
Wet. At first his sole thought was TO
break JAIL After two weeks of plan
ming be assaulted a guard with a tile
and made a desperate effort to escape,
but was oyerpowered and punished by
confinement in the dungeon. When,
after a reasonable time, be was
brought back to his cell, he was far
from being subdued; he was as ugly
as Gagged wild beast, and refused to
WORK Back he went to the dungeon.
In the meantime the warden had
Kept an observaut eye on the young
convict had seen that he was intclll-
gent, and resolved to appeal to his
reason. After Simmons had Ueen long
enough In the dungeon to quiet down,
the warden went 10 him and said:
"Now see here young man, you are
gaining nothing by acting like this.
You are no fool, and you can reason
the situation out for yourself. You've
no chance Mt all along your present
line. Ii you are ugly, you've got a bad
year ahead Of you. I've been watch
ing you, and l believe you have some
better traits than you have shown.
Why not Try the other tacEf l want
you to live up to the rules Of the prison
and behave yourself. It's much easi
er proposition than the one you've
mapped out. You turn over new leai
and the guards VIII treat you well
What do you say
Simmons finally agreed to give the
warden's plan a trial Before long ht
became one Of the mOdel prisoners OF
the institution. He kept his temper
worked well, and was respectful ant
Obedient, lie attended to his own bust
ness strictly, and made no attempt tC
curry favor with the officials.
When it came time for Simmons t
leave the prison, the warden had hin
brought into his private office.
William" said he, your time will
be up tomorrow. You will get a de
cent suit and ten dollars. l suppos,
you will go back to Chicago. The tel
dollars ought to keep you two weeks
and in that time you may get some
thing to do. Now here's twenty dol
lars more; it's a personal loan. 1t wR
take care of you another month, an,
In that time you surely ought 10 &c
job Of some kind
But why should you lend me twer
ty dolarsW asked Simmons.
well" replied thu warden, II thin
you have the making Of a very decor
man in you. I'm afraid you Will
tempted to 90 back to the old gan
II you don't get work, and want
give you a chance. You've got 81
weeks leeway and If you do rigl
you can get q new start in that tim
And whatever you do, don't get caugl
stealing In Indiana"
Simmons did not say much elthC
tLcn Or the LeXt day, when the warO
en- saw him off at the station. II
made no promises at all. a few day
later came a letter that brought mil