The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-04-04
Written for The Prison Mirror.

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whose personality and
everyday life are so little known to the
outside world that short sketch of
the prisoners "home" life and how he
employs his evening hours will be in
teresting to many whose knowledge of
the prisoner is generally confined with
in the narrow and insouciant manner
in which he is portrayed by the public
press.
In many respects his '.home" life is
strangely in contrast with that of his
freer brother! His abode consists of a
single room, whose dimensions is five by
seven feet in size, scantily furnished and
upholstered with thick coat of white
wash. The room contains bed, chair,
looking-glass, drinking cup, etc. 10
the prisoner, who has performed a
hard days work, this humble room is a
comfortable and welcome hospice.
In this little room he patiently awaits,
from month to month and year to year,
for the expiration of his sentence. His
joys are few; his sufferings are many;
and his sole companions are his books,
papers and letters from home or friends.
AS he marches in from his work and
awaits with one hand on his door while
the count is being taken, he eagerly
d" grasps the papers received during the
day and avidiously scans its pages for
news of the important events of the
day. Perhaps it is the Boer-Briton
war that receives his first attention.; or
the war in the Philippines; or the latest
developments in regard to the gigantic
struggle among the worlds diplomats
in China. If he is from Kansas, no
doubt he will first ascertain how the
crusade between the hatchets and
1'joints" has progressed during the past
week.
With his papers and library books
the prisoner manages to pass his even
lngs from six to nine o'clock, when he
is compelled to retire. in comparative
iy congenial and happy frame Of mind.
Without books his life would be one
of continual agony; melancholy would
soon dethrOne his mental faculties, and
it would only be matter of a short
time after incarceration when his light
would fail and he become a cruel beast,
with the emptiness of ages in his face. -
His books are his most priceless
possessions. Through their instru-
mentality he can associate himself
with the emperors, kings and princes
of medieval, ancient and modern times
without feeling of shame on account
of his present lowly station in life.
AS rule the majority of prisoners
are great readers and many of them
are exceptionally well Informed in
history, biography and fiction. Many
of them are also apt students in biblical
lore, and can quote scripture as pro-
lifically as they can their favorite
authors in other fields of literature.
The prisoners environments are such
that there is no going to the opera; no
evening stroll out on the avenue with
the chosen girl of his heart; no attend
ing evening card-parties, no coming
home in the wee, small hours of the
morning and, in thick, heavy voice,
asking the keeper at the front door to
throw him hatfull of keyhoIes. AS
he is prohibited from enjoying these
amusements, he takes to literature as
eagerly as duck takes to water.
With many of them the history of
France, England, Spain, Holland and
America, is an open book. They are
as familiar with the great leaders in
the various epochs of those countries
as they are with the furnishings of
their cell. Those who have made a
speciality of history, can lucidly and
correctly inform you all about IIanni-
bal, his early VOW to his father to make
eternal war upon the Romans, and