New-York tribune., 1901-01-13

LIFE TO-DAY IN wANDSwORTH JAIL.
Prom The London Chronicle
We all know that Imprisonment for debt has
been abolished, but only 10 make way for i'm
prisonrnent for contempt Of court: and. while
under the new regulations the hardship of
prison life is made easier for the convict, il has
become more stringent for the debtor. who is
raEhdig becoming a criminal.
Formerly. MandsWorth Jail Was prison for
female as well as male prisoners, but the ladies
find accommodation at Holloway. and
their ward at Wandsworth has become the
debtors division. Here the cells are similar in
all respects TO those occupied by congicts. The
size the furniture, the utensils identical
The only literature allowed the debtor. like the
criminal in the early days Of his confinement.
Is the Bible, the prayer and hymn hooks and a
little volume called The Narrow Way"
il is merely in regard Ia bedding that the
dehInr within his cell is better of than the
convict While the latter the commencement
OF his incarceration is compelled 10 rest on bare
boards the former, at all times, is provided
with coooanut fibre mattress and pillow. as well
with two coarse linen sheets d pillowcase
and couple Of blankets
Before the debtor is finally locked up for the
night on the day OF his arrival at the prison, he
receives circular yellow cloth badge, bearing
the number Of his cell inscribed in black on both
SIDES, which makes him look something like
a cabman. This badse-the badge Of infamy,
Tor il is identicaly the same in color and all
other respects for convict and debtor alike-he
Is compelled to fastened 10 the left hand
side of his coat whenever he leaves his cell
II is absolutely Illegal To brand him in this
fashion, because in the abstract from the regu-
lati0ns exhibited in his cell. il Is set forth that
a debtor shall he allowed to wear his own
clothes, unless they unfit for wear and
that even then the clothes supplied him shall
not be OF The same color those worn by con-
Nicted prisoners But this badge Of the crm-
nal attached TO the debtors coat becomes part
Of his attire If under The regulations in force
hc can legally be- made TO wear any badge at
all. il seenls evident that il should be oi a DIFF
felent- color to that worn 10y cOnNicts.
THE HOUR OF RISING.
Th. r,rison hell tolls al q a. m. ana the day
lrc.ns The cell floor must be swept the Mhlie
metal utensils cleaned and furDshcd up 80
that YOU car your face iu Them the plank
l,cCsiead leaning against th- wall on emo,
with mattress dangling over the back bed
clothes made 10 hang in front, and pillow
croNuing the whole. Then you wash ana insA
dressing
All al once you hear changing Of keys The
door flies open. a canvas bag bearing the ccl
number j. lung on m" floor, accompanied 10y
an inquiry in an 1fet mpathctic tone as 10
x-bat he- you are - q light" and an order 10
mn out your pots al pans. The hag contains
Lour Work-some pieces of canvas, some sam
tl,s of buttonhOles, a stout needle, a skein 81
white thread a lump of MAX a knife. You
have been deprived Of your penknlie down
Stairs. only be- placed IN possession oi "A inuch
more dangerous weapon in your cell.
Al y a. IN. you get your breakfast-siX ounces
of whole meal bread. badly baked and sticky,
and one pint IF Cruel or nalf-pint Of cocoa, IN
accordance with the choice you have made on
your arrival. An hour later your cell door flies
omen again and YOU conducted 10 one of
tEa y0rkrooIns Here companion IN mlSfort-
uue, who has already mastered the art, shows