The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-10-12

are deeply interested in matters ath-
letic, and for this reason they have
organized and commenced systematic
practice on the diamond" the grid
iron," and in various other fields de-
voted to the. manly art. Il Is their
hope and intention to establish an
athletic association. With first-class
gymnasium. baths. reading rooms and
lounging rooms for members who are
away from their homes. This inten-
tion. If properly carried out, will be
of great benefit to Meridian and her
young men. 1t is an excellent thing
for men to devote a certain amount
of time TO physical exercise. for it is
true of the human body as we'll as of
all other mechanism that the great
est good is accomplished when all the
parts are equally strong and kept In
perfect order. A strong brain IS
stronger when the body that 1t domi-
mates is kept clean and active and Wig
orous by careful exercise. We would
rejoice to see an athletic association
conducted on upright principles IN
every town. There the boys could
learn all that is best in manly sports
without ever permitting their organ
ization TO degenerate into anything
like the clubs" of the larger cities,
where professional (?) athletics Tor,
to be accurate, pugilism) monopolizes
the members interest and does so
much to injure the young men, men
tally and physically, as well as NOR
ally. We wish the Meridian boys sue
cess and hope their association will
develop some first-class athletes.
The biennial report of the Peniten-
tiary Board of Control will show an
increase in the number az convicts.
This showing has created sufficient In
terest among those who have learned
of 1t to cause considerable speculation
and not a little figuring. The in
crease of the list of prisoners comes
not from increased committals, but
from the preservation of life under the
farm system. The open air work and
the free, pleasant life of the farm, as
| compared with that in the city walls,
| is believed to be the reason for this.
| Whatever the cause, it is fact that
| before the present farm system be-
came effective the roll OF convicts
averaged about 900. Under this sys-
| tenn the number was increased to $3.50
| for the two fiscal years of 1898 and
| 1899. and to something over 1000 for
1900 and 1901. During the fiscal years
of 1898 and 1899 the percentage OF
deaths was 462 per cent. During the
past two fiscal years it has been only
per cent. OF the eighty prisoners
who died during these two fiscal years
Just passed, twenty-eight died in the
hospital in the walls at Jackson OF
consumption. If this number were
subtracted from the total the percent
age of deaths on the farms would be
remarkably small. Mississippi has few
superiors, anyhow. in her way OF man
aging the penitentiary and its thou
| sand inmates.
SO far as we have been able TO
note-and we have read the papers
carefully-there has not been one pen
taken up to write a protest against the
proposed appropriation by Mississippi
| to make fitting display at st. Louis
during the Louisiana Purchase" Ex-
position. The Meridian Star which
is most watchful guardian of the
States interest and wise exponent Of
her peoples wishes, says in a recent
issue: THUS far onl. few mem
bers of the Legislature have spoken,
but they are united on the question.
We may not expect the bill to go
through without some opposition be-
ing manifested, for Mississippi is not
entirely rid of the political mounte-
bank. There are few of them in
the Legislature as we'll as on the
Boards Of Supervisors and in the va
rious other offices in the State, but
they are not strong enough to be OF
damage to the future prosperity OF
Mississippi"
Meridian--and, with her, the State
of his adoption-mourns the passing
away OF one of the great and good
men whose lives. inwoyen with the
history of past generations, have
filled such clean and brilliant pages
| In the book in which Mississippi's
record is written. DR., X. H. Whit
field, who died there September 20,
was a man Of upright character,
strong nature and wide fand always
good) influence. While he has been
prominently identified for many years
with the business interests of Merid-
ian and has served faithfully his State
and his city in many positions Of inn
portance and trust, his greatest work
for his fellow-man was in that wide
field. Education, where his influence
was always uplifting, helpful and in
| spring.
The present season is glorious one
for the Mississippi canneries and
shrimp fishermen, ais the delicious lit
tie crustacean is running better Just
now than for three or four years past,