The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-04-17

work will very likely be assailed in Bonapartist
circles in Paris and each appearing insallmen will
undergo regular fusillade.
WHEN successful writer of historical fiction
enters the realm of modern everyday actuaities in
search of material he is likely to be unconvincing;
to impress his readers with the belief that he sacr-
fees facts in order to make his story interesting In
other words he permits his imagination trained in
other fields Of endeavor to overreach good and
sound Judgment.
In the current number of the Century there
appears sketch by DR.. S. Weir Mitchell of Phila-
delphia Needless to say it is a literary gem, but
the writer has given very fictitious picture Of a
very real problem. Dr. Mitchell portrays dis
couraged young seated bench in city
park. He is in woeful state of blue funk. At his
feet lie worn bag of TOOLS his clothes thread
bare; his appearance is unkempt, and to make
matters worse he is disagreeably conscious of gnaw-
ing vacancy under his belt. He is approached by a
sleek, ruddy individual who first tries to steal the
bag of tools and when his purpose is frustrated,
enters into conversation with him. The talk of
the newcomer is not consoling or encouraging. The
young man on the bench explains that he is me-
chanic who has but recently been discharged from
the hospital that protracted illness has reduced
know where the next meal is to come from. The
chance acquaintance, with some sarcasm and much
conceit boasts that he his prosperous condition
to the fact that he has just been discharged from
prison and to the good taken of him since his
discharge by kind hearted Christian women. He
points out the contrast between his lot and that of
the mechanic and DR.. Mitchell would have us be-
ieve that the picture here drawn is true to life
that the ex-convic is better provided for by society
than the unfortunate workingman.
Let us examine this story for moment and see
how realistic it is. In the first place man just
discharged from prison does not present sleek,
rudy appearance. Healthy he may be, but his
face is white with the prison tan and be has that
depressed look which prison life and discipline be-
queaths to those who in contact with it. This
wears off in course of time, to be sure, but Dr..
Mitchelrs ex-convict has just been discharged
Dr. Mitchell says the half sick and hungry me-
chanic is friendless. Is he? The doctor also makes
him air his misery in public place and solicit SYM
pathy from passing strangers. Are these traits
characteristic of the American mechanic, even in
dire straits? All labor organizations provide sick
fund for their members and such exigencies our
young friend is undergoing are arranged for. The
mechanic has only to apply to the secretary Of his
union and his wants are relieved. Furthermore every
trades union has sick committee whose duty it is to
visit members of their organization who are unable
to work. and case of real distress is at relieved
Another point DIR. Mitchell lays stress on is the
fact that the ex-convict has money to jingle in his
pocket and that he jhges it to emphasize his good
luck to the unfortunate workingman. Does this
ring true? We in here know what the criminal
would have done he would have taken that young
man to eating house and filed him up. given him
encouragement and finally divided what little money
he had with him. Ask any prison warden how dis
charged convicts get rid of their money The reply
will be: They either blow it in give it away.
Unfortunately, this is too true.
Again, DR.. Mitchell takes backhanded slap at
the good people who endeavor to help man up
after he has fallen. Whether or not many ex-con-
victs are led to better life by Christian workers is
not the question: the point is that these people
make the effort and that in itself is worthy of praise
To scott at their work is direct rebuke to the
Master in whose footsteps they follow.
Just why DR.. Mitchell chose these two types for
his tale and gave false picture of both,
thing he alone knows. Perhaps he needed the
money