Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-16
A VISIT TO- THE HORKHOUSE

Tho report OF the Trustees of the New
Castle County Workhouse, as published
the Ith, is very encouraging, insur-
ing much saving OF expense, more
efficient management, perfect order,
apparently y separation OF tire inmates
from degrading, vicious contact; rs-
quiring perHopal cleanliness, and keep
ing all 10 aud about the estah liHhlnent
clean, al wei as orderly. The laundry,
bathing and cooking apparatus OF tho
M, st improved kinds.
In goiBg over the building with
Warden A. S. MPsefye, onnversinR with
him, you feel that he is !. man with
heart Ito lee another,s woe. who
desires earnestly the le'ormation of
thuse under his care, and TO whom
mercy, is more pleasant than punish
ment
The regular employment OF the
prisoners 10 blessing to them, and
when to their work is attached the hope
OF earning honsst wages, it is great
addit onal stimGlus 10 the faithful
performance oil the work,
Another most beneiicent felture is
shortening the time OF eerVitude, for
good behavior. Warden Meserre says
the prisoners are now generally well
behaved anu ohedient announcement
| and rewards Tor good behay OF are more
potent than threats and punishment Tor
bad DelRware is Just beginning this
re!ormatory movement and We have
| much to learn, and no Conhs some
( changes may he found desirable, but
\ thB start is hopeful and encouraging
/ The men in the large tailor room and
| the lew women, as | understood, never
I are allowed t. go outside the building,
| think every refson ought to be
i allowed, at timeH some exercise IN the
open air; but this, perhaps, cannot be
arranged now, but may N lime.
The trustees are all men who have
4 the respect and confidence o. the com
munity, ard are giving their services
with very little pe:uniary rewRr Il. The
cost oil i0Ou, r6dueed from 70 cents per
day per man to less than cents, ia an
important item. of saving, and the
abatement OF the tramp nuisance is
another.
So it is great and beneficial advance
in every way save one and that is
the continuance OF tho pllory and
j whipping post, The short trial We have
had o. THESE Instruments Of torture has
been very unsatis actory. Tho whipped
wives have untreated that the sentence
Of the husbands ba RENTED, and one
of them got out OF the way, 50 as not to
appear against him. 1t is a most
revolving and degrading service to put
upon such true, and faithful public
servant as A. S, Meserye, and | think
is creator punishment to. him than tc
the ci iminal.
Mhat deusion has come over some oil
the good citizens OF Delaware that they
think any good in any way can come
Of this thing! If we turn our eyes
backward on the pages of history W
come 10 the time where Instruments fol
breaking bones, fiaying alive, cutting
off ears. cutting in pieces, burning, ant
every refinement OF torture that in
genuity cuuld inrsnt, has been en-
ployed with the ratural result OF onl!
increasing piekedness and crime IN
our own country the pillory and pos
were all orer our land and kent at ou
church doors 100 years ago. Nov
enlightened Christianity has banishet
them from every State except our it'll
Diamond, and sumo here cling t.
torture as il it were something credit
able
From all around our country and from
over the wide ocean come gihes AMI
o. features OF Delaware's whiprings
, Joseph Colinson. q noted humanitarian
of London wrote aome tine aga T.
i know II We had passed a bill to extern
tioRgng to wife.bsateIs. had a lette
/ lately from q good and noble woma
, OF Superior, Wis with Il clipping fror
, u newspaper giving q revolving aocoun
of one of our whippings. ssying -
/ made my blood boil; ! do hope you vii
4 do away with this whipping in Della
J ware, Thus are we hyword, and
moclSery. -. Ferris.
+ Wilmington, Jan. 18th, 1902.