The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-07-03
ODDS AND ENDS.
BY HI. J. b.

and ambitious he can learn the
trade in seven years, at the expira-
ton of which his apprenticeship
will cease and they will then enter
into a contract with him as full
fedged botanist and gardener.
During the first seven years he
will be given his clothes, board,
sleep, water, room. tobacco and a
few marks. He will be required
to pass every nightwithin the con-
fines of building and room desig-
mated by the party of the first part
and must be in his room at 6 o.
clock p. m. He will not be per-
mitted to talk while on duty and
if he talks while off duty his wages
will be locked. He will not be
permitted to smoke cigars nor Gig
arettes. He must not swear unless
he does it mentally and even then
when not within gunshot of any
body dressed in blue. He must
not drink intoxicating liquors, for
altho little liquor might be all
right in it's place, it's place is not
here; and Sinbad says that he, like
John Graham, has ''seen four and
four make eight and the young
man and the small bottle make a
dam fool so often that he doesn't
believe the combination can be
worked out any other way
A great many men in this institu-
ton have learned that when a man
has been convicted of felony and
sentenced to term of years, many
of his old friends suddenly cease to
be his friends any longer. In very
many cases and possibly in the
of cases, they may be
justified in this turning against
him: Again there may be those
who feel that the convicted man is
simply a victim of a combination
of circumstances, that whatever he
has done he has acted in good
faith, or had only done that which
others would have done under like
circumstances.
But whether a man is q victim
Of his own folly or untoward cir
most people are reluc-
tant to have it known that they are
on friendly terms with man be-
hind prison bars; and they forth
with unceremoniously sever any
ties of friendship that may have
in some instances the
friendship continues few months
or perhaps year or two, or longer,
and wears out gradually. Thus it
seems that here is the place for
the supreme test of friendship. It
is very pleasant and gratifying to
know that one has friends, but in
the majority of cases your friends
are not your friends after all, and
rs general proposition when a
man pats you on the back and tells
you he is your friend you will not
miss the truth very far if you tell
him he is d darn liar.
Yet there are men whose friend
ship is genuine and lasting, the
same in adversely as in prosperity;
out instances are certainly very
ARE wherein a reputable, substan-
;ial citizen shows his friendship in
rs substantial a manner as the one
Who wrote me recently and among
,ther kindly things says, call I
want now is to know if I can not
10 something for you. I will de-
7ote my time and money to your
interest if you will let me" There
ire not words of sufficient strength
n my limited vocabulary to ex-
press my appreciation of this
riend's great kindness in soliciting |
ny acceptance of his time and
money. My first impulse was to
not the opportunity, but
he man. But for prisoners in
general, it seems to me all must |
Igree with our editor and the sem