New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-15
THE PRISONER.
What TO Do for Him When He Is
Set at Liberty.

AFTER PRIsoN-wIAT2 By Maud Banngton
Booth. Svo. pp. go Fleming Ii. Reven Com
pany.
With much OF the emotional feryor OF the sin
oe-e sermon. but with the repression of an
earnest worker sure Of the worth of her work
and with always more TO TELL Mrs Booth col
leots, in a volume which can hardly be read
without sympathy. many OF her experiences in
ministering 20 men IN prison. The problem of
the discharged convict and the vast prison popu-
lRtiOn has become what It is. as the writer puts
il. because it has been neglected. The evangel-
cal pursuit of the heather the care OF the sick
and the needy, have been acknowledged as OBJ
legations. and. in the main. faithfully under
taken by Christian world The behest in the
interest of the imprisoned has Jared worse.
Flesh and blood facts" to contravene the feel
ing that the service OF q sentence leaves an in
eradicable dishonesty. Mrs. Booth has aimed TO
furnish: and in these "reminiscences. without
mentioning names. she recites many instances or
men who have been reclaimed from unlawful
lives and restored. or. for the first time, won TO
q usefulness TO society and Observation-Disclosures,
who thought no other course open TO them, now
prosperous and conscientious mechanics; forgers
returned TO the trusted employ OF the men they
had robbed, and. in one case. man sentenced
while protesting his innocence, who afterward
wrote 70 his judge, a member OF State Supreme
Court, q confession OF guilt with thanks for his
commitment. followed after his discharge by
voluntary undertaking 10 defray to the State the
cost OF his prosecution
The usual effective impulse to better life has
come 70 the men described through the thought
that some one with friendly soIcitude
watching over their progress and caring for
their success against their temptations. The
workings OF this missionary endeavor exhibit an
sr@a bFr hast he vic o
the heart. the fact that blood is thicker than
prison record Ink The convicts. known to Mrs.
Booth as her "boys." who are persuaded to
make the upward attempt, enter the Volunteer
Prison League" receive certificate Of men,
bership reciting its sworn conditions of conduct,
wear a button and when banded in sufficient
numbers become a post with the dignity Of
standard. white hag with a blue star Of hope
"a the centre. Mrs. Booth herself IS known
Familiarity as 1.-The Little Mother"
think my work has become doubly dear and
sacred 10 me since have realized that could
go 20 these boys" as a messenger and repre-
sentative Of their mothers. Very grateful have
been for the name Little Mother which they
have given me- for feel that go not to i'm
press my own personality upon them, but TO re-
vive IN them the sacred memories OF the past,
sno If possible, 10 help in bringing the answer
70 the many mothers prayers that for SO long
have seemed fruttless OF result
MIS- BOOlQ dates the DegllnlDg OF the move
xnent which she represents from a visit TO
prison in San Quentin, Cal At the time
she and her husband were leaders in the Saliva
ton Army. She observes that it would have
been impossible TO start prison work under the
hampering influence OF regulations which gov
erned that movement from a foreign land"
When the split had been accomplished the prison
work became one branch Of the activities Of the
Volunteers of America, as the newer organiZa-
ton is called. Mrs Booth points out that this
body is in no way connected with the older one.
and lis absolutely dissimilar in method and gov
eminent" The work was begun in a number Of
State prisons-Sing Sing, Auburn and Clinton,
y. Y, Charlestown, Mass; Trenton, y. j; San
Quentin and Folsom. Cal; Joliet Ill; Columbus.
Ohio: Fort Leavenworth. Kan; Canyon City,
Col. Anamosa, Iowa, and Baltimore. Initial
meetings have also been held in Lansing, Kan;
jackson Mich; Fort Madison, Iowa Weathers-
field Conn; Fort Williams and Governors Island,
New-York. Earnest invitations have come TO
visit many other prisons, and have had to be de-
c!ined thus far for lack of time. Depletion of
funds has also resulted from the many expenses,
though pittances from prisoners have been gem
erously contributed. Mrs. Booth gives due credit
10 other workers IN the field and the efforts Of
her assistants The book. however is devoted to
her own personal experiences. and gains in its
vivid responsiveness thereby.