New-York tribune., 1903-02-16

ers ard filing their minds with OF In
Justice and suIlen desperation. He argues
strenuousiy in favor of the extension Of the
system Of remission of sentences through good
conduct and industry. the most important
among prison reforms and protests against the
commitment TO penal servitude of young chill
dren. hopeless invalids and paupers physically
unfit for work The tiled author who had
been petted and spoiled rn Vanity Fair. became
convinced IN Parkhurst that prisoners must
work out their own salvation. and learn TO he
thankful for the privilege Of employment.
Nsius bic as this volume is as a practical com
uaentary upon the tex Of prison reform trea-
tses, it is chiefly interesting as disclosure Of
the effect Of penal servitGde upon titled cor
vict- who had been horn with silver spoon in
his mouth and ha6 enjoyed ali the advantages
- Young man Of high social position. He
carried with him into prison sense OF injustice
IN having been denied the opportunities for ade-
7uate defence and in having been punished
vigorously. not for what he had done, but be-
cause he had dishono7ed the social class 20
which he belonged He was not snob. how
ever. in convict suit, but vas democrat and
= man in accepting his punishment without
lr1urrnurinS and with out soliciting personal ia
vor or discrimination. He came to have real
liking for many of his fellow prisoners. without
reference TO their crimes and justified the feel
ing by the reflection that 'clubbability' was an
innate feeling OF an EngIishTnan. which asserted
Itself as naturally in a convict prison as else
where. especially when there were clergymen.
doctors. solicitors. soldiers. sailors, schoomas-
ters. bank manages and even q former member
Of Parliament. among his associates He resents
with indignation, however. the assumption that
he was happier and more comfortable in Park
hurst than he had ever been in his life. He
remarks grinl'y that his only really happy mo-
1nents IN prison were when he was asleep and
drearing Of being free. When he was released
he was conscious Of his humiliation. and knew
that he still had 10 bear the heaviest part OF
MS purishment-the loss Of friends and the
cold contempt of those who had been intimate
acquaintances. The final chapter. in which he
describes how he faced the world with eyes to
The front, looking neither 10 right nor TO left
but leaving every one free 70 turn from him or
70 make the first advance. is not without pathos-
Il enforces the moral that a convict Of rank
and social position can never redeem his life
from disgrace whereas ordinary criminals. If
they choose 10 do 50, can conceal their identity.
80 abroad and make a fresh start.
Lord William NeviITs experience justiies the
conclusion that the social degradation Of
patrician convict is the most terrible Of legal
penalties apart from capital punishment He may
he on terms Of equality with other prisoners
:
ing carts setting type. scrubbing floors and do
ing nenial work, hut he cannot be punished
like an ordinary mortal Good birth and noble
lineage are converted into grounds for increased
severity of punishment, and when his term Of
Imprisonment ends mis- acquaintance cut him,
and he finds il impossible 10 live down his repu-
tstion for having committed crime against
social order. While Lord William NevilTs book
creates sympathy for him as an Englishman-
who Paid every penalty imposed by the law
and made the best possible use Of his expert
ences in prison. his experience is a warning
against the fatal consequences of the extrava-
gance and reCklessness of gilded youth, who
trade upon their names and family connections
The law is heavily against them when they
are sowing their wild oats. living beyond their
means and becoming enmeshed in debt; for no
restraints are imposed upon the avarlce of
money lenders, who enable them 10 live ex-
pensiveiy long after their resources are ex-
rausted. and finally compel relations to submit
TO heavy exacdons in order 70 avoid discredita-
hle family exposures. So long there is no
anti-usury law money lenders are at liberty 10
encourage spendthrifts and neer-do-welis in
high living and 10 double the expense OF patri-
clan foIlies In the end the accounts have 20
be settled by mortgages upon family estates
and sales Of heiriooms and art treasures; for
the secrets Of the money lenders enable them
10 prey upon rank and fashion. In Lord Will
lam NevilTs case the accounts were adjusted,
but the exposure was not prevented; and the
titled convict. after making a comprehensive
survey Of the tendencies Of penal servitude, has
returned 10 Mayfair, 10 find even colder mercy
and less tolerant judgment than were his por-
ton al the Old Bailey, where, according 70 his
own account. a popular Judge made him
smart for belonging TO a well known family.
/ N T.