The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-27
CHRISTMAS
IN PRISON
The Days Observances
Out on the
Reef.

week was undoubtedly that held at
Oahu Penitentiary on Friday morning
The inmates of that grim institution
on the reef were in the best of spirits
and for one day had thrown away the
troubles and worries of life so that
nothing should mar the glory of the
celebration.
The first surprise Of the day occurred
| at O'Clock in the morning when three
of the long term prisoners were called
up to the prison office and Warden
Henry presented them, as Christmas
| gift, with communication of their SEN
tences which he had secured from the
Governor. A particular interest was
| attached to this incident, as one of
the recipients of the Executives Glenn
ency had the sympathy of all his fell
| low prisoners: and warm We're the
| handshakes and sincere congratula-
! tions received by Fred Wood during
the day. One of the prisoners express
ed the prevailing sentiment when he
said: Il should not feel bit happier
! if it had happened to me-
| The religious meeting, under the uni
| ted auspices of the Seventh Day Ad-
ventist church, the Y. NJ. C. A, the
Salvation Army and the Peniel Mis-
sion, was for many, an occasion to
| be long remembered.
Thanks tc the kindness of Warden
Henry an elaborate program had been
arranged and it was carried out beau
tifully. The prisoners to the number
! of 26S were seated underneath the beau
tiful kamani tree of 125 feet span,
which is situated in the middle of the
prison yard and as it has been said,
it really seemed as if Gods love and
mercy were seeking for expression in
| that stately tree, with it's out-stretch-
ing branches, as if to enfold them in
pardoning grace. Rev. J. II. Behrens
of the Seventh Day Adventist church.
! presided and at 1890 after mutual
greetings had been exchanged, opened
the services by giving out the hymn,
'Hark, the Herald Angels Sing which
was sung by all. The beautiful story
of Christs nativity was then read
from the second chapter of Luke by
i five prisoners, in Hawaiian. Spanish,
i Chinese, japanese and English respec-
i lively. After an eloquent prayer had
been offered by Mr.. Colcord, one of the
prisoners advanced towards the vfsi-
/ LUIS dIiOs III Dcnctil Ol HIS comrades,
thanked them for their kindly interest,
and welcomed visits, and offered them
the prisoners Christmas greetings.
/ Little Hazel Lyle and Lorene Col
cord sung a pretty duet and Master
| Teddy Tracy convulsed his audience
| with a graphic description of the boy
! expecting Santa Claus Miss Vera
Behrens recited some Bible verses ac-
companied with song, which were very
much appreciated. A duet, my Fa-
| ther Knows" was sung by Mrs. Beh-
rens and Mrs. Lyle, and later the two
ladies, in company with Rev. J. H.
Behrens and Mr.. Colcord, contributed
the beautiful quartette, "The Sweet
Bye and Bye
The hit of the day, however, was
scored by Miss Maud E. Paty. in her
recitation, Annie and Wiliie's Prayer"
With a fine diction and almost dra-
matte delivery Miss Patty succeeded.
Iinrocently of course, in shattering into
fragments all the time-honored rules
and traditions of the prison. Nothing
is said in the Rules Governing Pris-
oners'' about what should be done or
left undone when their feelings have
been stirred to such a pitch Of enthu-
! SiaSm that it needs an outlet of ex-
preston, probably because such an oc
currence had not been foreseen, but ii
has always been taken for granted by
the prisoners, that if they do not de-
sire to pay a visit to that mysterious
place of solitary confinement known as
the dark cell'' they had better wait
until they are in the Orpheum or the
/ 70 L.
any noisy demonstration. However
, that may be a storm of applause greet
ed Miss Patty at the conclusion of he1
recitation to the amazement of Warder
Henry, which, however, was quickly
transformed into a pleasant smile, an6
the utter CONSERVATION of Deputy Ka.
mana.
Eloquent addresses We're delivered by
Rev. j. H. Behrens, Ensign Underhill
S. A, and John NJ. Martin. chairman
of the devotional committee of the z
NJ. C. A, and some pertinent remark.
upon Peace and good will towart
men, We're made by C. J. Day, Mr.
and Mrs. Hadley, "A. E. Lutz. w. T
Paty. Mr.. Burgess, Mrs. H. c. Lyle
Mrs. Behrens and Miss Howland ant
others.
A quartet of prisoners sang yer,
touching1y when the day of life i
!, dawning,' and after another recitation
by Master L. Ferguson the Oahu Pris
on Glee Club sang the carol. like il
kac amelia and as an encore surprise
everybody present with a beautiful Ha
waiian melody, in which the unini
- tiated could only catch the word
. Aloha" and Happy New Year bu
which was much appreciated neverthe
less. By the way both songs wer
composed last year by a prisoner 2no'
e discharged. and a member of the Sal
: walton Army
. Benediction pronounced by Rev.
:. H Behrens brought this unique servic
| to a close, but just as the compan
prepared to separate prisoner steppe
= forward and taking advantage of
: temporary suspension of the rules. pre-
posed that a vote of thanks be eS
tended to Mr.. Behrens, the Y NJ {
A. and the Salvation Army, which wa
carried unanimously.
{ At / o'clock a bountiful feast, Nprc
u vided by Warden Henry. was served
d It consisted of roasted pig Hawaiia