Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-11


the reputation of the wettest place
in Europe-as well it may be, shut in on all
sides by huge hills that seem made to attract
every cloud in the sky. "Our prison system
is a surprise to most foreigners, but it works
very well for all that"
Have you much crime here?' l asked.
:. Not half so much as we had before the
hquor traffic was broken up by the introduc-
tion OF the Gotheborg system. dare say
you Know how it works. All the licenses
nave peen bought up and the trade vested in
oonlpanuy, which, after refunding FIVE per
.eie; upon the money invested, hands over the
whole surplus to the State. Tins Il makes
no nnerence to any dealer whether he sells
much OF little, and hence no one has any in
terest IN extending the traffic. You tell me
you were at country fair at Bjorn the other
Jay HOW many men did you see intoxi-
cated?"
,,Qnly two, so far as 1 remember"
Just SO. Whereas, in the old times, you'd
haroiy nave seen two sober. It's made a
wonderful difference, can assure you. But
here we are at the prison"
mere IL is, sure enough-the big, whitewash-
ea' quaintiooking structure, much more like
an an, oid-tashioned farm house than a modern
iau' modern, indeed, it can hardly be called;
Iqr, having stood here nearly two centuries
aready, 1t is fairly entitled to rank among
,ne countless antiquities of city which is a
KIND OF medieval antique in itself.
Once within the heavy wooden gate of the
courtyard, we might fancy ourselves in a bar
iiacA' from the military neatness and precis-
ION OF everything around us-a resemblance
increased by the erect, soldier-like bearing OF
the blue.frocked warders, who, as my guide
Tells me In a whisper, are all retired veterans
or the regular army.
AT the door of the main bu;lding we arc
met by the sub-inspector-a short, resoute
looking man of middle age whose deep gray
eyes nave the same keen, watchful, "on-guard'
look which once struck me in those of tn,
to Siberia ee W 'o va
Good morning, gentlemen Very glad t,
: see YOU The governors engaged at present
pue VIII pe happy to go round with you ant
give you any information that you NAV re
qulre; only l must beg of you to ask no aues
lions IN presence of the prisoners, that bein,
against our rules"
The first room that we enter after mount
ing the steep, wooden stair is occupied by 81,
or seven convict carpenters, who. at a sigma
from their warder, suspend their planning ant
chipping, and stand at attention" as w,
pass. All but one are middle-aged men, O
quiet, homely aspect, with the white badg,
that denotes short term imprisonment
The solitary exception is young lad whit
is working beside one of the windows, will
the yellow badge of "lifer" on his clothes
My attention is drawn to him by sligh
touch and an almost imperceptibIe sid
glance from the sub-inspeetor, showing tina
this man is noticeable in some way Bu
how? A strong, square, rather clumsy figure
!. broad, full face, with no expression save
look of heavy, animal good -humor-this is al
that I can see. look as I will
''You wouldn't think that young fellow wa
murderer-would you?" says the officer, a
the door closes behind us.
"a murderer echo /. "He doesn't lool
like it, anyhow. / picked out three or fou
of them at sight in the great prison at Ri,
de Janeiro, but | should certainly have passe,
him over"
"I dare say you would, but he's very bat
case all the same"
And then he briefly recounts the details q
the crime, which are too hideous to be repeat
ed here. Such tragedy, in the very hear