Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-04-17
DURANGO NO LONGER VILE.

Treatment Of Prisoners Nowaday. il
Luxurious by Comparison.
1t is only on the stage that the vile
catiff who has stolen the millionaire's
nest silver plated pickle dish is cast
INTO dungeon. In real life the COM
hitting officer might travel the coun-
try over without finding a single dun.
seon that would stand comparison
with the dungeons they had in the
s,ood old days-xlungeons whose occu.
pants slept on pallets of straw. Even
ii such dungeon were to be found no
sheriff's officer could ever dare confine
prisoner in it. The Society for the
Dissemination of Hair Mattresses
Among Convicted Felons, the Society
for the Protection of the Vicious and
other similar bodies would create
such disturbance that the officer
would yearn for the solitude enjoyed
by his charge.
Convicts in our state prisons no long
er eat off tin plates. Inmates of pub
lie institutions receive the benefits of
the latest discoveries in hygiene. Ev-
en- the friendless tramp who drifts
from one Jail to another during the
winter months is not overlooked. Sew
eral organizations make his welfare
their chief object. He will not contract
muscular rheumatism or typhoid few
err while in the custody of the state
If watchfulness can prevent it. Jails
and almhouses are religiously inspect
ed and county boards of supervisors
are sharply called to task when ever
conditions are not satisfactory.
All these things give evidence of
the tremendous advance humanity has
made in the last two or three genera.
tons. The debtor thrown into Jail in
London less than century ago suf-
fered more indignities and privations
than the condemned murderer does
under modern conditions. But we
have not yet arrived at perfection. Our
Prisons and public institutions are not
all they should be. Among other
things that might be mentioned they
lack proper musical equipment There
are many country jails where a jews
harp or piece Of paper folded over
a comb is the only musical instrument
the inmates ever see. Our almhouses
and prisons are also deficient in this
respect.
But better things are in prospect
A reform is in sight. 1t will please
all who take an interest in our prison.
Jail and almhouse population to learn
that young woman is about to form
an organization in New York whose
object will be the propagation of mu-
sital harmony among this class.
she has been led to take up the mat
ter because of the example set by Mr..
Carnegie, who has contract with an
orchestra to play musical program
in his home every morning before he
s.wakes. so that when sleep leaves him
his senses are flooded with harmony
as they resume their usual functions.
1t is his theory that a person whose
soul is bathed in melody, so to speak,
begins the day on a much higher
pane than one who is awakened by
the discordant noises of the street or
the harsh ringing of the breakfast
bell.
The society that is to be organized
will undertake to carry out a similar
Elan in allOur state institutions for the
purpose of improving the moral and
mental condition of the inmates. On
~ the preliminary steps have as yet
been taken and only small amount of
money has been subscribed. but the
young woman at the head of the en-
terprise is very sure she will be able
to carry the project through. All the
details have not yet been worked out,
so it is impossible to say just what
elevating impressions to convict, i'm
bCcile and pauper, but at present the
young woman favors pipe organs.
When once the public has been edu-
Gated up to the idea classical con-
certs will doubtless be a part of the
daily routine of our prisons and sup
ervisors will make contracts for Or
gans for county jails with as much
nonchalance as they now order road
scrapers.-Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle.