The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-05-17

spend only two and half years in
isolation. This statement caused
surprise among the other delegates,
who unanimously declared that they
would rather serve time in isolation,
even If they had to stay there as long
as under the old system.
Tho the writer has read several dis
tcriptions ofsolitary prisons, the arrange
ment of such yet leaves him in maze.
The room occupied, by each prisoner,
is said to be high, large enough for
healthful exercise. provided with
large window, affording direct access
to fresh air and sunlight, provided
with all modern conveniences and
serving as workshop, dining-room
and. dormitory. That part is easily
mprehensible. But how nine hun
dred prisoners can attend church at
one and the same time, each seeing the
altar, the pulpit, and the officers in
charge, and being seen by the latter,
without being able to see but single
one of their fellow-prisoners, is rather
puzzljng, and must be, withal, very
ingenious contrivance And how all
these nine hundred prisoners can be
let out, fifty at time, twice day, for
one hour each time. into little gar
den, or, on rainy days, under covered
sheds, without seeing each other, is
certainly another puzzle Pictures of
such prisons show large, dome-cov-
cred rotunda, from which eight ten,
or more wings 60 out in all directions,
so that the whole resembles the shape
of star. 1t is said that a guard,
standing on any tier in the rotunda,
can not only overlook all the corridors
OF all the wings, but can also, by
means Of electricity open or close any
of the many doors, provided only that
they are on the same tier on which he
is stationed. On the other tiers. the
guards stationed there can do the
same thing.
The official day in these solitary
prisons embraces twelve hours. OF
these, one hour each forenoon and af-
ternoon is allowed for exercise in the
open air, and one hour for dinner and
rest. The remaining nine hours must
be spent at work. AS no government
in Europe has ever tried to make their
prisons self-supporting, the task i'm.
posed on each inmate is an easy one.
All the prison directors present, except
those from England, declared that
even the most unskilled of their
charges could finish their daily task in
seven hours; the skilled ones CORE
spondingly sooner. But the prisoners
are compelled to work full time, as it
is thought advisable to accustom them
to steady employment. Similar con-
ditions prevail in the common
prisons of the Continent, except that
in them the time for exercise is re.
duced to one hour per day. OF the
money earned by each prisoner after
his task is done, oEe-half is credited to
his account. What is done with the
other half is not stated. Of the money
so earned, the prisoner is privileged to
dispose of one-third while in prison.
He can send it to his relatives, or can
buy extra food for it thru the prison
authorities. The remaining two-thirds
OF his earnings, he will receive when
discharged. Except in a few French
and Italian prisons, no prisoner in
Europe is permitted to receive eatables
of any kind from the outside. But in
Austria, for sanitary reasons, each
prisoner is permitted to have sent to
him by friends, or have bought for
him by the management, twelve lem
ons and two pounds of sugar per week.
In what respect lemonade contributes
to the health of prisoners, is not stated;
but there must be something in it, for
the other delegates declared that this
practice was worthy of emulation.
The food allowed to European pris-
oners is not near so rich, nor 90 mani
fold, as in this country. Each prisoner
is allowed only one-half pound Of meat
three times per week; and one-half
pound weighed exactly of bread three
times per day. Vegetables, cereals,
beans, peas and other leguminous fruit,
soups, ETC., furnish the dinner, while
coffee. cheese, lard, butter, herring. ETC.,
is served for lunch and supper. But,