The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-01

dawn -cast countenances of others was riiiful in the extreme and to the un- initiated the situation among the white convicts, especially, was relieved of some of it's sadness by a glance at the negro contingent, where the sixty four women and girls were brave in their array fof bright-hued ribbons, flowers in their hair and rufffes and frills of many hues sewed to the con- ventional prison garb of striped home- spun. The thought was suggested that even the Iiison doors could not shut out the vanity of the average negro W Jnian.
 There We're 253 persons, seventy-nine white men. five white women, 1O5 ne- gro males among whom were about thirty boys from the age of 3 years to l6, and slxty-four negro women, all waiting expectantly for the preaching of the Gospel by Mir. Swindall and the music of the new piano.
 MT. SwfndeIPs Sermon.
 It was a simple little sermon Mir. Swindell preached, straight from the heart of the speaker. 1t could not have been other than simple to meet the needs of those men and women cut off by acts of their own, from free dom and fellowship with the outside world. The preacher took his text rum A&u1 B EpfSLl9 Io tne InsSSdIOn- lans, Tn everything, give thanks There was nothing fowery in that ser mon; there was no high flown senti- ment but an endeavor on his part to preach even as the Master did while on earth that whatever the condition or the circumstances. God cares for all that the hated, the despised, the per secuted and the afflicted. arc those for whom Christ died, and that while the law-abiding and the right-living peo pie of this earth deplore the absence of such principle in others, yet the sym pathy for the offender is deep and sin- cere and every effort is making for their reclamation.
 Long before the speaker had finished, the heads of many were bowed and tears were trickling down the cheeks of some, who. no doubt, were strangers to such emotions. He talked to them chiefly of the things for which, even they, had to be thankful, and, above all else, he preached that they should re- joice that God knows and cares and Is ever planning for their salvation.
 Several huyms were sung during the service and afterwards the convicts crowded about the piano and for more than an hour enjoyed the instrument. even as children enjoy new toy.
 The Thanksgiving Diner.
 The Thanksgiving feast was spread in the long dining hall on the rude but spotlessly clean tables and enough of good things to eat to last for several days were provided each person. After the dinner had been eaten, all that was left of the feast was collected leach man and woman brought a basket or box) and was carried to cells for the evening meal
 The afternoon was spent by the Montgomery women in visiting the different people in whom there are es- peeially interested and in speaking a word of good cheer to every man and woman in the prison.
 The work that the Montgomery wo- men are doiag Is one that will apre al to every broad minded woman in this country. The system to which they have reduced the V 3rk and their meth ods has won the admiration of the of- ficials of the prison and of all who have had occasion to understand the work. Mrs. Edwards makes 1t a point to know every man in the prison, to know the offense for which he was sentenced and the tiT9e for which he was sentenced. She then begins among the men whose terms have about ex- pired and studies the man. She en- deavors to learn of his capabilities and to ascertain the cause of the trouble which sent him to the prison.
 With all of this knowledge she Is