The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-04-18

prisons, and was especially in vogue
at Fort Delaware. One versatile of.
aeer ran a gambling establishment in
the room of the barracks where he
lodged, wherein all kinds of games
were conducted during the week under
his auspices, and On Sunday religious
services were held thero at which LIE
assisted with exemplary decorum and
piety.
The nervous irritabil;ty which pro ,
logged and close confinement induces
was often exhibited in manner that
minds in a healthy condition could
scarcely understand. In tho Ohio
penitentiary the most animated dis.
cussions would begin, 80 soon as We
were permitted to leave our cells,
upon ell sorts of topics, and would
usually degenerate into olamorous and
angry debate. The disputauts be-
came as earnest and excited over sub.
jects on which they had, perhaps,
never thought before, as if they were
matters Of vital and pressing impor-
tance. A heated and finally eorimon.
ious dispute at one time arose regard
lug generally Joseph E. Johns.on's 8
height. One party positively ssssrt-
ed that his stature was just five feet
nine inches and quarter. The other
oontended with q oonstaucy nothing
could shake that he was no taller than
five feet eight inches and a half.
Many men declared that they had
frequently etood near to him and had
compared his stature with their own.
and that it was about tho same. If
these statements were as true as they
were dogmatio, the Generals height
must have varied in a remarkable
manner. Warm friendships of long
standing were interrupted by this
issue for days, until happily q new
question was sprung and parties were
reorganized.
A grave and radical difference OF
opinion arose as to whether Selma was
on the east or west Of the Alabama
river, and everyone soorned to eettle
the question by an examination Of the
map. Two intimate friends got into
an argument regarding the relative
excellence Of the anoients and mod.
erns 10 material civilization and the
mechanical arts. During this dis.
oussion, which continued for three
weeks, each alluded, in support OF his
respective contention, to architectural
and engineering triumphs which the
most learned encyclopedia might in
vsia consult bis books or rack his
@eness e veriqy= Il vee :. !!====zz..ka !===z.k
dropped unsettled, bns for moaths tho
slightest. allpsion to the Egyptian
pyramids OF. the bridge over tho Menai
Straits would produce q teooIuess be-.
tween S6sm. Tie battle Of Waterloo
furnished an inexhaustible theri 10 FOR
controversy. " Wellington did no.
viah for night on the day ITSELF half
as earnestly as he would have done
had he been compelled e. .!:e.es: ..c
these conflicting opinions about his
taoiioai dispouitions.' /. Z. !: ..:.: :
Il was prudent, however, on the
part Of the prisoners 60 conduct thes 9
discussions entirely among themsel.
YES, and by no means to attempt them
with the guards and turkeys; indeed.
it vas rather dangerous matter %
j addTess one OF these ofieials at ali.
except on the most necessary occa. Ca
sions. # remark made by q prisoner
TO one Of them was onstrued, Of mis-.
construed, as criticism, or aysn leyity,
the offender ran jgrsnt danger. Of q oon.
sigunent TO- one of the puniahme,in,it
cells, or dungeons" aa they, were y,,,ll
termed, which were extremely :;ais.
agreeable plaeea TO visit. I On one jllt ID: {
casion Major Elliott, quarter muster IL IL
Mergan.s division, and ias ntlenl,,,asn1 !
very much accustomed to Salp salppssskinr
his mind freely, sos into Il trouble i a1d d
was a6nt to{ one;of .hess cells 4undass
circumstances which excited thes gym. tIyT /.
pathy 3oS his contradict, but also, ii, tH !
considerable degrso, their amnsame ent.
a diah Whioh was almost i invarsisbly
served TO NE :st5 break fast WA ,,s hoIninv.