The sun., 1907-11-29
DAY OF DAYS ON THE ISLAND
THE CITY7S INVOLUNTARY
GUESTS KEEP OPEN HOUSE.

--
Vaudeville show I'm tho Prison Chapel
Prccctes . Varied and satisfying
''Feed"-A ''Trusty'' Explains what a
Thanksgiving on Blackwells Means.
II -even EIysium has it's seamy side"
as some one has said. so, too, the seamy
side has its occasional Elysium. For Black
wells Island Thanksgiving Day is one Of
thoss brief and rare occasions. Yesterday
in so far az it is practicable in a dOmicile
whose doors swing in but not out the city's
involuntary guests were allowed to keep
open house.
Commissioner OF Correction Coggey had
sent out 500 round trip invitations to Man
hattanians who hadn't done anything
yet-but who might like to sse how they'd
fetch UP IL they did. and such OF those as
desired TO witness the celebration left the
foot of Fifty second street at 1890 yester-
day morning. They landed at the Island
just in time to sse the show, which was a
rattliag short stage vaudeville with ten
pieces on tho bill and twenty-one in the
orchestra. The show was held right in the
prison chapel. Gay yachting hags were
strung about and Japanese lanterns were
over the lights. and tho Stars and Stripes
together with the green harp Of Erin. were
upon the walls.
The architect who desi gned the prison
chapel estimated it's Capacity at about 300.
This was a mistake. With a little cr6wding
it can hold /. 300 and then some. 1t was a
great occasion all round. and there we're
precious few Of the boys absent--Only Abe
Hummel. who is very sick with kidney
trouble and two greengoOds men. namely,
Jimmy Fitzgerald and Mike Ryan who
didn't relish the idea Of facing the news
paper mems cameras.
The 900 prisoners now in the pen" in
clude iO7 women. They were all present.
too, and among them one poor creature
who carried in her arms a puny, starved
looking baby. born IN that place-"to the
palIor born as one visitor mournfully put
it-and likely 10 die there too. II the Judge
who sentenced it's mother doesn't do some
thing.
down stairs, where they loaded UP clear to
the Plimsoll mark and more. said nautical
brother, with chicken, 200 pounds OF IL.
Thanksgiving Hxin's. which Included "coH-
fee, sweet or colored"; the fixin's all coming
and the ~Cape Cod" cranberries. The
chicken wasn't roasted, OF course, for they
haven't the facilities, but 10 was steamed.
which did as well; while the bread-"Of
number one four mind warned Steward
Murphy-came from the new prison ovens,
which can bake ?. 400 loaves Of bread in an
hour Altogether yesterdays feed was
considerably In advance OF the average dog
up, which ordinarily runs to corn beef. with
an issue OF The Review OF Reviews. or
corned beef hash. on alternate days.
n wae at meal time that the only tragedy
of the day occurred, and even that turned
out 10 be only a near tragedy after all.
A fellow aamed Red something or other,
who had been doing a bit for some tenn
porary obsession as 90 the relations Of mine
and thine. got his discharge papers in the
morning about a quarter OF an hour before
dinner time. He came up TO Deputy War
den Murtha pulling mighty long face.
Say, Dep" he began. we know me
yes good by Red. and good luck"
smiled the Deputy, putting out his hand.
But Red only used his to wipe his mouth
~ But gay. Dep he walled, "it amt dinner
Murths couldn't see what that had to
do with the price OF eggs and said so.
-Wot, ye wouldn't toin on q poor guy
on T'anksgivin'. would ye.' no whined.
-Ah. be a good skate. Dep an lemme stay
over dinner
@Oh, very WE'LL answered Murtha.
guess we can miss the boat for you. " that's
what you want
Which was how bed came to eat 1On the
city" as an invited guest
For the invited guests, who also. ate
"on the CITY, dinner was served upstairs
in the keepers room. where they had
turkey which was roasted. And from
this quarter came the best appreciation
Of all that the boys in stripes had to Offer
in acknowledgment OF their holiday.
OF course, the rank and file couldn't daily
much with interviewers. but the "trusty"
who waited on table where Deputy Warden
Murtha had been good enough to seat the
SUN man. could talk and did. Here Is
the substance OF his remarks:
"Say, don't get de idea,' he cOntided-
gee. did ] spill dat soup on yousey Oh.
a. right. dcn--dat us fellers don't feel
for what dey does fer u.s. Say, a little
blow like dis does more fer discipline in
dis woilSs dan clubbin' a mans head into
Hamboig steak, OATS right. Why.
de boys look ahead g T'aDksglvin'. counts
de days marks 'em on ON de calendar.
like kid come Christmas. Listen; IL one
OF de bad ones gets gay, ye know all de
keepers got O. do is just tip him on dat it IL
let him out Of de I'anksgivin' doin's. an
say. den it's all on. Ye'd take dis place
fer a Sunday school Just before de picnic.
before; ara grateful after %
sauce and mince pie we're served yesterday
Toward the making OF the gOulash the city
contributed $50 pounds Of chicken, $50
pounds OF turkey. barrels Of pork and
J barrels Of sweet potatoes. The Rev. DIR.
John A. Wade. Episcopal chaplain OF tho
Tombs, gave in addition oranges 70 the
women and children and cigars and pipe
tobacco to the men. The dinner was served
70 the prisoners in- their cells :. r..,.s
. l4aa4s