New-York tribune., 1907-07-29
WOMEN AS PRISONERS.
Motherhood Deterrent to Crime, Say Those
Who Know.

Who would suppose that the assembling OF Par
lament would affect the female population OF the
London pTisons2 II does, though For when the
legislators meet n the metropolis TO take up their
arduous duties many Of them bring families IN
their train The domestic linen Of these families
must be washed, and consequently trade in the
laundrtes looks up. the workers set more wages
and spend them. Some spend them IN strong drink,
through which the path 10 prison IS a quick one
It IS often said that women IN prison give more
trouble than men, yet those who know say they
Just easily disciplined. They fall into habits
OF neatness and order much more readily than men.
and in the majority OF cases they would keep their
persons and their cells nice as possible, even
without the regulations on the subject One woman
prisoner observed to have a powdered face
powder At last by watching her the secret was
discovered. She scratched the whiting of the
walls OF her cell and used It to give herself an
interesting pailor. Some women take powder with
them TO prison and carefully keep It to do them
selves up with when released.
One sarcastic authority says that It would be
reasonable to expect good marks for women IN an
institution where silence is demanded II is true
that women in prison are often restless and ex-
cita ble but their behavior depends TO a great ex-
tent those who have them in charge and on
the system In 1878 the number OF refractory
women IN the London prisons amounted to 7.Il9
Last year, under the mder methods Of manage
nent which time has brought about. there were
only 1898 female delinQuents though the prison
census was larger by thousands Women prisoners
like TO have a good looking officer in charge Of
them, and will behave much better for her. even
though she may be an Indifferent disc!plinar!an,
than they Will under & plain and ungainly officer.
Motherhood is a deterrent TO crime, says ''The
Nineteenth Century" The proportion Of young
mothers among criminals IS very small. Marriage
has tendency TO keep both sexes from wrong
doing though It's effect IS less with than
with women, but OF married women who brea1fthe
law the greater number have no children.
Women a sex do not shine in crime. They
lack originality. They may be led into law break
Ing by other people or by their own Irresistible i'm
pulses but the ability 70 plan really great crime
IS not often theirs. In fact IN the list OF the
worlds distinguished criminals there IS decided
lack Of woHen's names, Many female offenders do
not Esern 70 mind prison IN the least Some boast
OF the times they have been there. Ike the one
who turned on the officer who credited her with
fOrty-three convictions.
ITS more than two hundred" said she IN n
hurt and angry tone
Some Of them know that they are best in prison.
and say frankly that they are not fit to be free.
There are some who behave conspicuously well IN
prison for long term OF years. Released, they
go 10 the bad Ike shot from gun.
There is good thing about prison ufe-t
teaches women 70 write who never would have
learned had they not been there. One whose
wife acquired the accomplishment IN the prison
school astonished when he got a letter
from her that he went to the prison gates 70 ask II
she really wrote IL. One woman prisoner wrote
her family that prisons good. they
learns you TO read and write" Another reproved
her husband for not writing his letters IN the
proper form. You should begin and end them as
do" she wrote.
All women are fond OF praise, but women crim-
discreet in praising them. once when the En-
press Eugene was visiting Woking Prison several
Of the prisoners were called on TO show her eX-
amples Of their embroidery The Empress was
especially pleased by the flower work OF one young
girl who there for the murder Of her child.
and spoke Of its beauty. As the party departed
and the sound of breaking glass. a girl whose
work had not been praised was dispeased az the
omission and was expressing her dispeasure by
way of furniture through the cell window