The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-06
Night Sessions Are Started for
Prisoners at Lansing.
Young Men and Old Jon Glasses
With Great Enthusiasm.
PLAN OF THE WARDEN
TWenty-Six Teachers From the
Better Educated Conyicts.
A Splendid Tribute Was Paid
Dalton, "a Manly Man."

Leavenworth. Nov. "a new schoo
mas been opened here. There is moth
ing SO very peculiar in that since new
schools are opened everywhere now
and not much thought is given tc
them. but this one was just a little
dirferent from any that was ever in
augurated before, for it had its birth
IN the Kansas state prison and its
pupils were grown men, some OF
tered the institution.
As some of this class lined up in
the prison chapel last night, it seemed
almost impossible to think that the
hands that nervously grasped their
first states could not form their own
er's names. Yet 1t is true and when
one stops to consider this condition it
is not hard to see why there are
prisons.
That Warden Haskell's cherished
project. this night school was meet
ing enthusiastic support from the men
whom 1t was to benefit, one had but
to look into their eager faces to see.
Lined up in row after row they sat in
earnest attention, many of them tired
from the days labor, but erect and
and thus spoil their chances in the
school.
There were old men and young men
ana middle aged men, with here and
there boy in the crowd. There were
bright faces and dull ones and occa-
sionally one that showed the bitter
ness of life that someway had lost
its grip, while thrown in, it seemed
just to relieve the tragedy of the 9TH
ers, was cheerful 1numorist or two,
who couldn't resist a smile at such
names as Alexander" and sunny"
But over them all was the set look
that prison life brings and which was
for the time somewhat broken by the
new interest that shad come to break
the monotony OF their days.
There was perhaps never q school
where such absolute order was main
tanned or where the scholars were so
attentive. Every man listened care
fully to the rules read by Chaplain
the school and has done much to
make the old system a success.
At the opening of the session War
den Haskell made a short address.
The warden possesses the happy fac
ulty of saying a good deal in a few
words and he never "preaches at" his
men. In a little heart to heart talk with
them he told them of what great
benefit the schbof gould be made to
them and how upon their actions it's
success and hermaintenance de-
Perhaps the strongest point of his
talk was made when, after a pause, he
said: Boys, even in a prison you
can make something of your lives.
This has been proved by a lifetime
prisoner who just last week was given
his freedom. Thefe was not an officer
in the institution who was not glad to
know that he had been given a pardon
and this was because he had the
strength to make of himself just
what he was, a manly man
After RI ans little Sne6Ch
there was deep ssilence. 1t seemed
that the men had absorbed every
word Of it. There was no one in the
large audience who needed to be told
that the man referred to was Emmett
Dalton and there was probably not a
man who was not glad to hear him
given this tribute.
Upon the stage sat the twenty-six
teachers who were willing to help the
others less fortunate than themselves
sity graduates. many of whose faces
often showed intellectual strength not
often seen in the average man.
A roll was called. first the teachers
name and then those of his class. As
they were assigned the men stood in
their places near the door and when
the class was filled. passed into the
school room accompanied by their in
structor and a guard.
The algebra class in which are
good representation. These men will
lake up civil government, English
literature, algebra, and rhetoric.
There was also finishing class in
penmanship. But it was in the lower
grades, which ran up tc the Fourth,
that most Of the men were classified
The primary class, or grade one,
was the best filled of any. This was
divided into sections. those who could
not write at all and those who had
made various degrees of progress.
There was a large showing of colored
men in this group, while some OF the
white men were gray haired and car
lied their states as though they were
still a little uncertain as to their use.
In the front row sat boy. thin,
pale fellow, who looked scarcely more
han sixteen To him this school was
he most wonderful thing in the |
world. With his eyes big and round |
With excitement and his hands nerv-
,usly twisting, he looked like real |
first grader whose mother had just |
brought him to school. When ques-
toned as to what he knew he an /
Iwered in low embarrassed tones. 81
hink maybe I can read little, but 1
ion't know how to write. He was
aiken to a class where young col
eye graduate was patiently trying to
each a gray haired colored man the
Inference between "a" and 3D.
And so on down the long list they
vent. On a seat by himself and very
much occupied with his slate was
Melvin, the man who tried dynamite
IN the lola Joints. Thin faced and SAD
ooking he labored with his pencil, |
Indifferent to teachers and pupils
like He is already good penman
md writes nice letters but he is one of
he poor fellows whose intellect is go
ng Often he goes to Deputy Warden /
Oobson and in a helpless way says, Il
,uess you'd better lock me up for
ew days again. I feel that I am go
ng to be pretty mean"