The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-07-15

LII IL, 1OOO.
factions Of the dudes and honest,
grimy sons of toll shake hands over the
bloody chasm of discord, there resound-
ed throughout the cellroom series of
hair-raising shrieks which in our half
conditioB we took for the
battle cry of the painted devils of the
forest, and visions of reeking scaips
aud disemboweled victims passed rapid
ly before our distorted vision. But it
wasn't massacre of innocents. 1t
was only the plaintive m-E.O-Wi me-
owl! of one of the feline pets of the
prison, and they did not emanate from
consumptiye lungs, either. Starting on
q low, nonpareil key and gradually
rising in intensity and volume until
they reached q 32-Iine plea discord; the
music was kept up for 'steen minutes,
until Officer Austin, who is staunch
believer in prevention of cruelty to
animals.' quietly drew the black cap
over it's head and sprung the trap. We
heard whether it was the boss
messman's Tommy, Eichy's Pussy or
Jakey's Tabby, but if that feline Sleep
destroyer isn't in somebody's Thanks
giving sausage. then the ends of justice
will not be fully met"
Columns without number could be
fille1 with bright cuttings from the
columns of The Prison Mirror. One
more will be given, an editorial from
the issue of Dec. IA, 1887:
"We are IN receipt almost daily of
requests for an exchange from papers
in various parts of the country, and
while we would be glad to accommo-
date all we cannot consistently do so.
Our exchange list now numbers over
three hundred. which is as many as we
can carry with our present business.
It is true we do not pay the union
scale to our typos and the edtor's salary
has been cut down to less than $4,000
90 ayear; but paper costs money, and
Uncle Sam exacts the regulation price
for transmitting The Mirror to our
patrons"
CIGARS IN THE sANCTUM.
Cigars floated into the sanctum In
the early days. Here is one out of
many similar notices:
IS. Lowenstein, the popular cigar
man of st. Paul, and one of The Mir
ror's staunch friends, paid the prison a
visit on Thursday, aud the typos and
eiitor now smoke fragrant Havanas,
Mr.. L. having left box on our table.
Thanks"
On Feb. l, 1883, The Mirror was six
months old aud the following extract
is taken from column editorial OF
seiflaudatiOn:
Financially, The Mirror has paid
expenses so far aud contributed neat
sum to the library fund. 1t was the
intention of its founders to furnish The
Mirror to all the inmates gratis as soon
as its outside circulation had assumed
proportions to warrant so doing.
Now that the troubles connected with
the prison have ceased, The Mirror is
to be allowed to pursue the even tenor
of its way. ** Under the new edict
we can take no more subscriptions out
of good time money. As all new ar
rivals want The Mirror, aud as very
few have anything left after they gel
through their trials, we wish to provide
means so that all can have their Mir
rOr."
| After that date The Mirror passed
into the control Of the commonwealth
and has been published in that manner
continuously ever since.
The following excellent editorial Is
taken from the first number of Volume
TwO-the second year:
/ "Witb this issue The Mirror start
on the second year of its existence, ant
with the first number of the new yea
we deem it proper to say word 70
our little paper. That the enterpris
has not been a failure financially i
evident. 1t he's contributed $4,000 t.
the library fund, has paid all expense
thus far, and now has small surplu
IN the treasury. ItAas furnished week
ly to the inmates exchanges beside
magazines, statistical reports and books
1t has thus been the means of supplyin
/ q great deal Of valuable reading matte
which would not otherwise have bee
I furnished. These matters We mentio