Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-09

unfortunate is to so reform them as
to, fit them for a return to the world
we have $50 conNictS now. the small
est number in years. OF these less
than half a hundred are in for life
The others will sooner or later go
back into the world. Is it best that
thew shall be SO punished that they
will return to freedom full Of sullen
revenge or Of shonelessness for the flu
ture, or, SO helped and encouraged
that they may have a chance to hold
UP their heads. and once more take
the part Of men in the common walks
of life?. l think YOU will agree with
me that my plan is right. ! can see
in the faces OF these men who would
fight at the drop of the hat for me.
and in the erect and self respecting
attitude they are assuming under
these Influences, promise of better
things for them when their sentence
is up. Even the life men show a
better spirit because there is hope
even for them.
This was preliminary Afterwards
I saw an ocular demonstration of
what Warden Sanders had been tell
ing me. ] walked with him about the
buildings and grounds. EVERYWHERE
saw order. and to my amazement.
cheerful and hopeful faces. Many Of
the men / met We're neatly CARRIED in
the first grade uniforms and at first J.
took them for attendants Warden
Sanders went UP to one fellow and
removed his CAP from his head and
showed it to ME as a sample Of the
style he was introducing. The man
stood quietly at attention while the
exhibition was going on. When the
cap was returned to him he smiled a
sort Of scnuiescehce in the exhibition
and pa ssed on. rs that an attend
q, ~ 7 oil la, ;.,
or. There are others about here
saw them everywhere about the yard
and in the buildings. In no case did
see the old time exhibition of fire.
arms and club-bearing deputies.
I visited the institution some fifteen
or twenty wears before, and ] could
not help contrasting what saw then
at this time. Then the same sun beat
down upon the rust stained walls, the
same blue sky bent above them. but
within there was dreariness that
appalled, me. Groups of silent brood
ing figures. dressed in the broad
stripes then Worn by every criminal,
sodden, pasty faces. downcast or peer
ing eyes, shambling footsteps. no hope
no light no joy. Nothing that seemed
to give toward future worth living
for.
In the place of this depressing pic
ture / saw today twenty four men
dressed in what appeared to be cadet
clothing, seated upon a platform in
the chapel. Half of them had instru-
ments and formed an. orchestra. The
other half presently arose at the COM
mand of the warden, who baton in
hand. led them in vocal chorus that
rivaled the best male SINGING Of the
travelling troups today. Chorus after
chorus rang from their threats, well
nlodulated and delightful in execution
while the faces of the singers were
full Of the light that comes from en-
Joynlent.
Then the orchestra played ana the
most difficult concert numbers were
given with skill and precision and as
the performers afterwards departed
from the roessn each face glowed with
appreciation of the hearty recognition
their skill had secured from the au-
dience.
! saw also everywhere about the
buildings and ground Of the institu-
ton, cheerful faces, and heard good
natured greetings in response to the
warden's How goes it. boys?s ! was
impressed with the feeling that crim-
inals though these men are, they have
in them manhood that looks for
better things, and that is being de-
yeloped In a remarkable manner by
the man now presiding over them.