The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-08-18
LUDLOW STREET JAIL
The SherHf's Famous Prison In
NeW York City.
ITS GUESTS WELL TREATED.

ITS GUESTS WELL TREATED.
Tho Inmates Wear No Uni:c-m and
:! Have Many Privi:eses-The Disei-
| p.;ne Is Quite Gentle and she Sur
/ roundinss Peaceful and Homelike.
Walking through the streets OF the
! SQualid. noisy cast side. the visitor in
New York IS quite unprepared for the
! peace and clean LONELINESS which
greet him in the Sherig'S prison in
! LuG' 'ow street Flankcd by public
schoo: and police court On two sides.
the brick building. orna;nented with
antique iron grill! over long windows.
resembles village church or old fash
ioned hall OF learning The outer
clamor does not penetrate its cool clois-
tiers. The struggle for existence IS
| halted ae the threshold. BIT it is not
SO easy to enter the sheriff's rest cs-
tablishnent. The guard who opens
; the front door in response to the cleo
! tric bell eyes the visitor SuspicioUsly,
IS If the latter might be trying to
break into the county haven without
proper credentials. The only persons
entitled to the privileges Of the Lud-
low tavern are those in con:emi't Of
surrosates' and certain other courts.
! federal bankrupts. delinquent militia
men. execution and judgment debtors
and breach OF promise and alimony
men.
However, the visitor who can prove
that he has 10 sinister purpose IS
ushered into cozy parlor fitted with
rugs. pictures and piano. Here he
meets the warden, who talks freely
and simply about his guests he ad-
mits he has never read Lonbroso or
i any other criminoiosist. What's the
use? They don't send felons to this
place. The learned observations OF
/! penoiosists do not apply to the in
mates OF Ludlow tavern Methods OF
/ discipline and reform are SuperfuouS.
There are Just few rules. such IS OBJ
! tain in any well regulated hoStelry. \
guest en- arrival has his pedigree taken
] IT the office. IS shown up &c his sleep
(. Ing chamber, gets introduced to the
cantle:uen n the sitting room and Is
| left TO his own devices-no uniform.
no aair cut, none OF the unpleasant fea-
tures Of common prison There IS.
indeed, . seateel search for sharp In
sr1nents. keys and knives. as forbid
/! den articles. but there is 10 condsca-
ton OF any other private possessions
s man may bring In au the books,
/ writing material. tobacco. clothes. toi-
Z. let articles and brtc-a>brac that he
pleases-
The rising bell rings at $50 o p.
and the guests have chance to. wash.
/! shave and make their beds before
breakfast, at o'clock. The regular
! breakfast consists Of coffee and rolls,
but guests nay supplement ie with
eggs cooked ct the hot water tap OF
may order. at their own expense. an
! elaborate meal from the menu card OF
nearby restaurant The morning
| newspapers are at hand. so that guests.
while slipping their coffee, may scan
headlines and note the progress OF
events
i After breakfast every one goes into
the yard for an hours exercise. The
| high brick walls DC not bar the sun
| shine from the yard, which is about
sixty feet square and stone Jagged
around centra! grass plot After the
| exercise Lour the guests repair to a
large sitting room and read. study OF
play penuchle. checkers, dominos aoa
chess. There is q small Hbrary OF
| books and magazines. Those who
have private stocks Of literature ex'
change their books in a trateSnai
spirit
The dtnnec bell rings at nooa- a
, wholesome stew. \ boiled dinner or .
plate Of fish and potatoes IS provided.
/ It this seems too frugal even Sor cloiS-
ter life. there IS the restaurant uenu
| to fail back on As rule. though. the
| inmates are satisfied with the regular
/ fare. Another hour in the yard. an
afternoon spent in the sitting room,
i after the style Of the morning session,
and chen supper OF bread and tea al
5 G .ock- Two hours later the guests
ire 10 their chambers Sor the night
They are locked IN, it IS true. but the
oblsins guard VIII open on any rca'
| sonab.e request. There IS 10 rule
against talking. and guests may read
| OK write by the light Of their own can
dies until they feel disposed to so to bed
a gentle routine it IS No one IS
oyercrowded. Sor. while there are ac'
| commodatiors for q k.sndred persons,
/ the number Of guests IS seldom any
thing Ike that The dis1greeabie
uonotony Of seeing the same faces
and hearing the same anecdotes, com
planned Of by arctic travellers. IS OBJ
waited By the coming and going OF II
mates. The comfort OF guests is pref
T. well assured by staff os nine
cuards and three or four cooks and
attendants
Letters to guests are not opened be
fore delivery. rs IN common penal IL
stitutions. Three days q week are sci
aside Sor visitors, but no member OF
the Alimony club is compelled to see
his wife. Once In long while. bow
ever, member OF the faic sex enters
TIE portals IS guest There was one
woman brought to the office N con
tempt proceedings subsequent OF
supplementary inquiry, but the referee
held hearing on the spot. and the
woman was discharged with consent
j Of counsel. IN former days male
guest charged With breach Of promise
won freedom by marrying the woman