Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-07-08
LUDLOW STREET JAIL
The Sheriff's Famous Prison In
New York City.
ITS GUESTS WELL TREATED,

IIdNS mdHy FFiNuS9GS-i TIC LtSCs-
pline Is Quite Gentle and the Sur
roundings Peaceful and Homelike.
Walking through the streets of the
squaIid. noisy east side, the visitor in
New York is quite unprepared for the
peace and clean homeliness which
greet him in the sheriffs prison In
Ludlow street. Flanked by public
school and police court on two sides,
the brick building ornamented with
antique iron grill over long windows,
resembles village church or old fash
toned hall of learning. The outer
clamor does not penetrate it's cool clois-
ters. The struggle for existence Is
halted at the threshold. But 1t is not
SO easy to enter the sheriffs rest es-
tablishment The guard who opens
the front door in response to the elec-
tric bell eyes the visitor suspiciously,
as 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 contempt Of
surrogates' 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 no 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 Lombroso or
any other criminologist. What's the
use? They don't send felons to this
place. The learned observations of
penologists do not apply to the In
mates of Ludlow tavern. Methods of
discipline and reform are superfuous.
There are just few rules. such as OBJ
tain in any well regulated hostelry. A
guest on arrival has his pedigree taken
at the Office. is shown up to his sleep
ing chamber, gets introduced to the
gentlemen in the sitting room and is
no hair cut, none of the unpleasant fea-
lures of common prison. There is,
indeed, a genteel search for sharp in
struments, keys and knives, as forbid
den articles, but there is no confisca-
tion of any other private possessions.
A man may bring in all the books,
writing material, tobacco, clothes, toi-
let articles and bric-a-brac that he
pleases.
The rising bell rings at $50 a. M.
and the guests have chance to wash,
shave and make their beds before
breakfast. at 8 o'clock. The regular
breakfast consists of coffee and rolls,
but guests may supplement 1t with
eggs cooked at the hot water tap or
may order. at their own expense, an
elaborate meal from the menu card of
a nearby restaurant. The morning
newspapers are at hand, so that guests,
while slipping their coffee, may scan
headlines and note the progress Of
events.
After breakfast every one goes into
the yard for an hours exercise. The
high brick wans do not bar the sun
shine from the yard, which is about
sixty feet square and stone tagged
around central grass plot. After the
exercise hour the guests repair to q
large sitting room and read. study or
play penuchle, checkers. dominos and
chess. There Is a small library of
books and magazines. Those who
have private stocks Of literature ex-
change their books In a fraternal
spirit.
The dinner bell rings at noon. A
wholesome stew, boiled dinner or q
plate Of fish and potatoes is provided.
II this seems too frugal even for clois-
ter life, there Is the restaurant menu
to fall 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,
after the style of the morning session,
and then supper Of bread and tea at
5 o'clock Two hours later the guests
retire to their chambers for the night.
They are locked in, it is true, but the
obliging guard will open on any rea-
sonable request. There is no rule
against talking. and guests may read
or write by the light of their own cam
dies until they feel disposed to go to bed.
A gentle routine it is. No one is
overcrowded, for, while there are ac-
commodations for a hundred persons,
the enumber of guests is seldom any,
thing like that. The disagreeable
monotony 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 in
mates. The comfort of guests is pret-
ty well assured by staff Of nine
guards and three or four cooks and
attendants.
Letters to guests are not opened be-
fore delivery, as in common penal in
stitutions. Three days week are set
aside for visitors, but no member Of