West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-15
LUDLOW STREET JAIL
The Sherff's Famous Prison In
New York City.
ITS GUESTS WELL TREATED.

The Inmates Wear No Uniform and
Have Many Privilssss-rhs pisei-
plins 10 Quite Gentle and the Sur
roundinss Peaceful and Horeliks.
Walking through the streets OF tho
tqualid. noisy east side. the visitor In
New York IL quite unpreparcd for tho
peace and clean homelIness which
greet him I'm the sherifrs prison I'm
Ludlow street. Flanked by public
school and police court on two sides.
the brick building. ornamentcd with
antique iron grill over long windows.
resembles a village church or old fash.
ioned hall or learning. Tho outer
clnmor does not penetrate It's cool cloIs.
tiers. The struggle for existence Is
matted Mt the threshold But it Is not
SO ensy TO enter the shcrif's rest es
tablishment. The guard who opens
,he front door In response to the clcc-
tric bell eyes tile visitor susplcIously.
as II the latter might be trying To
preak into the county haven without
proper credentials. The only persons
entitled To the privileges OF the I.ud.
low tavern are those I'm contempt of
surrogates' ana certain other courts.
Federal bankrupts. delinquent militia.
meh' execution and judgment debtors
ana breach or promise and alImony
mon
However, the visitor who can prove
that he has no sinister purpose IL
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 rend Iombroso or
any other criminologist What's the
usef They don't send fclons To this
place. The learned observations OF
penologists do not apply to the In
mates OF Ludlow tavern Methods OF
discipline and reform are superauous.
There are just n few rules. such as OBJ
tain In any well regulated hostelry. A
guest ON arrival has his pedigree taken
Mt the Office. is shown up TO his sleep
Ing chamber. gets introduced to the
gentlemen I'm the sitting room and is
leg. 20 his own devices no uniform,
no hair cut, none OF the unpleasant fea-
lures OF n common prison. There is.
indeed, n genteel search for sharp In
su-uinents, keys and knives, as forbid
den articles, but there Is no confisca.
tlon OF any other private possessions.
a man may bring I'm all the books.
writing material. tobacco, clothes. toi-
let articles aud brIc-a-brnc that he
pleases.
The rising bell rings at 0:30 n. 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 II 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 wahs 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 a
large sitting room and read, study or
play penuchle, checkers. domlnos and
chess. There Is n small library OF
books and magazines. Those who
have private stocks OF literature OK
change their books IN fraternal
spirit.
The dinner bell rings at noon. A
wholesome stew. n boiled dinner or n
plate OF fish and potatoes is provided.
IL this seems too frugal even for clois-
ter life. there Is the restaurant menu
TO fall back on. As rule, though, the
inmates nre satisfied with the regular
fare. Another hour I'm the yard, nm
afternoon spent I'm the sitting room,
after the style OF the morning session,
and then n supper OF brend and tea at
O'clock. Two hours later the guests
retire to their chambers for the night.
They are locked In. II IL 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 llght'Of their own can
dies until they feel disposed TO go to bed.
gentle routine Il II. No one IL
Oyercrowded, for, while there are ac-
cOmmodations for hundred persons.
the number OF guests Is seldom any
thing like that. The dlsagreeable
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 n stah OF nine
guards and three OF four cooks and
attendants.
Letters TO guests are not opened be-
fore delivery, as iD common penal In
stitutions. Three days week are set
aside for visitors, but no member Of
the Alimony club Is compelled 20 sec
bis wife. Once In a long while, how
ever, n member Of the fair sex enters
tho portals as a guest There was one
woman brought 20 the Office I'm con
tempt proceedings subsequent on n
supplementary inquiry, but the referee
held n hearing on the spot. and the
woman was discharged with consent
or counsel In former days male
guest charged with breach of promise
won freedom by marrying the woman
OF his choice IN the hotel once.-New
York Tribune.
what we obtain too cheap we esteem
too lightly.-Paine.