The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-10-01
HAPPY, YET IN JAIL,
Sculptor Tells Advantages Of Be.
ing InCarcerated.
A GOOD PLACE TO STUDY.

Roland n. Perry, Who Refuses to Pay
Alimony, Has at Last Found Time In
New York Jail to Read Great Al.
thors-Sure No Burglar Can Break
In and Disturb His Slumber.
The advantages OF being in jail, while
not likely to impress the average free
citizen nor even the majority of those
whose view Is based on personal ex-
perience, are many. At least such Is
the conclusion OF Roland Hinton Per-
ry, sculptor, who has served four
months of his six months term In the
Ludlow street Jail, in New York city,
for contempt of court in refusing to
pay alimony to his first wife.
Leaving the blistering heat of the
lower east side, Il reporter found one
of the aforesaid advantages when
Keeper Murphy led him into the aim.
cool reception room of the jail Perry
came down from the cell floor attired
In slippers, light trousers and n thin,
soft collared shirt open at the throat
This is one of the primary advan.
tages of being in Jail" said Perry. 81
wear what | please and have no both.
ersome changes into evening dress to
make. | haven't had a stiff collar on
since | came here, not to mention pat.
ent leather shoes, silk hats or frock
coats"
Good Place For Study.
what are some of the other advan.
tages" was asked.
"In the first place." the sculptor re-
piled. there is no life more conducive
to deep thinking and study. l came
here on April |. In four months | have
accomplished what | have been trying
to find time to do all my life. | have
read practically every one of Balzac's
novels. | have also brushed up on the
EIizabethan dramatists and read many
lighter books and magazines.
''ln no other place except another
jai! could find time for this reading.
Really" smiling through his care
fully trimmed vandyke beard, IL
should advise every young man who
wishes to go through a course of home
study and finds it impossible under his
present circumstances to get in con.
tempt of court and be sent to this Jail
for six months or year
Life There Safe and Sane.
at is not at all bad place. While
somewhat mOnotonous. the life here is
decidedly Of the safe and sane variety
] go to bed at 10. ! arise at & and have
my fruit, bread and coffee. | return to
my cell, which is really n room with
two windows and comfortable bed,
where | stay until 10 O'Clock. Then we
are permitted to roam about until din.
nec time. There is the yard to exer.
else in and fairly congenial prisoners
to chat with or play cards with. Some
of us play handball. Sensible hours,
good plain food, plenty of light, air and
eXercise-such life should put any
one in good physical trim"
Wives Need Have No Fears.
Perry looked the part. His eyes
were clear and his skin gIowed.
There are several other advan-
tages." he continued. Ones wife can
go to the country confident that her
husband will not be up TO any mischief
/ Imagine there are many wives out
of town who would rest easier were
their husbands in my position.
Then, too, one goes TO bed here with
such sense of security. There are no
burglars to break in. though there may
be a few who would like to break out.
There are no frantic telephone calls in
the middle of the night, no bill col
lectors in the morning.
"Of course | shall be glad when
Sept, 80 comes and | am free.
81 have commissions to execute. and
there are more in sight. My imprison-
ment has not hurt me professionally,
l believe. am assured by friends
that | have done the sensible and prop
err thing. | could not pay all the money
my first wife demanded, and | had the
choice of leaving New York state or
going to Jail. My professional future
would be jeoparded by banishing my
self permanently from New York, so
took this way out of the difficulty"
In jail Perry has received frequent
visits from his second wife and artist
friends. Miss Irma Perry. the first
wife, is in East Aurora, n. Y, at the
Roycroft colony. -New York World.