The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-22
Il look r Forward
By Spectator.

Treadmills and other forms Of
punishment for convicts here have
been superseded by less cruel and
more rational methods, and the adj
vanced thought of experts in pc
noiogical science is for the education
and moral uplifting to higher place
in life of those who have transgress-
ed the laws of Society. While the
attitude OF the world at large, COM
bined with the force of public opin-
ion, have created this wise and bene-
ficient plan, il is the first step on
hard and stony path, along which
the convict must travel before good
citizen is made out of what was
bad one.
The most critical period in con-
vict's life is when he has paid his
debt to Society incurred by his
wrongdoing and is turned out to
the mercy of hard, unforgiving
and unforgetting world. What is
most puzzling to the applicant for
Society s favor is, that his debt is
not considered paid in full. 1t is
something that seemingly cannot be
'quared in spite of long period of
sn.ense suffering and here is where
Society, with a big S, can be more
tolerant and bestow a portion of that
good will brought from Heaven by
our Savior.
Can we look forward, dear brother
and sister, to the fulfillment of this
Christmas wish?
Many kind and noble-hearted in
dividuals of both sexes are interested
in the work of assisting discharged
convicts and to these we pay the
homage of a grateful heart. There
is also numerous class of well-in-
tentioned and humane people who
are content to render service by
proxy or deputy and feel that when
their contribution is paid in coin of
the realm their duty ends. May we
not look forward to the time when
personal service will be substituted
and some particular individual rails
ed from the lowest scale in the social
ladder?
In spite of altruistic teachings and
the extention Of the doctrine of the
Fatherhood of God and the Brother
hood of man, the stagma of disgrace
is forever branded upoL the name
and reputation of the ex-convict.
Now, many who leave these walls
do so with the firm determination
never to do anything wrong again.
They were perhaps formerly honor
ed citizens holding responsible posi-
tons and are incapable of perform
ing any manual labor. This class OF
convicts generally desire to go away
where their previous record is un-
known and begin life anew. All
that they ask is the elimination of
the word PRISON in anything that is
done toward placing them in posi-
ton where they can make their way.
This seems simple service to rend-
er to an unfortunate brother, but as a
matter of fact, it is the hardest prob
lem confronting the educated ex-
convict in his struggle to regain his
place in the social world. Intense
.ly conscientious and over scrupu-
lous minds, or those who are gifted
with vivid imagination, deem it
their duty to whisper word of eau
ton that nullifes all previous efforts,
and this word, so silently spoken,
travels like the wind and ends in
the social ostracism of one who
is struggling upward. May we look
forward to the time when those who
are willing to render us valuable as
sistance at critical time will be
SO generous and thoughtful as to for
get PRISON, and stay the word Of
caution until some action on our part
justifies its use. This is our Christ
mas wish.