The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-05-04

wnite-washed corridor, see the iron.
celled doors ajar. Now let us send
ringing down the bare walls and past
those dreary cells the message of free
dom and hope, for behind them there
are eager listeners, and If we cannot
see their faces we can, at least, reach
their hearts that await the touch OF
love. Nine times we must enter just
such corridors, speaking each time to
an unseen audience, If we would reach
them all this Sunday morning. If we
could look behind those bars, or into
those little cells, we should see on
many prison uniform the little but
ton which is the badge Of the Volun'
teer Prison league, and hanging on the
wall their name emblazoned on GER
tifcate of membership, that proves
that they are bound together In
league of self-help and earnest living,
even though SO wholly separated by
prison barriers.
Once more let me take you through
the heavy iron doors Of a prison. This
time we are in Richmond, Va. Pre-.
pare for surprise. AS the doors clang
behind you, look in front of you and
around YOU Fifteen hundred men are
gathered in the prison-yard and in the
galleries that surround it on all sides.
A vast throng of striped humanity!
Above us is the clear blue sky, and a
CLEAN Of sunlight shines down upon the
upturned faces. 1t is the opening OF
the Volunteer prison work in this
old prison-a prison planned by JEFF.
ferson himself and standing to-day as
it stood in the old days when Aaron
Burr was confined in one of it's cells.
But time presses, we must travel
far and fast on this last journey, and
find ourselves at length in beautiful
Louisiana. The sun shines down warm
ly upon us. Friendly, inquisitive
hooking birds watch us from the
bushes. Grey trailing moss wreathes
the fine live oak trees. We have TAX
en- the road that runs from Baton
Rouge to the river bank. Arrived at
last at our destination, we leave the
carriage and climb to the top of the
| steep levee. What new strange
sight meets our gaze! Is it giant
anthill with battalions of those active
little workers to whom the sluggard
was advised by wise King Solomon
to go for an example? No! this is a
Levee Camp of Louisiana prisoners
working on that important construc'
tional work that keeps the great Mis-
sissippi within bounds. Here are the
mighty earth-works being built, and
from base to summit, long number
less plank walks supported by scat
folding-like structure. Along these
planks move, with the precision and
order of a drilled army corps, sew
eral hundred men dressed in striped
clothing, wheeling full and empty
wheelbarrows 1t is an active scene
but in moment at the word OF com
mand, it is halted and changed
MISCELLANEOUS and other implement:
are abandoned. The men quickly con
gregate, and as they perch themselves
on the trestles and planks, we take
our position below them and look W
at wall of beaming faces. We re
ceive a right royal welcome from tn
league at the Levee Camp, and it ap
! pears that almost every man Is wear
ing the little button of membership
Songs and prayers. and a heart tt
heart talk in the good free air by thu
banks Of the great river that gleam
silver in the sunshine, form pleasing
contrast to the meetings within tn
shadow of prison walls.
Copyright, 1910. by Joseph b. BoWles.'