Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-13

lied in every prison and presided over
by a "Starost" or elder. who Ia general
ly elected by them from among those
who have the longest term to serve.
These elders settle disputes. collect
money from other prisoners for the poor
comrades, are friendly with the cook
and play an important part In prison
life. All the gossip Of the day is spread
through the prison at exercise time.
The men go out In gangs and walk
for half an hour in yard surrounded
by a high wall The place Is thiCkly
studded with gendarmes and warders.
who shoot II anybody Is mad enough to
attempt flight over the wall II Is
during the walk that collections are
made; of course the "politicals" con-
tribute mostly 70 these Those who
have no money, but receive presents II
tea, sugar, etc, sent by friends out
side, give their contributions in kind.
The elders divide them up as they
think nj. As a rule, however, the
greatest poverty prevails among the
criminals. who cannot possibly live on
what the government gives them 70
eat The prison cook Is generally
thief-and one whom long terms have
endeared to tho iailors. His Job is
eagerly sought after by the elders"
not only because he can get the best
soup and bread but because he spends
the whole day in tho kitchen instead OF
the cell and is more respected by his
fellow-criminals than the governor him
self He chooses his helps from among
his friends
KILL TIME WITH CARDS.
The criminals spend most of their
time gam bling They have little money
10 lose. but in default thereof. gamble
away their clothes, mugs, platters, por-
lions of bread and presents OF money
or luXurles received from without
When they have gambled away their
clothes they simply walk out into the
exercise yard minus the particular
garment they happened TO lose. The
warders for decenCy sake are oblig-
ed 10 give them clothes from the pris-
on store. thought criminals prefer to
wear their own when they can. As
soon as they win back garment they
don II and render up the government
one. They don't admit, of course, that
they have gambled away their clothes,
but they tell the warder they have
sent them home for the wife 70 sell,
so that she can buy food. The Grim
mails know they lie and the criminals
know the warders know. But such Is
the Russian nature that nobody takes
the trouble to put things right When
the cell gets too rowdy the noisiest
occupant Is dragged out and put into
a smaller cell, where he Is kept for
a couple Of days. sometimes alone, but
more often with rowdy member OF
some other cell. Here. cards are not
allowed, so the time hangs very
heavily on their hands.
CRUEL MARCHES
Sometimes IL l. necessary to move
prisoners from one place to another.
They are taken from their cells,
searched thoroughly before leaving
the building and shown into the prison
cart, which Is a cage on wheels, with
iron bars for seats and iron rings
through which the chains OF those
who wear them are fastened when
the prisoners have long distances 10
go they are sent on foot. as the
cage" H. only for use In towns. but
a cart sometimes IL provided for de-
licate women and invalid men. As
rule, however. the cart Is full of the