The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-06-02


accomplished means more than 1t
would almost anywhere else, II man.
on going forth into the world from
prison. proves steadfast and makes
good Il sends back message OF hope
to all those still waiting for the good
day OF liberty, A practical message oil
this kind means more to them than all
the theories that can possibly be
brought to bear upon them. II. on the
other hand, those who go forth before
them fail and fall again into crime,
their return to prison will bring to the
waiting prison population shadow of
gloom and hopelessness decpened and
darkened by the thought that they,
too, will in all probability fail when
their chance and turn come to step out
into liberty.
When | Arst learned the needs and
realized the possibilities represented
by the great prison population, ] said
to my boys that did not intend to go
out into the world with theories and
arguments, but that | would refute all
pessimlstic views concerning the pris-
onor and his future confounding their
old adage once a criminal. always
criminal once thief always n
thief" with flesh and blood facts.
told them that their lives in the future
were to be my argument, Their sue
cess, their faithfulness, their integrity
would prove to the world that what |
believed and proclaimed about them
was true. and that | had not bestowed
my confidence In vain.
"kll Is Well, Little Mother"
These hopes have been wonderfully
and widely fulfilled. do not say that
| have always had success, There
have been some disappOintments, and
when these disappointments came they
were always very hcartbreaking We
also have to face the fact that the
ninety-andnine who do well, and settle
down to honest and industrious lives,
pass unreCOrded in the world, but the
one who plungcs back into crime Is
heard of and heralded, so that the few
failures are known very widely by the
public and the many successes go
quietly on their way with no applause
or credit marks In their favor But |
can truly say that my heart has been
cheered. and my faith rewarded so
wonderfully that we can proclaim with
sincerity that 1t has been all well
worth while. All over this country, as
| travel, meet those whom once
knew in prison, now living earnest,
honest lives. | can call up as | write
the faces OF host of those whom |
first remember MS hopeless and hard
and sad, but to-day they are bright and
good, and can meet my eye with n
steadfast look and say joyously in an
swer to my question, IAN is well, lit
tie mother"
Eight Thousand Graduates.
OF course, in one way, this work can
never make a ..reat show or parade be.
fore the world. Over 5000 men have
come to me straight from state prison,
and passed through our two homes,
going out into positions 10 which we
( have sent them. This does not count
| the record OF the other homes, nor
| does II speak OF the thousands who
| have been earnest league. 'cmbers In
| prison and have gone bac', to their
own homes there making good to the
| great Joy and pride of their loved ores
/ But we cannot gather all this multi
/ tudc of earnest, honest, reformed men
| into some vast hall and exhibit them
to the public as the living tangible
| results OF the work. Even II such q
thing were possible. should be the
! last to wish It; We do not seek this
| kind of advertisement. We do not wish
| our boys to become as notorious II
| their efforts to reform as they were ir
| their past criminal lives. The power
! of our work is that we build up man.
self.respect. We help him to forget the
/ past, TO find his place once more as al
ordinary working member OF society
not marked or ticketed in any way a'
coming from prison. Nevertheless, II
their own little corner Of life they are
making their mark. and little by little
they are making easier the path fol
those who come after them.
The very fact that we have beer
dealing with the most desperate. thu
very glven.up men of the crimina
world has made these reformations al
the more marked In the little commu
mites where they have been know
and watched.
Still. there Is TO me in my work NJ
greater Joy than that OF the testimon!
coming to my heart from my boys
own lips, and the evidence which | Cal
read when meet them. which assure
me that those lips are speaking truth
A 12.Years' Success.
was met In New York only las
week by one of my boys" whose life
day of his discharge. With a fac
literally beaming with happiness, h
said, We'll, little mother, next weel
II will be IL years since | came home
~ good, happy years" As congratu
lated him ! realized as no one els
could how much that meant to hin
and how much 1t had meant to other
to whom his life had been an inspira
ton. Living the life of professional