The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-07-27
Marquis Barr-Man Maker
By o. N Frankfort Editor OF Reformatory Press Anamosa

Some politicians become wardens;
some politicians make wardens; some
have a wardenship thrust upon them
it needs but little thrusting-and
once in an age warden is born. Like
the born poet. the born warden is
rarity. OF right kind of warden
would here tell you some things, facts
gathered by one of almost six hun
dred in the care of this warden, Mar
quis Barr.
| For obvious reasons those imme-
diately connected with a penal insti-
tuition seldom when writing about
conditions existing therein declare
the whole truth. said obvious be-
cause an official will not write about
affairs which might reflect on him.
self or his superior. The prisoner
may not write what he would because
he is not permitted to write about
affairs which concern the institution
in which he is doing time" After
the prisoner leaves his place of sub
mersion he Is too hard pressed by the
exigencies of living, and too anxious
to forget his years of confinement to
make reference thereto. What here
follows is written not ina spfrit-ef
sentimentality, nor to curry favor,
but to let the country know of the
man, Marquis Barr, of his institution,
the Reformatory at Anamosa, Iowa,
and of his work, making men out Of
| 10 wi
walls for the reclamation of the err
ring Is done in spirit of truth and
fairness.
Marquis Barr seems really to have
been born warden. He is so pecu.
liarly fitted to be one. Good cheer, a
pleasant smile, an encouraging word
are perennial with him. The crouch
and he could no more live together
than could Marathon runner
thrive on cigarettes. Within our
walls-and prisons are the proverbial
homes of the grouch-inmates carry
that stay-on smile. 1t is catching here
all catch it from Marquis Barr,
''the man." as one remarked, whom
Il thank God He made-then He rest
ed for a year, proud of his perfect
work"
Our country owes it's greatness to
the farmer. All honor to him, though
he be caricatured in gray buster
and with carpet bag. From the farm
have come very many of our greatest
most useful, honorable and distin-
guished citizens. Marquis Barr is a
farm product. This may be the secret
of his humor, for his natural state
Hoosier-is famed for it. At heart
he is now all for the state which has
given us an Allison, a Dolliver and a
Cummins, the state which mothered
insurgency, which is proud of its
bumper crops and good roads and
which calls the standpattest stand
patter that ever standpatted - LATE,
the "Immutable"-her son. In 1874
Indiana could hardly have laid claim
to the fame which AIDE, Whitcomb
Riley, Harrington, Kin Hubbard and
others-not forgetting French Lick
Tom and the illustrious Cherry"
Fairbanks-have brought her in the
Iowa a useful product in the person
of Marquis Barr, and to this fact In
diana may lay claim with pride. To.
day Marquis Barr Is the youngest
Isixty.seven-year-old man | ever knew.
He is the Rainbow Creator of our
walled-in city. He is straight-built,
broad-shouldered, well-featured, square
jawed, blue-eyed American, remark
ably agile and alert. His eyes to me
have always been well of kindness;
from them pours his whole healtfelt
interest for him who comes with a
tale of woe. He Is one of the few
men | know who look well behind
spectacles; he does not wear them
because he does not want to look you
straight in the eyes, they, in fact
help him the better to do that. He
is a man who can look every other
man in the face and tell him, 81 am
your friend!"
Here is warden who honestly
and fearlessly brings men to find
themselves by the method used as
we'll as preached by the very first
warden of mankind-the Savior
love and kindness. | am not exag'
gerating when say that love for his
fellowmen is Marquis Bars noblest
quality-and he is overlooking with
good ones. His every word, his every
thought, his every deed breathes this
love, particularly for the under dog.
Twenty-Five years ago he was first
called to care for the men housed in
Anamosa - then one of the peniten
tiaries of Iowa, serving three terms
In 1906 he was again appointed the
guardian of the erring at Anamosa,
For eight years he was sheriff of Ma
haska county. the county which says
MARC is the best sheriff we ever had
In eight years he never handcuffed a
k4 he f;nK~