The evening world., 1911-10-16
Women Prisoners Treated
Better Here Than in
London's Aimshouses
and Many of It's Hos
pitfalls, Says Suffrage
Leader.
Atmosphere Is Different
lin Londcn II Is Com
bined Despair and Ter
ror; Here II Is Almost
Cheerful and Content.

BY Marguerite Mooers Marshall.
THE women prisoners Of View
York have greater liberty And more
humane treatment than h In
mates Of London's aimshousss or
wen Of many Of It's hospitals. A.
for h women prisoners Of the
two cities . comparison 10 hardly
possible. for the New York institu-
lions are 20 far ahead. The IN
tire atmosphere IL different; In
London II 10 . combined despair
and terror; here II seems almost .
cheerful content"
Mrs. Emmel.ne Pankhurst rays these
things. and II any one In the world has
the right Il Is the great English sufrrnse
leader. A. everybody knows. In defense
Of her principles she spent tvs separate
terms Of several weeks each In the Lon
don's woman's prison. Holloway JAN.
Yesterday I took her 10 visit the two
women's prisons on Biackweil's Island.
As we walked up the path from the
ferry landing Mrs. P%ankhurst's saze
travelled over tho wide green lawns
boNttu tTc ailu " tno IiOi III
stripes. Near the roadway one OF these
was standing quite alone. Would you
mind telling me who that Isl" Mrs.
Pankhurst asked.
"one OF the prisoners" I toLf her.
NOTHING IN ENGLAND LIKE
sLAckWELL's.
Then there ut the very start Is some
ching absolutely different from the
English tradition" she declared. mo
prisoner would ever be allowed out In
the open like that. unless q guard was
within three feet of him. But more than
that. there there no such wonderful ex-
panse OF turf. no such view. In the Eng
lish prisons. There Is grass only In the
prison hospital court for exercise, but
almost no flowers. and the place 10 COM
pletely surrounded by very high. thick
walls"
We had reached the %workhouse now.
and az we passed through the wide-open
wooden door Mrs. Pankhurst commented
| again upon the impression Of light and
space. The door to my prison was
thick. heavy iron n closely bolted all
the time she said.
We went through the room where the
prisoners receive their friends. "In the
English prisons" she commented. there
are thick gratings between you and your
visitor instead OF this big open place
with it, comfortable chairs. For that
matter. you cannot have q visitor until
you have been In prison q month. and
then only fifteen minutes Of conversa-
| ton In allowed"
A motherly looking matron stepped
forward TO meet US In the cell room. Il
know what English prisons are. ma'am."
she asserted when I had introduced the
guest Of honor. FOR I've worked IN EN-.
You'll IND II different here"
Through the large open windows
sunlight and fresh air were stream
Ing into the cells. 'The windows In
Holloway are Just about one-third the
size Of these said Mrs. Pankhurst.
and II 10 impossible to opal them
There Il never . breath Of fresh air.
Then here the prisoners are up and GU
after 6 In the morning. ] had TO spend
nearly twenty-four hours In the room
In which ] slept. ! had TO eat my three
meals In II. The atmosphere wa awful
BED 10 SIMPLY A PLANK HUNG
FROM WALL.
THE bed OF my cell was simply q
plank hung from the wall on hinges
and In the daytime shut up against th'
wall Here you have springs. tn
blankets and other bedding In Hollowa,
are rolled up tightly and stood In TIT
corner as soon as the prisoner arises
Instead OF being folded and left on TIT
beds ms they are here. There was abso
lutely no chance for me to air m!
bedding"
"Our blankets are all spread on, OF
the grass once Il week." volunteers
the matron.
II see there is lighting by electricit
in all these cells" continued Mrs
p%ankhurst. I'm many OF the cells l
, Holloway there Is just a tiny jet o
gas behind a glass 30 thick thai onl
the feeblest illumination results
We went INTO the bathroom and wer
= Informed that while the regulations dc
manded one bath per person per weel
3 any number were permitted Also
/ lean towel can be secured at m tint
. and clean clothing.
we were not allowed to take MOI
T han one bath a week." sad Mrs, PAM
4 hurst, "anl one towel was sINen
then which had TO last for the bat
and for the week following. ] couldn
even get as much water as | wantt
l. for washing my face and hands dali,
"As for clothes. these blue prii
y dresses look well enough to wear In III
street. They are similar TO the CLOTH
y worn by housemaids In well-to-c
families at home. My dress In prise
was a heavy unllned serge. 1t cou
not be changed or washed, Natural
coming next to the skin and being VOL
" for months at u stretch. II became Vel
unpleasant"
y We passed into the various worI
Is rooms. the laundries and the sewinI
d room.