The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-09-29
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

delphia, which was built at the IN
stance of men who conceived the idea
that solitary confinement was
humane manner of Furnishing
criminals and in the establishment
of this system that they were work
ing along benevolent lines.
England's great author conceives
in his own mind the tortures of this
punishment. His conclusions we be-
lieve will meet with approval that no
form of punishment is its equal be-
cause no torture of the body can
equal the torture of the mind. AS
prison discipline is now subject
matter of discussion in this state we
invite a careful reading of what
Charles Dickens says on the subject:
I'm the outskirts stands q great
prison, called the eastern peniten-
tiary; conducted on plan peculiar to
the state of Pennsylvania. The system
here, is rigid, strict, and hopeless
solitary confinement. | believe it, in
it's effects, to be cruel and wrong.
I'm it's intention, I am we'll con-
WINGED that it is kind, humane, and
meant for reformation; but | am per-
suaded that those who devised this
system of prison discipline, and those
benevolent gentlemen who carry it
i hot &c
that they are doing. / believe that
very few men are capable of estimat-
ing the immense amount of torture
and agony which this dreadful punis-
ment, prolonged for years, inficts
upon the sufferers; and in guessing
at it myself, and in reasoning from
what | have seen written upon their
faces, and what to my certain know
ledge they feel within, am only the
more convinced that there is no depth
of terrible endurance in it which
none but the Sfferers themselves can
fathom, and which no man has a
right to inflict upon his fellow-creat-
ure. hold this slow and daily lamp
ering with the mysteries of the
brain, to be UNNECESSARILY worse than
any torture of the body; and because
its gastly signs and tokens are not so
palpable to the eye and sense Of
touch as scars upon the flesh; be-
cause its wounds are not upon the
surface, and it EFFORTS few cries that
human ears can hear; therefore l the
more denounce it, as a secret punish
ment which slumbering humanity is
not reused up to stay. | hesitated
once, debating with myself, whether,
if I had the power of saying Yes
or NO." would allow it to be tried
in certain cases, where the terms Of
Imprisonment were short; but now, I
solemenly declare, that with no re-
wards or honors could l walk a happy
man beneath the open sky by day, or
lie me down upon my bed at night,
with the consciousness that one hui
man creature. for any length CT time,
no matter what. lay suffering this
unknown punishment in his silent
cell, and | the cause, or l consenting
to it in the least degree.
Il was accompanied to this prison
by two gentlemen officially connected
with its management, and passed the
day in going from cell to cell, and
talking with the inmates. Every fa
cility was afforded me, that the ut
most courtesy could suggest. Moth
ing was concealed or hidden from
my view, and every piece of infor
nation that l sought. was openly anC
frankly given. The perfect order O
the building cannot be praised to-
highly. and of the excellent motive.
of all who are Immediately concerned
in the administration of the system
there can be no kind of question
Between the body OF this prison ant
the outer wall, there is a spacious
garden Entering it, by a wicket il
the massive gate. we pursued tn,
path before us to its other termina
ton, and passed into large chamber
from which seven long passages rad
late. On either side of each, is
long, row of low cell doors, with
certain number over every one
Above. a gallery of cells like those be
low, except that they have no marrow
yard attached (as those in the groun,
tier have), and are somewhat SINAI
Ter. The possession of two of these
is supposed to compensate for TIL
absence of so much air and exercis,
as can be had in the dull strip at
tached to each of the other, in al
hours time every day and therefor,
every prisoner in this upper story ha,
two cells. adjoining, and communicat
ing with, each other.
Standing at the central point, AM
looking down these dreary passages
the dull repose and quiet that nre