The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-09-28
COLORADO CON-
Y|CTS SEE PLAY


teach lesson it had the chance of its
life at the Broadway yesterday after
noon. Fifty-six conviets, sometime in
mates of the Colorado state peniten-
tiary at Canon City, attended its matt
nee performance as the guest of
/" Alias Jimmy Valentine'' company
and saw man similarly situated with
themselves receive a pardon, exchange
his prison stripes for the apparel of
the upright citizen and in two short
hours evolve from the greatest safe
cracker in the country to proud and
honored position in national bank
with deadoodles of money entrusted
to his keeping.
If that wouldn't make a aw-abiding
citizen out of the most confirmed
criminal then the stage might as well
give up the job and go back to "The
Easiest Way and plays like that
which would not recognize a reward
for rectitude after it had been printed
on the program.
The particular Colorado convicts who
were exposed to the uplifting influ-
ences of the play built around re-
formed safe cracker, are the members
Of the road gang which has been at
work near Morrison for several
months The advance agent of the
theatrical company, learning of their
nearness to Denver and of Warden
Tynan's penchant for putting on
honor the men in his charge, decided
il would be a good advertising scheme
to bring them down to see the play.
Special Train Engaged.
1t was a :stunt'' which had never
been done before. Consent of the war
den was secured and yesterday hap
special train was engaged to bring
guards At the depot they were load
ed onto one of the big yellow Seeing
Denver autos and taken to the
Broadway, there to be given seats in
the balcony. The transfer was made
without difficulty the men submitting
quietly to the arrangements and APP
parently enjoying every phase Of their
unique experience. They occupied four
rows on the left and few of the other
occupants of the well-flled balcony
realized that they were in the poximity
of such distinguished company. The
men--white. colored, Mexicans, Ital-
ians and Americans-wore the ordi-
nary garb of the road gang striped
shirts light corduroy trousers or blue
overalls-and except that they were
coatless and rather undressed for
ltheatregoers were scarcely to be
singled out once the house was seated.
| Whatever thoughts may have stirred
the brains of these convicted men as
the play progressed from the interior
| of n prison to the climax of the hero
doing a clever bit of safe cracking,
win never be known except to the
men. each for himself. To all appear
ances the tender stretches of the play
affected them even less than they did
those who had less reason to be af-
| fected.
One or Two Seen to Wipe Their Eyes
One or two of the men were seen. at
| the end of some thrilling scene calcu-
lated to thrill with high motives, to
wipe their eyes unabashed, but on the
whole they sat intent but undem.
onstrative. their faces masked
against any sensations they might
have been feeling. A few appeared tc
enjoy it frankly and with proper awe
"even as YOU and II but whether
they were being inspired to the lofty
impulses which worked the at least
temporary reformation in the hero OF
were merely taking tips on the genteel
art of safe cracking it would defy one
short of the genius of Lombroso te
determine. Behind those fifty and
odd inserutahle faces still brooded un
answered that query which a law
respecting majority has asked through
all the centuries of organized society
''Whv cannot all men learn to con
fern 10 the rules?'
If society received no answer, al
least the men who find life in prison
cclorless enough received what bene
fit they might as the play progressed
through its various stages of crimi
nal record, redeemed by one good act
on to the triumph of the reformed
crook to prosperous and honorable
4 career. only to throw back at the
climax wherein he must sacrifice al
that he has gained through rectitudt
and surrender himself back to the law
agair in order to save the life of lit
tie child and Furthermore, the man
agement stands to receive full bene
fl to accrue from doing q clever piec'
of advertising work. unlike anything
lever undertaken before.--Denver Re
publican.
n