Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-12-11

AS each received his rations he
mounted the iron stairs to his own
cell with slouch that was decidedly
without ambition and in most cases
| without hope.
Some stared sul1enly, others pre-
| tended not to care, and a few turned
away their heads, feeling keenly their
disgrace.
had an uncomfortable feeling that
/ was going to be stabbed or shot
any moment. To think of being in
the same room with so many
offenders against the law!
Are any of these men dangerous p
l finally asked.
Mr.. McGuinness laughed heartily
at my scared countenance.
FIotsam and Jetsam.
BLESS you, no. he declared.
They're just wrecks of humanity,
some at the end of their lives and
some just at the beginning. Look
at that old man over there Don't
he look like Santa Claus himself?
think If he's here Christmas I'll dress
him up and let him play the part"
The old man was easily seventy,
with hair and beard completely white.
I looked away, not asking what he
had done, feeling that 1 didn't care to
know
Then 1 saw the kitchen, where a
number. of men were shining up the
copper vessels until they glistened,
and peeped in at the store-room,
xyI GRO mara auo,,0I, ca I,ha oxaS Qua
things to supply a, good-sized market.
Every day the prisoners get coffee
and bread in the morning; bread and
thick bean soup, or something just as
substantial at o'clock, and pot roast
and vegetables on Sunday, with the
privilege of buying whatever is served
to the employees.
There's remarkably complete
library up there, to which the prison
ers have free access. 1t consists of
discarded books from the public
library, rather worn, but containing
'just as good reading" to quote Mr..
McGuinness.
The Books They Read.
Which books are called for most?''
wanted to know.
Fiction, history, a few biograph-
ies,'' said the librarian, land scarcely
no religion he added, With a grin.
Want to see the women's wing?"
asked the warden.
1 didn't
Depressing enough it was to see
those men. Mr.. McGuinness told me
the section was conducted very much
like that of, the men; that they were
as comfortable as women prisoners
could be.
This seemed to be demonstrated
when a van drove up with young
negro woman, who blithely entered
the office with Here's All is, back
once mo'V'
"You bad, bad girl" scolded Mrs.
McGuinness, who acts as head ma
tron, why didn't you be good and
stay out?"
Dunno; + guess All amt much
count" declared the offender, cheer
fully "Ah amt goin' ter pay no fine
Coin ter stay a while" she added.
do they ever work on your sympa
thies?" questioned.
A Study In Contrasts.
well, you see, they don't stay long
enough in most cases. said Mrs. Nc
Guinness, land then I've been taken
in so many times. But do my best.
Just then came merry peal of
laughter, and little Margaret Nc
Guinness danced in, golden curls a.
bobbing, and climbed all over Mrs.
Leonard, regardless of protests and
remarks about books to work on.
I'm free years DID," she am
nounced, AN want a big doll and
a big carriage, an a little doll an
little carriage, an"
'Gracious," interrupted her moth
er. "you don't want all of Santa
Claus's things, do you? And you're
years old now"
Free" insisted Margaret, shaking
her curls in emphasis.
She's been for such long time,
said Mrs. McGuinness, that she re-
fuses to believe me when I say she's
four
Such a contrast Little Margaret
with her joyous outlook on one side,
and on the other-but cent you see?
Z Right where you're standing"
suddenly announced the warden, sis
where the gallows used to be-
I Jumped He told me the last man
te be hanged was Frank Banisick.
That was on February Z, 1907.
Smiles and Tears MingIe.
BE sure TO come to the Christmas
entertainment, he and his wife in
sisted. SHERIFF Monahan gives US
permission to have the entertain
ment. and we'd like YOU to see II.
In fact. it's owing to Sheriff Monahan |
that we have whole lot of fine con
ditions that now exist up here. Do !
YOU notice how clean and fine it is. |
WITH 70 institution smell?"
I shifted and noticed. or rather
didn't notice, and prepared to go.
AS to returning on Christmas Day
1 don't know. There will be feasting |
aud music and all Gle outward signs
of revelry, even 10 holly and gay |
red Christmas bells.
Button one side a piano. ON the
other tiers of cells. And ON the faces
OF the. prisoners smiles-and in their
would dare to guess?
Lights and sayety ard at the end
of The day darkness and prison bars
and thoughts.
surely des1ite all ai,ls, the Christ