The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-26
PLENTY OFTURKEY
FOR EVERY M AN
Never Before in History of Amer
lean Penal Institutions Have
Inmates Enjoyed Such
Spread as That Served by
Warden Meyer in
Atlanta.


was a genuine air OF Christmas cheer
about the dinner served to-day to the
9lS prisoners al the Federal peniten-
tiary here. Plenty Of roast turkey
with cranberry sauce. was set before
Warden Meyers "boarders' in the
prison mess hall. 10 the sccompani
fnont OF Christmas melodies ana rag
time songs.
Never before in the history OF Amer
ican penal institutions have the in
mates Of one enjoyed such a spread
The warden explained 10 his charges
when they sat down 10 dinner that he
believed that every human being was
entitled To be happy at least one day
o. of 365 He wished the prisoners
"fnany merry Christmases and many
happy New Years" and he touched \
responsive chord when he expressed
the hope that they would spend them
outside"
Ninety-eight fat turkeys. Weighing
] .O6o pounds. 500 pounds Of dressing.
$50 pounds Of mashed potatoes and fifty
gallons Of gravy were provided for
the feast. and no one was denied when
ne asked for a second helping.
When each prisoner took his place
a; the tables he found before him a
plate piled high with turkey and
dressing and potatoes. First there
was a prayer By the chaplain and then
2 brief speech by the warden. while
the prisoners sat silent with bowed
heads \ iashlight explosion brought
them out OF their reverie with i srari
an instant before the big gong changed
out its welcome invitation to the men
ito 20 to il" Frightful damage was
inflicted upon those ninety eisat juicy
--.- a
IL was Just q question how much OF
the hour and a half allotted for the
meal would be used up before every
plate was clean.
Music by Orchestra.
the while the prison erehestra
was busy dispensing cheering music
and now and then the diners would
stop eating long enough 10 applaud for
an encore \ quartet OF mgr pr.s-
oners had to respond repeatedly 10
calls for more "ragtime." the popular
ity of which class OF music was proven
bv the demonstration after Prisoner
John sullivan sang ID pnohoe Il
was also shown that the turkey trot
rage had penetrated the prison walls
for shoulders began moving all over the
hal when the orchestra struck w
..Waftin' for the Robert +. Lee.
LADY Bountiful' appeared 10 tn'
prisoners during the dinner. III th'
person % Mrs Emma Neal Douelds
OF Atlanta. through whose generosity
there Was placed al each mans plate
a half-pound of assorted candy
Led by Warden Meyer. the prisoner
rose in their place and gave three
rossing cheers for Mrs Douglas, wht
occupied seat among the guests a.
one end Of the hall When the Pris
oners marched back TO their cells they
Yer. permitted TO take with them the
candy. together with apples ans
oranges which limited capacity pre-
vented them from eating at the taoie
The mess hall was beautiiuiS "eC
GRATED with holly and evergreens-
Eight together, the men sat al squaI'
pine tables. and occupied coTnl"Ttao''
chairs instead of the hard henche:
common 10 prisoners Negroes a"0
whites were segregated.
Iozan 2 Martin. the prison poet
who = Known as register No. 1881. a
tho neni;entiary. dedicated the follow
inc lines TO the occasion:
Let's sing A song this Christmas Day
song of gladress and Of cheer
so,g that drives all frOwns awaN
And brings a smile to all who hear
..Tet.s do some little deed that VIII
Rrinc- happiness 10 some sad heart
Al thus th. Law OF Love fulnn
T., acting now the Christians part
. ~Ict's let the star OF Bethlehem snine
Svttnin these concrete walls tonight
oar voices will seem divine
With jcv and hope. and Christina
light