The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-09-04
up TO YOU
TO MAKE GOOD
There are Lots Of People on the Outside
Who Take an Interest in and Try to
Help Those Who Have Been in Prison.
Put a Little Back Bone Where the
Wishhone is, and be a Man.

WlSnpOne Is, dnu Ut d Mall.
| We all agree that the making or
marring of our lives lies in our own
hands. And if we deteriorate we
have no one to blame but ourselves,
for we are enjoying now what is
recognized as an advanced stage of
civilization, but we have yet room
for many improvements, and were |
called upon to say what, in my
judgment, | consider the most bene-
fetal improvement, | would say a
change in the way we have been
living; in our thoughts, manners
and actions.
If we analyze our emotions, and
honestly and frankly admit the re-
suit, we will realize that we very OF
ten follow the dictates of selfish
ness, passion and envy; putting
common sense to the background.
The duty each one of owes to
society is very binding, and
we do owe society duty, al
though society is one of the factors
of our being in prison. But the in
ability which many OF us display to
discriminate between duty and sell
fishness is indeed appalling. I find
that most of us cater to such
thoughts that only tend to weaken
us morally. And now is the time
to change that kind of thinking and
living, and to make a new start in
life; to recall the forgotten duty we
owe to those that think we are not
entirely lost to their sympathy and
are trying to lead us from the er-
rors Of the past to better future.
If we lay out for our future lives
as foundation a patch of honesty
and clean living and follow that
path, we will insure ourselves of a
happy and peaceful future. We
are the makers of our own destiny;
and whatever we make our own
lives, so they shall be. No one can
help us, if we do not help ourselves,
to be honest We have to work
out our own salvation, and we are
given the means to work it out, and
it is up to us to show those that are
interested in our future of what
kind of stuff we are made of.
After everything is done and
said. it is a good old world and
there are lots of good people in it
that have the interests of every un-
fortunate man that is in prison at
heart, and are trying to assist us as
best they can. 1t is about time we
were getting our eyes opened to the
fact that by our own efforts we can
help to make better start in life
after we pass out from these prison
| walls.
Bury the past and forget it; for it
will not help us any to always think
about it. Because we have made a
mistake in life and have fallen from
grace is no reason why we should
not try to regain our lost character
and manhood. We have got to
show those on the outside that it is
In us to make good before we will
ever regain the respect that we once
held. To do so will take lots Of
grit and ckbone, for the old enc
my, TEMPTATION, will always
be in the path of one leaving pris-
on life, in the form of a few SCOT
fers, but with the help of God and
strong will we can be men, and a
victory won will make us stronger
to fight the next battle
/ find the greatest enemy we have
in here to battle with is selfshness.
and we should do alfln our power
to overcome it, for selfshness very
often leads us to do whasan unselfish
person would not think of doing.
Brace up and take a new grip on
life, and if it was from the sur
roundings or companions that was
the cause of our downfall, after we
get out, change them to better and
i cleaner ones.
J In here is every facility to better