The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-21

MS. a Wluc nan, big rooms Win nlsl
! ceilings. white woodwork and cool. airy
spaces. You may find a dozen others
ike It in the neighborhood of Gramercy
park
But this house is set apart. To it comes
every daY of the year an irregular pre-
cession OF the most unusual persons you
would imagine Sometimes they come Il
half dozen, a dozen or more together,
sometimes a whole day goes by and only
one or two visitors hasten along the street
until they identify No. 1876 and then cross
over and go hurriedly up the steps to ring
the bell. They are all of kind. They
may differ in dress, gait and appearance,
may approach nervously or with elaborate
ease, may seem fearful of observing eyes
or walk up boldly--the secret every vis-
itor carries with him is the same He
is an ex-convict. Either he has been just
released from state prison or he has
been free but a few months.
Prison Association Headquarters
Trust O. Henry to have found that out.
despite the building spectacle across the
way. And maybe he would have gone
into No 1875 himself to listen to some OF
the stories of the men who come there
fresh from the prison ordeal.
The charming old rooms into which you
are ushered are the headquarters of the
Prison Association of New York, one of
the biggest organizations of its kind in
the world, one of the richest and most
powerful. 1t is surprising how few per-
sons knew shat such 81 society exists and
even then the name doesn't convey more
than a hint of its far-reaching activities.
The prison association was founded way
back in the '40s and has been busy ever
since. It's objects are nine and put in
formally they are as follows: 1t aims to
protect society against crime and to re-
form the criminal, to protect those un-
4rrf1r l. 81 #
| tenders and see that they behave, TO bet
ter prison condition and discipline; TO
get work for the released prisoner and ii
| necessary supply him with food, tools
and shelter; to look after convicts' Jam
lilies; to keep watch of men ON probation
or freed from prison on parole and to
secure laws that will help US deal bet
ter with wrongdoers
That's a pretty big contract That the
prison association undertakes. But it's
growth and increase in power and wealth
show that 1t achieves its purpose year
by year. So effective are its methods
that it is looked to with confidence by the
men just out of jail, the very men least
likely to trust anyone i'm the world.
How Ex-Convicts Are Aided
Come indoors and see how the assoeia-
ton does its greatest work.
The door bell rings and pleasant faced
young woman let's in big, broad shoul-
dered fellow, who takes off his cap and
twists it round and round in his fingers.
The young woman brings him into the
cool, shaded front room, gives him Il seat,
fishes in drawer for a blank card and
settles to asking him questions in so mat
ter of fact a fashion that he is restored
to a degree of ease
He's just out of Great Meadow prison,
yes, ma am; came down on the 1:45 train.
Been there two years, grand larceny. He $
got tile promise of a job the prison asso-
citation knows about it; it's with So &
So. the trucking firm.
The young woman deserts her card and
questions for a moment while she looks
through file
Here it is,'' she comments after a
short search. $50 & So have u job wait
ing for you. Just 60 round there to-
morrow morning and they'll put you to
work. They're pretty good people; they
take a lot of men who come to us and
they know all about you, so you'll be on
the level from the start. Now. where are
YOU going to spend tonisht?'
| i've a brother up in Harlem
All right. What's his address?''
It is recorded and also the fact that
tho visitor is going to live with his brother
for the present.
Nov, If anything slips up let us know
right away" advises the young woman.
IF you lose the job or anything like
that come to US. And be sure to report
here in a month and let ms know that you
are getting along ali right, anyway
He looks good deal relieved and,
fidgeting with his cap. starts to thank her
when o. F. Lewis. general secretary of
Tho ussociatfou, happens TO pass through
! the room on his way to his office in back.
Mr. Lewis notes the bronzed complexion
of the stranger and guesses he may be
irom New York states splendid farm
prison, where the men work out of doors
all day.
"Hows Warden Homer?e asks Mr.
Lewis. An expression of real concern
shows itself ON the ex-convict's face.
We're afraid he's pretty bad" says
the Great Meadow man. when ! left
they didn't know about him. Right after
he got home from Gettysburg he had a
stroke or something. All the boys are
feeling bad about it.
Guess they all like him. don't they?"
observes Mr.. Lewis. with the picture of
the big bodied. kind hearted warden in
his minds eye.
"Oh. surew comes the reply They're
wishing they could do something for him.
But they can't do nothing--except behave
while he's laid up and not cause him any
trouble"
There's a moment or two further tall,
gccd by without having been able to
thank the young woman and Mr.. Lewis
for that iob-its hard to find the words
sometimes.
The next arrival is a pale faced fellow
who looks as il he had undergone hard
ships of pretty severe kind. He's from
Sing Sing. Not very old either-just 20.
',one night l was drunk he says in a
low voice, '.and a bunch of fellows kept
1ollying me because they said l didn't
have any money. I was pretty far gone
and | says TIL draw a check if you don't
believe me- They kidded me some more
and / wrote check for Sl2. The bar
tender cashed il. 1t was no good.
THE judge let me so ON a suspended
SENTENCE was only Il then. / lost my
job and couldn't get another. So / Went
over TO Pennsylvania. There l hired a
room and tried to get work. | couldn't
do ii.
well, didn't have a cent to pay my
board bill and they locked me up. They
heard about it back here in New York
and came over for me-
His face is all drawn up.
They sent me up for five years.
Not Friend in the World
You've been on good behavior and are
paroled to us now"
"Yes. b1lt I hnuan'f ynf a friend n, +l,o