Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

United States. 1t is built in the form OF
six wings, convergfng on center tower
IN such a way that one set of guards
stationed in this tower can view all the
wings from their station. The wings are
in three tiers, with cells on both sides
There Is plenty of light from the inside
and every cell has a window looking out
on the court between it and the next
wing.
The day on which the writer went
through the prison was a national holt
day and the prisoners had been granted
a rest from their usual work. Thus. he
had the chance of visiting many of them
in their cells He found the majority of
the cells extremely clean. the condition
evidently depending largely upon the per-
sonal habits of the inmate. Many OF the
cells were decorated with the personal
belongings Of the prisoners and framed
pictures post cards newspaper illustra-
tions, crucifixes hung on the walls, es-
pecially of the political prisoners cells.
Under the monarchy the prisoners were
subjected to solitary confinement, and
when they mingled, as at lessons. they
wore hoods and masks Under the re-
public. although the men sleep in separate
cells. they work in common. The writer
went through the hall where clothes
of all descriptions are made. The chief
tailor Is not a prisoner. but a skilled
workman who comes in each day to d.
rect the work. The workroom was a
good-sized room with plenty of air and
sunshine and vastly superior to some of
the workrooms in the big wholesale
tailoring establishments in New York
and Chicago. In the basement of one of
the wings is the common workroom of
those who are engaged in furniture MAX
ing and woodwork of all kinds. Some of
the political prisoners prefer to work in
their own rooms, and several of this
kind were visited. One in particular was
highly delighted to show his work
Teachers are brought in every day to
instruct the prisoners in the trades they
choose. and this particular political pris-
oner had had seven lessons in wood carv-
ing He showed the first piece of work
he had done and then, with huge pride.
the carving he was then at work on.
a comparison of the two showed an
amazing progress.
Under the present system the work of
the prisoners is sold and the workman
becomes entitled to one-third of the
amount obtained for his production. This
amount. however. is not given to him
Immediately, but credited to his account
and the total turned over to him without
deductions Of any kind when he leaves
the prison. This provides an incentive.
not only to hard work. but to good work
as well.
*
DIR. Caideiro QueiroZ. the governor of
the penitentiary, accompanied the writer
over the prison and pointed out several
changes he had made since he took the
institution over from the monarchy. He
showed the old water pumping installa-
ton, by which the prisoners. with much
labor, were formerly compelled to raise
the water supply to the second and third
tier Of cells. Then he showed the engine
room and the modern steam pumping ma
chine which he had installed and which
relieved the prisoners OF one or their
worst-hated tasks He showed the room
in which, behind an intricate barrier or
steel bars. wirework' and glass. the pris-
oners formerly held conversations with
not only simpiified the barrier, but had
improved 1t so that the voices could be
much more easily heard.
Finally they arrived in the classrooms,