The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-07-30
FACTS PLAINLY PUT
By 7I76, in Our Vier Point

DO you remember the old circus days,
when you first saw the Bearded Lady, the
Albino Family, the three-legged calf, or
the wild man from Borneol Before you
entered the tent containing the attraction
you had formed an impression of what you
would see, based, possibly upon what you
had read on the glazing posters, or had been
told by the bally-hoo man. If what you
actually saw agreed with the impression fix
ed on your mind, as to what you would
see you were satisfied; if it failed to- meet
the requirements you condemned the show.
Recently on a visitors day, | overheard
lady of apparent education, remark to her
guide as she was leaving; ''They look just
like everybody else The remark and the
tone of Disappointment in which it was made
carried me back to side-show days when the
freaks had failed to please. This lady con-
demned us because we failed to line up to
her preconceptions. She had formed an
impression of what she would see, from
what she had read about us in the press and
what had been told to her by others, and
was correspondingly disappointed.
There is at present no class of men more
miSrepresented or less understood, than are
the inmates of an institution of this kind.
Newspapers, which exist by catering to the
morbid curiosity of sensation lovers, paint
crime and criminals with less accuracy than
could cubist master. With them all con-
victed of crime are low browed, desperate
stage villains; unfit to associate with the
fair heroine of the play. Either because of
ignorance or because it is to their advantage
to have the public believe such to be the
case there are Others who say that this is so.
Those who know the truth about the econ
vict" have never spoken, and his side has
not been heard.
They're all Alike
The inmate is as you and your neighbor
are. He differs only in that he mas been
convicted of a crime. Pick six hundred or
base ball game, taking them as they come.
are treated, you would not, were we inter-
mingled, be able to segregate one ella IS
from the other. From the number that
you select, lock up by pairs the merchant
and the bartender; the editor and the cab
driver; the christian worker and the actor;
the doctor and the laborer; the lawyer and
and the young. Wade through the list of
OCCUPATIONS lOllOWCQ ny tDcu duQ you
would have class with which the writer
each day associates. Would you look upon
those you picked as curiosities? Certainly
not. Then why do you Judge us as such?
For as they would be so are we.
Hold on there reader says, ''you
have been convicted of a crime. There is
that difference. True, that difference
would exist; but is it sufficient to make us
race apart? Does it rob us of our senses
or brain, kill our hopes, still our emotions,
deprive us of the love of our baby's arms
around our necks, or take away from us our
appreciation of the good and beautiful to
such an extent that we become beings apart
from the rest of the human race? If it does,
for the sake of that race there should be
fewer impriSonments and more executions.
Have You Ever Sinned?
You now say that it is not the mere con-
viction which brands us, but that it is be-
cause we are law breakers, and that law
breakers should not be allowed to run at
large. Kind friend, pause moment and
ask yourself this question: "Have you ever
committed crime for which you could be
convicted?' Do not answer aloud. You
and your conscience alone should possess
this knowledge. You insist upon answer
ing and reply, "No! have never commit
ted a crime l say am sure that you
have and shall put it up to you to prove
it to yourself.
Borrow from your friend the lawyer next
Saturday afternoon the 1909 Session laws.
After you have finished your Sunday dinner
read the criminal code through. You will
find that you have broken the law. You do
this and find that you have not. Then Dor
row the Session laws for 1911 and for 1913.
Read these and see if you are still exempt.
If you find that you are, you are a rara
avis and we should advise you to fold your
wings and fly away before the Legislature
meets, for you will certainly not be safe
then. Some one might find that you had
been overlooked, though it is difficult to
imagine such case. "This statement is
not fair one. 1t is grossly exaggerated
you will say. Then you have not read the
law; you have only guessed at it.
When next you think of us, think of us
only as we are, part of you; part which
will soon again mingle with you, perhaps to
become your next door neighbor, or your
associate or your friend. We shall soon
again assume our place at the family table,
coming like the naughty boy from the dark
closet, expecting the very worst. But in
justice to us do not think of us while we
are here as human curosities.