The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-02-19
By =" The Sparroao.''


When DER the fair fame of friend or foe
The shadow of disgrace shall fall; instead
Of words of blame, or proof of this and SO,
Let something good be said.
Forget not that no fellow being yet
May fall so low but love may lift his head;
Even the cheek of shame with tears is wet
If something good is said.
mo generous heart may vainly turn aside,
In ways of sympathy no soul so dead
But may awaken strong and glOrlfed,
If something good be said.
And SO charge We, by the thorny crown,
And by the cross on which the Saw our bled,
And by your own souls fair renown
Let something good be said.
Human nature is the same the world
over. and it is a known fact that
kindness will do more to help per-
son to forget the past than harshness,
and always to be reminded of the
wrong he had done.
Because a man has fallen from
grace is no sign that he is rotten to
the core. And with a little encour-
agement from society there are few
men in prison today that would not
take heed of themselves, and become
good, honest, respectable citizens
again.
Does society extend a welcome
hand to the man that has been re-
leased from prison to show him that
his has been forgiven. and that she
is willing to give him the chance to
redeem himself in the eyes of the
world? Or on the other hand does
society point at him with an accu-
sing finger and say, He is an ex-
convict. and needs watching?'
/ am on the inside and have a
chance to study my fellow prisoners
at close range, and find by close OBJ
servation that not half of them are
bad, at heart. l do not believe that
there is man confined behind prison
bars who expects to be receivedwith
open arms. and given a position as
cashier of bank upon leaving pris-
on, but they do expect to be treated
as human beings, and given chance
without prejudice TO their willing
ness to abide by the law of the land.
For a man on leaving prison
knows that if he is TO succeed he
will have to make good, he knows
that the road he will have to travel
to gain the old standing he had pre-
vious to his downfall, is going to be
a hard one; and all he needs is to
be shown is thatsociety appreciates
his endeavors to make him do his
best.
How many people have thought
of the reason for man committing
a crime? Why do men go astray? |
attribute most men downfall to two
things viz drink, and the gam
bling house.
There are few men that have COM
mitted crime who are not sorry for
their actions even before the crime
is found out, and would make resti-
tuition, but for fear of the law.
There has been lot printed about
men in prison, and what is being
done towards their reformation.
How much brotherly love is extend
ed to nan released from prison,
and how far does it go? Does it 60
far enough to be the means of max
ing the man feel at home in the town
he was sent from?
Most men look for amusement, or
a place to while away the evenings,
young or old man for that matter.
that is barred from respectable soci
ty, will look for companions among
those that are not so respectable.
and man leaving prison is no ex-
ception to the rule.
Brotherly love! What does it
mean? Does it mean what it I'M
plies? or does does it mean a couple
of words that are the means of con-
veying to others the impression that
you are very broad minded and
generous person?
Show that you mean to extend
that brotherly love by giving one of
your fallen brothers chance. to get
up. Give him some help in the way
that is most helpful; and you will
find that there will be fewer men
return to prison.