The Washington herald., 1914-07-22
The Prisoner. Child.
By EMoRYlJ. HAYNES.

The little fellow does not know Just what has hap
pened. He never saw a prison or a court. He only
knows. in general way that something shameful has
overaken the family What father did brought it all
on them. Perhaps this terrible something has not
taken away his food and shelter But it has taken
away the good will of all the other boys in the school
He is pointed out, and the other children whisper
about him as they shun him. He is as boat in fog,
intangible is the aversion He resents it with angry
tears Then he gets facts flung like stones the taunts
Of the truth about his father What sealding tears
he sheds on his mothers knee never be stanched
The prisoners eyes always downcast and so are
the eyes of his children
This is what the prison is for. 1t is an in
Fiction, a, punishment, branding The mere incsr-
|ceration is not so grievous. But the infamy is a
branding iron. The scarlet letter not more dis
gracing Every kin the evil doer received with
him the dishonor. Society will always insist that
those who tempted to steal shall be deferred by
thinking what the family will suffer if one yields to
the crime call No doubt this is of more value to
society than any other constituent of penalty
Yet is it not tragedy the branding of the prisoners
little children? All along the historic ages has not
this vicarious been the unexplanable heart
ache of the world? The innocent suffer with the
guilty. And tender childhood the CALLING chain.
What passion of the cross the prisoners child has
borne What agony of the night have the aged stars
looked down upon when the child could not sleep for
shame What transports of affection have good moth
ers sought bestow, folding the children to their
own breaking hearts seeking to away the in
suits of the street. trying lift the crushed spirits
of the little ones, venturing out of the
very skies the black cloudsl As il mothers hands
could reach the clouds, raise she her arms ever
high.
i Can we not help her? Can we not defend the
children? Can not go out of way to show
respect for the prisoners innocent child? Can we not
help the Prison Association in its ministry to these
children? For than seventy years this now VEN
cradle society has been gathering the prisoners house
holds in its shelterng OF all the worlds char-
ties what is more nearly Christian? Did not the
Saviour found it when, on His cross, He spoke to
ST. John of his mother, Woman behold thy son I!
Son, behold thy mother!" and from that hour that
disciple took her to his own house" The victim of
shameful punishment is not alone that one on whose
body the death is inflicted.
Should the State assume the full support of the
children of the man whom it Furnishes by depriving
him of liberty? If So the temptation to improvidence
and crime would doubtless be increased Must not
individuals, from a purely benevolent motive and
voluntarily. this pitifrl burden? And really
the individuals So acting are the citizens and the
best constituents Of the State. Such, indeed has
been the practice Of civilized communities.
Never was equal study given to the entire problem
OF, punishment. In theology it is evident that the
concept of eternal punishment is like the inter
probation of the 5fathers In the rearing of children
the late ideas seem inclined more and more to pre-
vention, to correction rather than furnishing "Spate
the rod spd spoil the child" is not now quite the
authority that it once
Everywhere the parole gains in popular favor.
While dare be dogmatc about it, yet the
fact is far above all gsnsayng that State after State
adopts the parole with increasing satisfaction This
at least is true that State has found it failure.
The ex-convict is still man. He has the same
rights on the globe with the rest of US. He has
paid the debt. We all know that worse men than he
were never sent 10 prison. And while we do stig-
Matte these unarresed rascals yet we do not burn
in the branding. We say he is a thief as
we can and do say of the ex-convict. "He was in
prison as thief" Suppose say this very softly
say it not at all. Suppose our tongues that move
so easily let up and keep silent. Suppose try to
forget and forgive. That is il the man deserves it
For my part. l do myself so much need forgiveness
that l am not ashamed to plead for it. Forgiveness
the crowning virtue far knows, of the
God over all
Success to all you of the Prison Association who
put out the hand to the prisoner, you who strive
lift up his downcast face and tell him that the sun
is still shining in Heavens blue sky you who put
kind about him as he trembles l have seen
the big fellow quake with the great sobs that heaved
his chest. I have looked upon him as the most
eloquent utterance of this worlds sorrow that ever
stood on the globe
The battle with the old shame and the new
resolve more sublime than any Waterloo The odds
against him greater than any castaway in midocean.
The hunger for love more than any starveng that
begged for bread. Let this old world kindly
for it is itself none too good. And certainly it can
copy the forgiving Heaven with good grace.