The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-09-03
AN INMATES view
OF OUR PRISON
From One Who Has Seen
The World.
An Old Prison Inmates Reflections and
Thoughts as to the New Minnesota
State Prison. He MaNeIs
At the Construction.
By 4547.

One must be here awhile IN order
to grasp an inkling of an idea of the
stupeudous task, energy and power
of mind it must have taken to erect
and conduct an institution of this
kind. and one cannot but look up in
awe and admiration to those who
perfected the plans of the same and
now are so successfully conduct
ing this most wonderful institution
of the world. When | say world. |
do not wish to fiatter one iota to the
truth of it being that. Before en-
tering here | have seen many large
institutions of all kinds and classes,
military as well as educational-fac-
tories and large establishments of all
kinds, monasteries and cloisters and
hospitals and have been IN personal
attendance in many of them both
here as well as in Europe. hence |
speak from personal observation and
can contend my ground in grouping
the new Minnesota State Prison a.
mongst the best in the world. Only
master minds and minds guided by
the most heartfelt and humanitarian
impulses could create and operate
an institution like this New Prison.
Who reaps the hons share of the
benefit of the institution but those
who are forced to live in it?
Few of us look at it perhaps in
that light, to most of us this institu-
tion may seem, and no doubt is, a
horror and a cross hard to bear, de-
priving us as it does of our highest
gifts. our personal liberty, of the
dearly beloved ones at home, all our
little treasures and hopes we used so
gladly and carelessly indulge IN be-
fore entering here. but alas. has 1t,
or does it enter our~minds that those
that govern us and guide us are not
the ones that are responsible for our
being here. they are simply the spon-
sers 80 to say of the state, the nation
and the world at large. to guide and
direct our lives, 50 that at all times
when in prison or out of it we should
be models of manhood. At least
law-abiding and useful beings to all
around us. To the stage, the nation,
and the world. and last but not
least to our dearly beloved ones at
home, may it be father, mother,
brother, sister or wife.
This. fellow inmates was the OBJ
ject; was the foundation stone in the
minds of those who created this in
stitution and those who are now 80
successfully conducting it. from the
highest superior down to officers un-
der whose supervision we are con-
stantly working. Just now seemed
to me the most propltious time to
express a few thoughts and no doubt
they are the thoughts of many of
my co-inmates. Namely to show
our appreciation to our superiors.
from officers to the highest official,
doing our share to help them main
tain this policy of being tie finest
institution of this kind. By fret and
last and all times obeying as best
and as cheerfully as we can under the
most especially to us seemingly
trying conditions-the rules and
regulations of the institution.
Do we recollect what tremend-
Gus task it was to move HOO men
like clock work from one part of the
institution to another. without a
hitch and 100 prisoners and citi-
zens at that? What a tremendous
strain it must be to our superiors to
have each and every ones welfare
at his finger ends, to know each man
as he passes them, their mental as
we'll as their physical condition and
still maintain such discipline and
order. Should not we just now be
patient and not crowd or burden our
officials with some petty trouble OF
ours, which no doubt to US seems
large, but In reality seems Iuslgniti-
cant when we consider that our
officers know the condition of each
and every one of US personally.
We may perhaps have enjoyed
some privileges or other work at
the old institution that we have not
here. but should we not ponder and
think of tie tremendous task and
work of our officials to maintain the
rules of the institution as above
stated. knowing that as soon as con-
sistant with our welfare we each
and every one will receive their