Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-31

Breakfast--Bacon and eggs, bread and
butter and coffee.
Dinner-Beefstealx and onion gravy,
mashed potatoes with tomato gravy,
bread and butter mlnce pie, coffee.
Supper-Poached eggs on toast, hot
sweet biscuits, assorted cakes, cocoa
THIS is a typical menu, showing on what
meat the favored people at Dresslers
Convict Camp, Fort Ann, New York, feed
while they are serving their sentences for
violating the laws of the State The menu
was brought to Washington recently by
visitor who enjoyed the hospitality Of the
camp, which is a branch of the Great
Meadow Prison The visitor reports that
the inmates OF the prison" seemed to be
perfectly content with their lot; almost any
body would be content in these hard times
With bacon and eggs for breakfast, beef
steak and mince pie for dinner, and poached
eggs on toast and hot sweet biscuits for
supper Few persons. even In the best fam
lilies OF this city, do better than that. The
reason for It is the modern idea that crimi
nails to be reformed not punished. In
view of the high cost OF living outside the
prison. the wonder is that the number of
boarders at Camp Dressler is not 2200 In
stead of %.
VI
L was made had been selected from the
600 at Great Meadow Prison. One of them
had committed forgery, another had killed
his wife and others had been convicted of
like minor offenses. The wife killer was
getting along in years and was assigned
to the llghtest work in the camp, work that
would not require his exposure to the
weather and sudden changes of temperature
which might affect his precious health. All
of the prisoners" were treated with fine
consideration. or course, the camp is gov
erned by certain rules, but there is no sign
OF restraint, and the forger and wife slayer,
If they would only confess, are having the
time of their lives" The remarkable thing
about II all is that none Of the prisoners"
who treated in this way ever comes
back while 22 per cent. of those who are
more severely dealt with in the larger prison
return to their punishment; wherefore It
is argued that the right way to treat per-
convicted of crimes is to treat them
with poached eggs on toast and mince pies
1t Is worth noting, perhaps that the con-
vict cook at Camp Dressler prepares his
own menus and does his own purchasing
so that the Convicts are always assured of
the best the market Affords
THERE are a good many thousands In this
- country VINO VIII not understand this
method of dealing with convicts, and among
them, doubtless, the poor farmer in Alabama
who wrote to a banker In his market town
about month ago. saying:
IT have heerd that forrein countries in
Europe are issueing merrytoriums, so that
the people can put Off paying thare detts
while. Now I have IS bales cotton and owe
detts amounting to about $500 I can't sell
my cotton for enuff to pay out and leave
anything to pay taxes and live on next year.
II they selling merrytoriums in N. Y. I
wisht you would what It will cost to buy
me one for the amount OF my detts good for
most"
This was the pathetic letter given out by
the Comptroller OF the Currency to show the
great distress prevailing among the hard
working farmers OF the South. 1t Is ignor-
anty written. but 1t tells the story of an