The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-04-16
WORDS OF ADVICE
TO PAROLED MEN
Let Us Make up Our Minds to Help 0ul
Fellows by Living Right Ourselves
How a Sermon Changed Dick Watson's
Mode of Living.
MY BROTHERS. kEEPEF
From Better Citizen

We want to have this little chat
with the fellows who are ready to
go out on parole. Fellows who ar9
about to enter the maelstrom of llfe
TO begin anew. 1t is not our inten-
ton to tell you to go out fully de
termlned to make good" so much
as to show the why and wherefor. D
Do you ever realize that each one
of us has distinct mission in our
lives, other than a selfish one? 1t is
the mission of educating society
the world in general-to the great
truth that fellow who in his early
life has made serious mistake can
reform --can come back.
We hear on every side of us the
statement, The world has no use
for me because I've beer behind the
bars" In the past this has been
very largely true, but the world is
showing much progress in this. and
stands ready to be convinced, and
to help every man who is is earnest
ly and conscientiously endeavoring
to become a Better Citizen.
Your attitude toward your future
is far more reaching than your indi-
vidual life. Whether you make
good or not means, either one more
example added to the argument that
men can reform, or it gives the Gym
ic a reason for not giving the fellows
who follow you on parole another
chance. Forget that there is such a
term as individualism-to you there
is no such word.
Known by Your Fruits.
By then acts are all men who
have been placed in your position
judged. When you go out from
this institution what you do will
either be help or hindrance to the
thousands of fellows who are fight
ing for another chance. When a
man leaves here on parole the world
places large question mark before
his name. 1t has been predicted
that he will make good-the officials
of the institution have said SO by their
very act of paroling him-he has
said so-the world wants to be con-
vinced and the only proof of these
predictions lies with the man HIM
self. If you fail through your own
carelessness and lack of interest, you
have placed an additional burden
on the backs of our fellow-men. Be
fair, fellows. Don't be egotists,
thinking of your own welfare entire
ly. Help your brother to gain that
which we all covet-an honorable
place IN the world.
Many of us have read of the so.
ciety called Dick Watson's Prison
Gate Society" The founder of this
great organization OF men was Dick
Watson, one-time bank burglar,
Dick Watson's Plan.
He had done time" in several
reformatories and prisons, but one
night shortly after he had been re-
leased from a prison. he drifted into
church and listened to a sermon,
the text of which was, Am l my
brothers keeper?" Something in
the address reached Watson and
made him think. After the service
the speaker, who was big hearted
man, came down where Dick was
seated and laying his hand ON his
shoulder said, And how is it with
you brother?" Dick told him that
1t was not 80 well with him. but
something in the preachers manner
warmed Watson's chilled hopes and
he gave this new found friend a
portion of his life history. He left
the church determined to live an
honest life and by his very example
pave the way to help those whe
were destined TO have the same hard
fight he had been through. He
fought hard and made good. He
conceived the idea of forming an
association to take care of men who
were being released from prisons,
and placed in the world friendless.
He knew from his own life what
friend meant. He interested busi-
mess men in his cause and today
the organization. founded in this
one-time burglars mind, has grown
into an association that has made it's
influence felt in the lives of thou
sands of men
You perhaps. will say Yes, that's
what Watson did but haven't the
opportunity of doing it. Pm going
to be busy fighting for myself"