The Washington herald., 1914-03-22

Christ to the down-and- Remember
how that flag came to US and saved US
both and saved US for each other.
/ will have charge Of the Christmas ser
vices and will stay for the vaudeville
show and until the last minute. There
are to be songs and sketches by the pris-
oners, but i guess you know all about
that. A moving picture company in New
York has offered a fine lot of movies for
the show and will send a man and a ma
chine. Although you will be behind the
bars you will see all that Is going on in
the outside world. Now isn't that almost
a miracle In itself, Joe?
I am well and counting the days TO
Christmas. ] shall come to Ossining
Xmas Eve night so as TO be near you.
Good-by and remember me in your
prayers. MARY.
The signal sending the men to bed
sounded and the tier wardens began their
inspections. AS the hand electric lamp
flashed into Joe Condon's cell the war
den beheld him on his knees. The con-
vict was trying TO express to God his
gratitude for the love and faith given
him by the good woman whose thoughts
and prayers kept clean his battered soul
Sergt. Mary Meakins started from the
village OF ossining at the coming OF
Christmas morning. The snow covering
the highway which overhangs the Hud-
son and which leads to the gray city or
despair had frozen during the night. and
as she trudged sturdily onward the thin
crust broke under her heels and set up
a pleasant. crinkling tune.
To her right and below stretched the
river. a wide ribbon of tarnished silver
spotted here and there with ice foes
broken from the sheltered places under
wharves and in docks The eastern sky
was a sheet Of pale gold and faint blue
that suddenly took on dazzling bright
ness as the sun topped the horizon.
The soul of Mary Meakins sang a hymn
OF praisegiving as she made her way
along the lonely road toward the impris-
oned man she loved. Her gray eyes. like
twin stars, shone softly as they looked
up to the sky and in her face was the
light OF holiness. She reached the prison
gates as the men were being marched
from the tiers in long gray battalions for
the morning mess She reused doing
turnkey and was admitted. The warden
and deputies there seemed to have caught
the spirit of generosity that marks the
OF Christ's nativity the world
over. She was invited to the breakfast
table Of the chief prison official and
there she told OF her special interest in
Convict No. Sins. With the fervor of a
zealot she told the warden OF her full be-
lief in the innocence of Shorty Condor.
After breakfast the warden had the pris-
oner brought to his Office and. with a
CHEEKY smile. told the lassie that she
for all of that day.
An early train brought Mary's httls
band of men and women soldiers from
New York. With the flag of the Army
they brought bass drum, a tambourine.
and a gultak With Sergt. Mary in COM
mand they marched to the quadrangle
there to receive a Christmas surprise. The
prison band Of musicians was waiting for
them. the director with upraised baton.
Down came the baton and forty gray
clad musicians sounded with a splendid
martial blare of horns and rattle of snare
drums the stirring old march, Onward,
Christian Soldiers" The music sent the
blood coursing through the veins of
StTSl anu ldCt
with the blush OF roses. AS the Saliva
tionists marched into the chapel behinG
the band many convicts recognized the
little sergeant.
That's Mary all right, Miracle Mary"
was the whisper that passed. Take a
tip from me-" advised a second-term
man, shell be talking miracles in a few
She believes in 'em. She's bug
on that and thinks they can happen any
old time"
Shorty, by her side. was in the seventh
heaven OF delight. His voice was raised
high in the song OF the Army and from
Bible so that his fellow-convicts might
see that his faith was whole.
a half dozen recruits to the Cross were
gained in the morning service and an
other half dozen in the afternoon. After
supper Mary offered a prayer in the mess
room and then they marched to the chap
Ell for the evenings show.
Mary, her soldiers, Shorty. and the
twelve recruits were given seats together.
An overture of light and gay music
started the entertainment, and then the
curtains were drawn in front of a stage
erected at one end OF the hall.
Izzy the Dip had the honor of appear
ing as the first performer. He was an
nounced as the Wizard os Wizards. and
With his facile fingers that had Travelled
IN and out OF many pockets before he was
anded in the police net he performed
wonders with cards and coins. An un-
iersized but 1.-THE and slippery individ-
Ial, he delighted the convicts with his
,apers and his mastery OF black art. He
uggled furniture and gilded balls. kept
'ix eggs going in the air without cracking
,ne while he balanced a lighted lamp on
MS sloping brow, and did so many as
tricks that his audience roared
Is delight.
There followed a serio-comic sketch by
our prison actors in which the right
riumphed and the villain of the piece
lied in fit. the actor playing the villain
hrowing the fit from one end of the |
'tage to the other. to intense excitement |
IN the part Of the convicts.
Bill the Butcher. in for manslaughter. |
tall. gaunt creature with a SCARED and |
orbidding countenance. sang in a sweet |
md true tenor about a cottage covered |
With roses and mortgages and the poor |
widow who was about to be turned out, |
When along comes her son with scads of
ucre. The ballad was written by staff |
'oet of the Star Of Hope" the prison
ournal, and a roar as If from a brigade
making a charge on the field of battle
ave full evidence that the audience liked
/.