The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-10-08

III
q II Congress meeting, in which she mani
tests much interest," chiefly because the
Prison Congress- object is to meet en-
~ masse and discuss the prison problem
and what can best be done for the re-
camaton of the men and women behind
the bars. And as the Little Mother said: Il
would rather come into prison to speak to my
boys than speak to those outside it is positive
enough that Mrs. Booth is very much interested
in everything pertaining to the betterment of pris
on conditions and for the uplift of those who have
in their blindness made faux pas in their past
life when temptation surrounded them.
Mrs. Booth told her audience of her first ex-
perience in speaking a word of cheer to a prison
audience 1t was at San Quentin, California, some
eighteen years ago: Il had an engagement at
San Francisco, and when arrived at my hotel l
found scheduled to lecture in three different
churches. AS the prisoners at San Quentin had
read the account in the papers of my engagements
in an adjoining city, they had sent me request to
come over to speak to them the following day,
which was Sunday. AS | said before, had three
churches in which was expected to give lecture
the same day, and this the first time | ever
had an invitation to speak to the men and women
behind the bars, the pathetic request touched me
greatly and sent telegram to the prison officials
stating that would Sunday. l found
that if got up at three o'clock in the morning [
could get over to San Quentin and back again in
time to give my first lecture in the church. So
retired early the night before and at the appointed
hour left for the prison, feeling in my heart and
soul that God wied should take a message of
cheer and hope to those behind the gray walls of
San Quentin prison. When | stepped upon the
prison platform and faced my audience. the spec
tace which met my gaze one, it first appeared,
of blighted manhood and hopeless of hui
manty: but in course of my talk l noticed that my
message was taking effect and that many of my
audience were weeping, while on the faces of 9TH
ers there look of hope. This was my first
experience in talking to prisoners and then and
there gave my whole heart and soul to the re-
clamatiOn of men and women behind the bars. |
have never regretted it, as it does not matter
whether you are in prison out of prison, who
you are what you are, there is in each and ev-
cry one some good and helping hand and kind
word now and then will the good to Overpower
the bad This is my life's work, and ask no bet
ter reward than that someone has been started on
the pathway of righteousness"
Mrs. Booth then told us of the many prisons
she has ectured in, and of the hundreds of paroled
and discharged men and women she casually meets
in her travels throughout the land. Mrs Booth
also stated that when she first began lecturing to
prison audiences the prisons at that time we're
nothing like the ones of today. The methods of
reformation were ball and chan' severe corporal
punishment, etc., she said. Armed guards we're
seated with the inmates even in the house of wor-
ship. But as the people came to the realization
that such treatment of the prisoner only made
them worse, they soon adopted the more humane
and constructive methods of treatment, know
ing full we'll that the best of us might fall.'
That the Little Mother to the men and women
behind the bars brought a never to- be-forgotten
inspiring message to us, no one will dispute.
On the faces of many men and women present
tears were discernable when she so wildly pic
tured some fond parent, wife or dear friend hop
ing and praying that the father, son or husband
might soon be free. When she pictured the little
one asking mother when papa would come"
many hearts were touched by such pathetic re-
cital, not only among the inmates, but also among