The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-08-27
YOU CANNOT LOSE
YOUR INDENTITY
Do Not Try To Fool The
Public or Yourself.
An Article Which Tells Us Not To Leave
Our Own Country Or To Change Our
Names When Released. Face
The Big Fight.
By o. P. B.

x16 L h0VC 0AW ~ . OSOus oihON IL y
residence here, close observer OF
articles written by inmates of this,
and other institutions, an article ap-
peared recently in our paper, which
was credited to paper issued by
some other prison; and as an inmate
here, l feel called upon to take up
the opposite side of the argument
This writer goes on to state, that a
person who has been so unfortunate
as to once become an inmate, that
there is no chance for him or her in
the great outside world, and he
would have us believe that the pub
lie is so vindictive that man can
not make good, after leaving prison,
without actually losing ones self,
or as he puts it. ones identity, and
to do this, he advises one to go to
some other country, change his
name. and start all over again. To
do all this seems very easy, to the
person who has never done much
travelling, and if it could be accom-
plished. 1t would be real paradise
for the released man.
Personally. l have done much
travelling, and claim to have visited
almost every civilized country on sea
coast in the world, and | know it
for positive fact, that the plan as
laid down by my contemporary is
inconsistent; in other words. it can
not be done. / do not claim to be
a widely known person, but | can
truthfully say that when was in
the remotest parts of the world, in
China, Japan, Eastern Siberia, and
the Antipodes, or even Borneo, and
the interior of Africa, just when |
would think it almost impossible
that l should meet with some one
whom | knew, l would invariably
fetch up with some acquaintance, so
as | said before; it cannot be done.
Of course | was not trying to hide
myself, for at that time | had no
previous action to be ashamed of,
but for the sake of argument, let us
say that sought to lose my iden-
tity, and as he advises, would change
my name. Necessarily l would
seek to establish new character
for myself, and if [ sought to follow
the straight and narrow path, /
should try to surround myself with
new acquaintance and friends, who
we're worthy Of the name of friend;
l might succeed for a number of
years, and during this time | may
3e able to accumulate wealth and
also position in society, and also the
most natural thing in the world,
would be to marry and rear a lam
lily, which is the Natural instinct of
man. Then when | have achieved
all these things, and in my sunset OF
life, l am enjoying my hard earned
asp ratlons, and am surrounded by
my family and friends. when | am
really intoxicated with the pleasures
of life, and when l have lost my
identity TO such an extent, that my
mind never reverts to the past, when
| am only living in the present, and
looking to the future happiness OF
my offspring, then | am wont to
congratulate myself. for naturally
when one has won the battle, victory
Is certainly sweet. for say to my
self, that although my start in life
was bad, the end is far beyond my
dreams.
Now when it seems the sea of life
is so calm, that it would seem an
impossibility to disturb my present
eQuanimity of mind; then there ap.
pears on the horizon, cloud, in the
person of former acquaintance, in
fact one who knows that l am an
imposter, to a certain extent, and
Just by few words, which he pla
ces in the proper place, causes my
social ruin, causes me and my chill
dren to fall from that high position
of responsibility. Can you picture
in your mind anything that would
be as heart rending as this, after al
these years of effort to be some one
to have the foundations of your
character shaken to such an exten,
that not only you. but your loved
ones are held up. to ridicuie, and de.
rision, your associates scorn yot
and yours. they hold your money
and character az tainted, and you
are sent to premature grave; then
it is that the sins of the father are