The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-11-05


Germanism, Usher; The Men Behind the Kaiser,
Vile; Europe Since 1915, Hazen; Germany and
the Germans Collier; Germany of Today, Tower;
The Balkan Wars Schurmann.
From time to time in the columns of the Mir
ror, will printer reprint, rather-short ar
tcles, witty sayings and local news which appeared
in the Mirror twenty-sx years ago. We have,
from careful perusa, fonnd some exceptionally
good and wholesome as we'll as interesting food
for thought in back numbers" of the Mirror;
which, to the majority of inmates now herein in
carcerated, is news; as many of us will remember
that we were rather small for our age about that
time No, we do not wish our readers to under
stand us to say that we have only young men here.
Far be it from SUCH What we wish to say is this:
There are not very many men confined herein at
present who were here twenty-sx years ago; al
though there are few such. There are a number
even longer-thirty nd.thirty seven years be-
ing the number of years served" as the excep-
ton. To these inmates, the articles of twentysix
years ago will be like the renewal of old time
friendships and will prove to them to be very in
terestng as we'll as entertaining. To those of US
who have not perllsed the Mirrors columns at that
long past date, we would find it very interesting
and instructive indeed; for we must ever keep in
mind that prison conditions at that time were diff
ferent-very much so, toO-as compared with the
prison conditions of today We did not have a
Board of Pardons, for one; no Board of Control
Board of Managers, thought, for another; and
last but not least, no indetermnate sentence law;
the attitude of society towards the ex-prisoner at
that -beyond-recall date was not so sweetly
seasoned with the brotherly-love kindness, which
is prevalent today, to certain extent, throughout
the land. The ex prisoner had difficult to
hoe, either in or out of prison. We do not find
in that distant past the inmates, in any prison,
wore any wearing apparel other than the striped
suit nor find that the inmates had the en-
joying privilege of smoking, chewing, etc. neither
can we find where the inmates were accorded re-
Taxation from work in the shape of holidays other
than those of New Years, Christmas, Fourth of
July and Decoration Day.
These at least some of the privileges we en-
JOY today that those of twenty-six years ago did
not even dare to hope for namely: to converse, in
small way, with our fellowmen; the tobacco
privileges the privilege to subscribe for periodicals,
such as magazines, newspapers and anything along
the educational line; two and One-half hours re-
taxation from work on Saturday afternoon; NOV
ing pictures twice week. of one hour each, on
Tuesdays and Thursdays; the privilege to purchase
toilet articles, and few other privileges of more
or less importance we today enjoy that those of
twenty-six years agone, did not enjoy, because
they did not have them.
Among the present officials of this institution
find three officers who were here twenty six
years ago, one of whom was deputy warden at the
time. The men to whom refer as being here
at present are: Mr.. Westby, then deputy warden,
Mr.. O. B. johnson and Mr.. T. w. Alexander.
AS we have previously said in the foregoing
paragraphs, reading matter contained in the Mir
ror's columns of twenty-six years ago should be of
exceptional interest not only to the inmates but
also to those of the outside world.
Many will wonder how it was possible for men
to reform under such stringent spil destroying
prison methods. We wonder even now how they
did it. But it appears that many of them did
stick it OUT; but since the more humane methods
have taken the place of this bestial brutality and
ball and chain" treatment, men ARE REFORMED.
They live the life-the useful and upright life
that Father Mother intended they should live. So
much for the advancement toward the solving of
the prison problem and the fallen BROTHER
He has achieved success who has lived we'll.
laughed often, and loved much; who has gained
the respect of intelligent men, and the love of lit
flo chldron. no hoe Ellod