New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-13

Z
state prison, where the mills OF pun
ishment are measuring out their
tragic burdens of doom and despair
for the broken men there, bringing enulesS
wears of expiation for some or quick oeath dt
midnight to others, for that is when men are
hanged at Wethersheld, a trail little woman
is toiling to bring the sense OF hope INTO TIC
bleakness of those mems lives as It mas never
been brought into the gloom OF prison lie
before.
With a thin, eager face that reminds one OF
N. ancient church paintings of the saints by
N. Florentine masters, she is filled with the
same religious mysticism as were the oioeh
sacred artists and, as they used to DO, she
prayed for guidance as TO how she eouio use
her art. for she is an artist, to bring reahza-
ton of hope to those men in Wethersheid'
She arose from her prayers with, to her. the
divine commission to paint for those despairing
men q great devotional fresco on their blank
chapel wall. to stand before them as the ever
present symbol Of hope and forgiveness
Their chapel was to be adorned, as were the
ancient monasteries, by painting that was TO
he the token that men need not be broken with
despair, even though they have sinned and are
in prison. but that they may be forgiven and
after their prison terms are over go out into
the world and do great good. To the creation
of such work she consecrated her hfe'
ASTORY OF THE MOST ENTIRE ABNE-
CATION OF SELF.
1t was to be more than just painting
There was 20 be behind it story OF devotion,
self-sacrihce and, to use her own words, OF
divine love in human hearts" for tie prison
ers. Most of the story has been poured into
the work through the indomitable self-sacrihce
NJ the rapt artist herself, working for FIVE years
against poverty and countless disheartening dit
hculties
There have been devotional paintings before,
but not in the prisons OF the United States, nor
anywhere else with a more human story than
this one behind the picture of Christ and His
disciples on the shore of Galilee which Miss
Genevieve Cowles is doing in the prison chapel
at Wethersheld.
Her inspiration to do this thing sprang out
of an experience she had several years ago
with one of the saddest men in the prison
From il came for him a transformed person
atty and the awakening OF artistic talents never
suspected, bringing him JOY in life in place
of bitter despair that has made lighter the years
of his life sentence To Miss Cowles from that
experience came the indomtable will to do in
her own way as much for all the 600 men in
Wethersield prison she had done for that
one man. The story has been partly told be-
fore, but never completely nor by Miss Cowles
herself as she tells 1t here.
Il did not want to tell it for newspaper"
she said 1T is too sacred to me- / was in
hopes the warden would say you couldn't come
when referred you to him."
WARDEN CARRIERS REASON FOR THE
SPECIAL DISPENSATION.
Warden Ward A. Garner, a large, kindly man
with national reputation as penal disciple
marian, smiled as she turned to him with =
look Of whimsical reproach.
"You are the first newspaper man have ever
allowed to come into the prison this way TO
get material for an article" he said. Il keep
theiA all outside the gates, but I told Miss
Cowles that The story of her work bound
10 be written and il would be best for her TO
tell il herself so that ii would be right"
yes. there have been some things written
about Il. but they were so crude and gushing
and said so many things that were not So"
she said. II hope you will treat it reverently."
The warden went out and left US in the
chapel. with its rows Of bare bench .'ews, IRON
barred windows, plain white walls and sprawl
ing chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Miss
cowIes looked at, them and shuddered' she
called them tsrsntulas.
"You see, this one hangs down in front oil
the picture and hides the central group from
the men in the back pews" she said, explain
ing her aversion for the chandeliers.
The chapel trembled from the jsrring ma
ehinery Of prison workshop in the lott over