The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-07-09
A DISTINCTIVELY PRISON PAPER


Eastern, Pennsylvania, penitentiary, is
in error when he says the Star of Hope
is the oldest prison paper printed and en-
trey controlled by the inmates. The
Mirror holds that distinction, having
been established by the inmates of this
prison in August, 1887, and is therefore
about twenty eight years old. The Star
of Hope is now in it's sixteenth year
The Summary, printed at Elmra, N. Y,
is in it's thirty-second year, but has not
during the entire period of it's publication
been controlled and published by the
inmates.
And there is distinction here which means
much in the question of prison journalism. Many
publications issuing from prisons, and purporting
to reflect the sentiment of the prisoners confined
therein, do anything but that They are managed
and controlled by superintendent editors APP
pointed from among attaches officials. The
spirit of the inmate is not, and cannot be, under
these circumstances, reflected in their columns.
The Mirror believe is the only prison pa
per that it's existence to the prisoners them
selves. 1t was conceived by the inmates of this
institution in the summer of 1887 and, as we have
before said, was born amid the gloom and within
the close confines of dark, narrow prison cells; at
time when imprisoned men looked upon
more or less, many ferocious beasts who had,
by their own acts of ndiscretiOn, stamped them
selves as being forever unfit and wholly unworthy
of again taking their place as a part and par
eel of society. 1t came into existence at time
when punishment was the thought uppermost
in the minds of those who had to deal with offend
ers; when the idea of reform was pooh, poohed! as
being merely absurd sentiment.
1t was the first time in prison history that in
mates we're permitted to conduct on their own ac-
count, an enterprise of such magnitude, and the
venture eagerly watched by penal officials
everywhere; most of whom predicted failure and a
quick abandonment of what they termed "a fools
experiment." AS time on, however, and the
good results manifested themselves even beyond
expectations other prisons began adopting similar
methods, and other prison papers began to appear
These, however, have come into existence under
far more favorable circumstances than the Mirror
inasmuch they financed from the beginning
by the state prison officials. Not so with the
Mirror 1t owes it's life to those inmates who con-
tributed their hard earned cash toward the fund
which furnished the nucleus for it's establishment
Men who had grown tired, sick and weary of their
monotonOus, dreary prison existence, prayed for
some means by which they might bring a ray of
sunshine into their darkened lives; and combining
their scant earnings saved from years of hard prison
toll, they established the Mirror fund and became
share holders in the first and only prison paper
published and controlled by inmates.
And ever since its inception, this paper has re-
manned truly the inmates paper. The state, seeing
the benefits accruing from it, has given the Mirror
the most liberal support; establishing as complete
printing plant here as may be found anywhere
The officials have given~the publication their en-
thusiastic support always, and Warden Wolfer
has been particularly interested in its welfare in
sisting at all times that it remain as it started.
publication printed, edited and entirely under the
control of the inmates themselves