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

One of the antiphones was the Prayer OF the
Prisoner:
40 key of David and sceptre of the House
of Israel, thou that shuttest and no man open
eth. sand openest and no man shutteth, come
and bring the prisoner out of the prison house,
and him that stitch in darkness from the
shadow of death
81 wanted a prisoner for that pamela
prisoner who could pray and who had sense
of the need Of the Redeemer. l came to Weth-
ersfield and asked Albert Garvin, who was then
warden, for permission to find and make
studies OF such prisoner He refused time
and again, but finally consented, provided
could find prisoner willing to stand for me.
II was given list of men sentenced for
life, and saw them and talked to them, and at
last found one who could help me and was
willing to stand for me. l came to the prison
seven times-he stood for me manacled
There awakened in him devotion for art
and I got the warden's permission to send him
books and materials on illuminating, and he
has studied and has developed great talent in
illuminating sacred texts. His work is known
now all over the country.
SUGGESTED MURAL WORK TO FACE
CONVICTS IN CHAPEL.
While I was in the prison painting him l
watched the lives of the other prisoners, and
wanted to do something for them, too. /
asked the warden if m sister and could not
do something beautiful for the prison; whether
he would accept it. He said he wanted great
painting mural decoration to fill in the blank
wall over the pulpit. He said he wanted it to
be large with figures life size, so all the prison.
ers could see. There is prison rule that the
men in chapel must look straight ahead; he
wanted that great painting always before their
eyes Some men might come to chapel for
twenty years and never see small painting
a window, he said
With Miss Cowles prayer is the source OF all
guidance; she never reaches any great decision
without the aid of prayer. Each great de-
velopment in her work comes only after
prayer, and she prayed when the warden told
her what he wanted.
Il knew that the Lord gave me the work to
do, and the prisoners know it," she went on.
Il can't tell you how got my conception for
the picture. That is something / cannot
speak Of.
Il asked and got from the prison directors
sanction for the work-not legal sanction, for
power to accept paintings is something they
have not, but they gave their moral sanction.
HOW THE NEEDED FUNDS FOR THE
WORK WERE OBTAINED.
Then came the question OF how to get the
means to carry it out. Mural paintings cost
thousands of dollars. Mr.. Garvin said to me:
Go out and tell the story tell it to all sorts
of people; don't 60 only to two or three rich
men, but to ali people, rich and poor, so that
the prisoners will know it came from the hearts
OF all men,
THAT plan has been followed. The story
went out and the first people to send have
never seen. Then went out myself and talked
to small groups, and the money came little
at a time. That was in 1902. By 1907 we had
received Sll0O Mr. Garvin had said should
not touch the money until there was thou
sand
Miss Cowles stopped for some moments.
Then she went on in very low, sad voice.
when l accepted the commission, my twin
sister was TO work with me. She died very
suddenly before we could begin it. Before l