The Washington times., 1915-04-18
Classes In Maryland Prison Are Reclaln1ing Men
Who We're Formerly Miterates Says J. Barton Miller

susceptible of expression was contained
In these words:
Oats Is for horses, and barley's for
soup"
There had been written on the black
board for penmanship exercise inc
'"The Jordan is the. worlds most
crooked river, wandering 213 miles to
cover sixty"
who can tell where the Jordan
river is?' was asked preliminarily.
IT'S IN the Bible" ventured one who
never misses a chapel service.
Yes 1t was conceded. ut Ia spoken
of IN the Bible, but perhaps a better
answer would be. the Jordan river is
I'm the Holy hand"
All nodded their heads in acceptance.
Then up spoke one eager to release
thought
How far is that from purgatory?"
which lis the mightier-the pen or
the sword? was assigned as n com
position subject once. One big fellows
paper presented this answer:
"If man is u soIdier, and n war IL
going on. I guess the sword Is. but
as for me, II 1t hadn't been for this
MnryInnd pen ! sure wOuId-cr been
dcad-cnuse I wns bud man and
they wns all after me-"
"Richard' has carefully preserved
every sheet on which he has written
word. The pile is six inches high.
MY boy what Is six years old is
goin' to school now I hear and | wants
to ia ke these papers home to prove that
he amt got all the edg-e-cation In the
family he explains aggressivcly.
Law Benefits Few.
When the parole law was enacted
most of the men believed that upon the
expiration Of one-third of their SEN
tcncc freedom could be enjoyed fol-
lowing the filing Of an application. ana
compliance with certain requirements
The law has benefited but few.
coIored man, a school progressive.
is so disgusted with the failure OF the
advisory board Of parole to recognize
merit. that he threatens to take himself
on the expiration OF his term beyond
the boundaries of Maryland. He says
with rctaliatory spirit:
Il don't intend to let the state have
the benefit OF ;.ly edg- -e-cation.'
The successful teacher must not lg-
more the whims of his students. In
dividUality must be reCkCned with. Ihe
old dog and the new trick maxim lllus-
trates the situation in certain stubborn
cases. The cropping mind wanders over
a CirCuitouS path to reach conclusions
Hardly a mind in the intra-mural is In
the formative state. The machine ls
complete in form, but the individual
lacks the power to operate 1t TO It's ca
pncitv. It has never produced proht-
ably. Consequently class instruction
often gives way to special considera-
tiOn of the individual
Many of the men have been wholly
bad--some kind of heart but weak OF
will, some wholly immoral, others un-
moral. Som" have Just drfted into
PRISONS, others came as the result OF
passionate outburst In an hour charged
with strife. Some are the victims OF
misinterpreted action. 1t is possible to
krow the worst and to not only keep
spiritually aloof from debasing inhu--
cree. but to breathe a knowledge Of
men. through them. that will better Mt
the stronger to breast the trials of the
future. To know them as they enter.
and then in their struggle for light and
right. tends toward the development Of
greater sympathy for the fallen. a
higher appreciation OF the pure In
heart-a closer relationship with God.
Marriage Revolutionizes.
One of the men whose ideals "scootcd"
with baChelOrhOod had this to say II
his composition. respecting marriagc:
"Thc moment man marrics
woman some terrible revolution takes
place in her system. and all her
good qualities jump out like eggs
from conjurer's box. Study hard
let EN- alone. and squeeze your dol
lar. is my motto now" he announces
with determination.
The teacher. with twenty years o.
prison monotony hanging over his head
spends half an hour daily communinl
with a tree. 1t is many city block!
away and visible only to the raised eye
from a certain spot in the prison yard
All about him arc walls and towers. ano
barred windows Beyond is the hear
of h. cit hnt to I'm ho rit 10 I,
mass Of ugly roofs. as far as tn
vision extends. Just this tree towering
| to heaven and spreading its branches t,
the four winds, breaks the wearyni
view. 1t stands upon an eminence. Ger
tainly. for among monuments of ma
sonry. it alone Is distinct in form anC
! heiGhth.
In winter it is like a desolate giant
| In the fullness of summer its summit
| and branches are covered with a vas
| crown Of leaves. 1t seems the growth Of
! centuries. storms have failed to make
| it bow-age has brought greater
| strength 1t is more wonderful to hin
than the old Dolly Barber, the legeno
| tree of his home town, which civil en-
gineers accepted for generations as Tho
hub of local surveys. He had bidder
| in the great hollow of that tree. from
whence. the folk tale goes. the beau
| tiful Dolly and her lover. on elope
|
dash by, they then doubling on theil
| course. and outwitting him.
The tree beyond the walls furnished
| food for pensive thought Is 1t oak, o.
| giant maple? Does it grace a rich man'i
garden. or is II public tree? 1t engrose
! his interest. 1t represents to him thu
| great world of verdure where natur,
| speaks with thousand tongues.
In midsummer he wonders whethe
tree -crickets are among its branches
| and if so. what story their loud CALI
| interpreted. would tell Does the tire,
! crow, with his long tail and curved bill
| find it as secure retreat from th
| sun, as he. from the hot prison yard ha
| reason to believe il to be? The mer
toad with his adhesive toes, he thinks
| Is more fortunate than he. Nature ha
| fitted him to climb from ground to sum
| NIT and investigate. He recalls tha
some tree toads, like Chameleons
change color TO elude enemies, and h
spcculates as to this species flourishin
| there.
These things are part of the life O
his tree. They are nursed by it. com
forted by it, protected by it, In it