The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

This pathetic and heart rending ex- perience of a man serving life sentence brings together in contrast the new and old system of penology. The story of Canadian Blackie'' is sma. book writ ten by Annie P. L. Field with an. intro ducton by Thomas Mott Osborne, and has power.' says the New York Times review of the work ''out of all propor- ton to it's modest size and pretention" The following review of the story is taken from the New York Times "lsook Review and with the problem of prison reform agitatedein our own midst should prove "a source of information and me- dium for serious thought For we are not immune to such conditions in our midst and the agent of reform is as imperative in Alabama as it is in Sing Sing.
 Canada Blackie,' so called from his Canadian birth and raven hair, died at Sing Sing a few months ago at the age of 42. His early death was the direct re- suit of brutal prison system. For F years he had been confined at Dannemora and Auburn under life sentence for burglary, which was extended to life and 10 years when he shot a guard through the shoulder in an attempt to escare. Yet he died a free man, respected and loved by those who knew him. Therein lies the remarkable story which Mrs. \ field tells so simply and well.
 The old-style menology did it's best or rather it's worst, with this typical young criminal. who had run away from re- fined home, joined circus, then entered on the life of a cracksman for the ex- ctement of it. At the time of his death he still carried on his wrists the scars of the steel handcuffs by which he had been suspended for hours at time, his toes barely touching the ground. while serving a term in the reformatory al Joliet H., 20 years before. Twenty months of solitary confinement in a dark cell at Dannemora destroyed the sight of one eye, and he was going entirely blind at the time of his death His end came from tuberculosis contracted in prison
 All these crueties of discipline only goaded Blackie to desperation. At one time he had obtained enough dynamite to blow off the whole end of eel. block at Auburn, and would have done it if the plot had not been betrayed by a stool pigeon. At another time he fashioned a crude pistol out of piece of gas pipe, loaded it with powder made from the heads of matches and wounded a s'ls I'd who stood in the way of his escape Yet this was the same man who was too OK cited to eat when cat entered his ccll- the first living animal he had seen in five years; the same man who tenderly cared for three kittens, chewing his bread ito a pulp to feed them and keep them alive after their mother had deserted them It was the same dangerous Blaclie too, who comforted an agonized mother by writing a religious poem and letting her think it came from her boy of 21 in reighboring death cell.
 Until From Brown" Osborne went to serve his voluntary term in Auburn pris- on, Canada Blackie was still untamed and rebellious few months befcrc however. Osborne had met this tall, gaunt man, considerably over six feet in height, with a finely shaped head, a strong chin and jaw, a firm, we'll nodded mouth, and pair of fearless hazel eyes. the direct gaze of which seemed to pene- trate mans inmost soul" He came again to talk with him. found the golden heart beneath the soled exterior, won his confidence, and received from him a written programme of needed reforms so extraordinary in it's wisdom and insight that ithelped to shape the future of the present warden of Sing Sing
 The friendship that grew up between these two men led to the Mutual Welfare league, in which Canada B'ackie" be- came an eager and beloved leader. One day at Auburn he called MT. Osborne to his cell, remarking that he had some