Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-08
How Intra-Mural School
Saves Prisoners

an eminence. certainly. for among monu-
ments OF masonry it alone Is distinct in
form and height.
In winter II is like a desolafe giant
In the fullness of summer its summit and
branches are covered with q vast crown
OF leaves. II seems the growth OF GEN.
turies. storms have failed to make II
bow-age has brought greater strength
IL is more wonderful TO him than the
old Dolly Barber" the legend tree OF
his home town, which civil engineers &C
cepted for generations as the hub Of
local surveys.
He had hidden in the great hollow of
that tree, from whence, the folk talk
goes. the beautiful Dolly and her lover.
on elopement bent, watched the irate
father dash by, they then doubling on
their course and outwitting him.
The tree beyond the walls furnished
food for pensive thought. Is it oak or
giant maple? Does It grace a rich mans
garden. or is Il n public tree? II en-
crosses his interest. II represents to
him the great world of vendure where
nature speaks with a thousand togues.
In midsummer he wonders whether
tree crickets are among its branches.
and II so, what story their loud calls
interpreted would tell Does the tree
crow. with his long tail and curved bill,
find 1t as secure a retreat from the sun
as he from the hot prison yard has rea-
son 20 believe il to be? The mere toad,
with his adhesive toes. he thinks is more
fortunate than he. Nature has fitted
him to climb from ground to summit and
investigate. He recalls that some tree
toads like chameleons, change color to
elude enemies, and he speculates as to
this species flourishing there.
This prison teacher. whose name Is ].
y. Miller. says of his work:
mo one who has known from the In
side the past and present of the peniten-
tiary but marvels at the temperamentaI
change the school has effected. There is
hope in every mans breast and prepare
lions are going on to realize It. Abra-
ham Lincoln's ambitious announcement
on one of the blackboards has Inn
pressed all:
81 will study and get ready-and
maybe my chance will come Thank
God for hope! The clouds in the sky
never seem scudding to the sunset now.
1t is always-Just before the dawni'
THE strangest school in the world"
they call it. Perhaps it Is. Polak, Greek,
Spaniard, nego and white American
shoulder TO shoulder. youth and old age
staring nightly with wonders wide eyes
at the unfolding Of this new influence
education!
Two years ago over 80 per cent of the
prison population-more than 400 men
we're total illiterates. The only illiterateSs
today are the few recent arrivals on the
waiting list.
When a man gropes for his soul he Ia
on the path leading to decent citizenship.
Initiative will help him to find 1.-THE
initiative inspired by interest and en-
deavor.
II IN eighteen months men have been
brought from absolute ignorance to the
intelligent application OF the principles
OF arithmetic, writing and creditable
composition of letters and an interest
in geography and history that indicates
continuous delving. It Is a safe con-
clusion that tire school Is exerting an in
nuence that tends toward future stabil-
ity.
Five thousand library books are now
In active circulation through the prison!
lntra-mural advancement does not cease
with the nightly suspension OF lessons.
What of the teachers in this school
within the walls? Hope is leading them
upward and on. LISTEN Opportunity
speaks:
They do me wrong who say I come no
more
When once knock and fail to find
you in.
For every day I stand outside your
door.
And hid you wake, and rise and fight
and win!