New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-03
KATE COBe LOOKING At LAST OUT OF a
DOOR That IS NOT. BARRED

sewed some more read. too. but that
did not soothe me a sewing did. Every
year al Christmas time we had an OK
hibltion and sale Of our uccdlcWork
always had a number Of pieces sold.
Yes, they let me- nave the morcy. We
were allowed TO make pretty things for
our rooms. too J embroidered dozens
OF dresses and doilic, for my friends.
"SonetjmCr m the winter wo would
have upper a. early as half-past four.
Ihcu $50 would have tho long evening
alone i'm our rooms. Every Sunday We
were there all day except during ser
vices IN the morning. No. IL was not
unplcas ant. We were glad Of &c quiet.
Ones own company re- often the best
company, YOU snow.
"Yes. | have heard Of ;hc nov IDEAS
about reform. but would not want the
Sunday solitude utcriered with. After
the noise Of the power machines in the
vorkrooms and the tall Of the many
workers nc were glad 70 be quiet. II
was the one time We we're allowed 10
write letters. suppose il ma have
been lonely for the girls who could not
read or write.
Daughter stood by Mother.
Ny daughter VTo.c TO me every
week She came to see me frequently,
but il was An all-day trip from her
home TO Hartford. and she was allowed
10 stay only half an hour, 50 ! did not
want her 80 make the trip often. IN
the years I was there she grew from A
li'Ie girl 20 y woman, married, and
had "A litCle babv 20 bring 10 me. The
uaby came often when she was little,
but aftcrward We thought it best for
her not to know about me. The chill
lrcu at school would have kept fling
ing II in her face. She only knew that
her grandmother lived IN Hartford.
Sometimes she begged 20 come and see
me. but her mother always found some
good excuse for keeping her away. She
never really nneH until last Septcm-
Der. Then she came 70 see me.
40. | do not think a long sentence
doe, any one any good. ! never knew
girl Who went away from there re
formcd. Sometimes, il girl is natu-
rally good and has Just got into bad
company. she can be brought to her
senses By a year ~ prison. There are
more who are profess ional criminals,
and prison does nothing for them.
There is nothing in tho life there
that docs en-. one any good. ! lroncJ
Tor seventeen years. But knew how to
iron before went there. Then cooked
To- four ear. and when got too deli
caio TO DO that made out Laundry
lists 10, the res, Of The time. Thirty
Sis years OF my LIE wasted IN that
way
40. prisons lever arc justified OK
ccpt IS = protection 20 society. Hard
l. h., Ill az ar
and ! say give EN- good, long time
Or IL. Young folks Who get into trouble
ought 20 be put IN state reformatory.
from which hey could be cent out on
parole
Amt | the Holy Terror"
Mrs. Coob talked willingly sud as
freely as could be expected from one
who has lost the habit Of talking after
th'rty-siX years of silence. When II
came to the photograph. however, her
old terror Of publicity took some time
TO overcome. She retired into her shell
and defended herself again with that
sense OF humoy. She refused TO take
the matter seriously
You are the limit" leased.
Yes he chlrped, amt the holy
terror"
] went away much impressed with 8
personality which thirty-siX years OF
prison could not kin. reported TO
Lebanon that Mrs Cobb was a wonder
ful woman. The village gossips shook
their heads .orebodngly. Prison
couldn't XIII her spirit, they admitted.
but what would freedom do? Would
,he nerves used 10 the calm and regular
routine OF institutional life be able 10
ADJUST themselves 10 the confusion aud
inevitable friction OF life in a small
country cottage? She had lived With
out love for thirty-siA years. Would
her laughter love be powerful
enough TO kiss away the discomfort
o.! home life?
Then ] remembered that this dAugh
81 had never failed 10 write once
week 10 the mother Ia prison. and
told Lebanon - could trust Mr..
SPauld!ng