St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-02-10

With profound sympathy for the
people of other nations who are en-
gagged in the most destructive con
flict in the history of the world, the
United States does not intend to en-.
ter upon any sordid policy. The
"period of excIusiveness'' will never
return, but to a greater extent than
ever will the American people strive
to develop their own strength, which
means to increase their usefulness
to all the world.-Iron Trade Re-
view.
The Telephone.
Dr. Alexander Graham Bell has
been peculiarly fortunate among
great inventors. Few others have
reaped more than a fraction of the
financial reward that has come to
him, honestly and justly, through
the development of the telephone
But that must have seemed a COM
paratively small thing when, after
40 years from his first successful
transmission of speech, he was able
to talk across the continent.
1t has been an amazing story, not
merely of the perfection of instru-
ments and lines, but of the rapidity
with which the device has become an
essential factor of modern life. The
network of wires spreading over the
country suggests not merely the in
calculable service performed in the
centers of population, but the ban
ishment of isolation and all it's dan
gers in time of need, in regions more
thinly inhabited. In that sense not
less than others the telephone has
become a social factor.
m l. Id g
DR.. Bell is that of Theodore N. Vail,
through whose statesmanlike saga
city as the head of a great enter
prise, the telephone has come into
its present use. 1t only remains to
talk under the oceans and then to
rival Puck in girdling the earth with
this direct means of personal COM
Observation-Disclosures Republic
can.
The "New Way" at Windsor.
Only those who keep in close
touch with the affairs at the state
prison at Windsor know that condi-
tions are steadily improving there
and the Reporter is pleased to print
extracts from a letter recently re-
ceived from one of the inmates which
confirms this statement. Our cor
respondent writes as follows:
81 wonder if the people of YER
mont realize what is going on in
this prison? In the first place that
old idea of enmity, hate and ven
geance is giving place to settled
feeling of cooperation and interest
between the convicts and their Of
ficers. The object now sought is
the reformation of the prisoner via
the common sense plan Of humane
treatment, thus giving the prison
er's manhood a chance to assert it.
self instead of the oppressive pro-
cess of punishment under which
nothing but the animal instincts
were developed. Here is a list of
some of the things:
''TWice a week night school for
illiterates.
"a brass band of 20 pieces.
Talking privilege at meals.
Sanitary dishes, etc., substituted
for tin.
Enlargement of the dining room
and the assembly hall above it.
New windows in East hall.
Extended correspondence 'privi-
1eges.
"The printing plant.
1.-The painted cells in place of the
whitewash.
"And Supt. Walker has been try
ing to get every man job when he
leaves here (if he needs that help
and desires its, instead of the Best
regards and empty, formal good
wishes of a disinterested few.
''Now to give you an idea of disci-
pline 1 will relate a little instance of
a young prisoner whose disposition
inclined him to trouble. He was al
ways in trouble of some kind and
punishment after punishment SEEM
ed to encourage rather than deter
him in his iron resolve to break ev-
cry rule every week. At last the
had him up in the Of
fee for a quiet heart-to-heart talk.
There was no loud threats, no abuse
nor any suggestions of it. 1t was
calm conversation between young
man and an elder one. The young
fellow found out he was human be-
ing and straightway decided to act
like one, and his record has been
spotless from that day to this.
"'Thfs is but one instance out or
many, and I could fill two dozen
pages with this kind of information
but it isn't necessary. Results Will
show as the years go by with less
men returning for a second, a third, |
even a fourth dose, but it will take
time to perfect this new way Some
men cannot be affected by it or any
thing short of death, and some IA
cilities are needed"
The new way" is the best way |
and we are glad that this policy is
appreciated by the inmates. And !
why shouldn't it be, for as Speaker I
Weeks told the men at chapel two |
weeks ago "men are linked together !
by the enduring love of God and its i,
strength is so secure that nothing |
man may do affects permanent I
breach. You may fight when you !
will, you may say what you will, and !
believe as you may, but it is always
and ever the same that men are
men. Springfield Reporter.