The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-09

Thomas Mott Osborne, warden OF
Sing Sing Prison. made an address
which was one of the features OF the
Conference. Warden Osborne himself
was billed to speak, but on account
of sickness could not come, Mr
Lowrie coming in his stead.
Donald Lowrie is man with q
unique career. After serving a term
III the California penitenuary he
Joined the staff OF the San Francisco
Bulletin, where his articles and |
stories, chiefly about prison life, per
formed a great public service and won
for him the respect of the people of |
California.
The American Magazine Of October, |
1912, carried an article on Donald !
Lowrie written by John ID. Barry |
The News an Observer is indebted |
to Mr.. Erwin A. Holt, Of Burling- |
ton, for a copy Of the magazine and
to the publishers Of the American for
permission to reproduce Mr.. BarTy's
article, which follows:
A little more than a year ago Ere
mont Older, Managing Editor Of the
San Francisco Bulletin, was making
one of his many visits to San Quen-
| tin Prison. While he was calling on
Warden Hoyle the Warden rel ark
! ed: There's a manuscript in my desk
| that may interest you. 1t was writ
| ten by one of the prisoners
| During the next few minutes Mr..
| Older was absorbed III reading the
article. It dealt with the indeterlnn-
| ate sentence. This fellow can write,
| he said. II should like to meet him"
Presently there entered q tall, slim,
young man, with a clear-cut face and
dark eyes. Mr.. Older shook hands
with him and expressed his interest.
| "If you can get out Of here | Will
give you a job on my paper" he said.
I'm eligible for parole,'' Lowrie re-
lplied.
well, I'll See if we can't have the
matter brought up before the Board
of Directors"
At once Mr.. Older went to work.
At the next meeting OF the Board of
Directors the case Of Lowrie was ia
vorably considered. Early in August
he was out on parole. He took &
week to adjust himself to the new
conditions. Then he went to work or
the staff Of The Bulletin. He has
been working there ever since.
Donald LOWrie had served two
terms for burglary He went to pris-
on a foolish, rebellious, and reckness
boy. He came out, III the early
thirties, grave man, sad-faced, SLOW
of movement, his tall figure SC lean
= that one might have fancied that he
5 had been half starved for years. II
/ prison he had made fine record fol
: good behavior and for intelligence
A and ability. He was one Of the most
: accurate and painstaking Of account
= ants. For years he had worked OF
4 the prison records. He knew the his
t tory of nearly every man in the insti
e tuition during his time. Whatever
e leaisure he had he spent in study. His
r, quiet, gentle way won friends To- hin
y everywhere His reading and study
y ing developed in him desire to write
0 In his cell by the oil lamp he mad
: his first literary efforts Some 0
e these were published in Life, The At
l. Iantic Monthly, and Sunset. No won
y der he was a marked man among tn
y prisoners and the favOrite of the war
o dens. But in the world the situation
e was different. He had to make good
l. at first he was bewildered and de
is pressed. The ~treet nois:s trouble
e him The multitude Of impression
1t crowding on him caused him bot
d physical and mental fatigue. His eye
;" ached Used as he was 10 Walkin
,e the flat spaces of San Quentin, h
K found climbing the hills of San Fran
j. DISCO a great strain on his nuscte
,yi In a few days, however, he was read
at for work Fremont Older had
1e place waiting for him on the staff t
a. The Bulletin. His first contribute
ts consisted of an instalment OF n
al studies, MY Life in Prison" =
We once he attracted attention. AS i
ir went on from day to day the intere
grew. In two weeks he was the SCI
sation Of San Francisco. In II
j.. street cars, on the ferries, in train
everywhere in public, peopl; Wel
re eagerly reading Donald Lowrie, an
discussing his revelations. The We
rIz revealed fine observation and dr.
matte power. AS it went on fro
,;a week to week without break, II
..S marvel grew. Here was a new writ
~ that could publish an interesting a
: ticle each day for six days in Il
"a week In a few weeks Donald LOWr
~ printed more than one hundred tho
III sand words.
The success Of the articles MAJ
,is Donald LoWrie q notable figure n
,re only in San Francisco but througho
he California. Many requests we're ma
er. to him for lectures. He decline
ult them all. He had a dread Of beil
Iolo