New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-03

steal to get in here this time. tried to, but
I didn't get it. 1 didn't believe in this reform
stuff when Osborne first started to talk about
il. I'd seen whole lot of it and this is the hrst
time / ever saw anything come OF IT,
Dick Richards, or whatever his real name IS,
will walk out Of the prison in June. A con
frmed backslider, if he lives up to his pledges
he will constitute one of the strongest argu-
ments for prison reform that can be advanced.
The men who maintain order on the march
of prisoners to the mess room or auditorium
to-day are themselves convicts, elected by their
fellow prisoners. Once in the auditorium con-
versation is permitted, and there is rush TO
impart all of the pent-up thoughts OF the alter
noon. With the coming OF winter o'clock
lectures have been substituted in lieu OF the
outdoor exercise The lectures are under the
auspices of the Prisoners Aid League. The
third lecture of the series was given on
Wednesday, December 9, and on that occasion
there were 400 convicts and one guard in the
room. The guard was not supposed to be
there, but he wanted to hear the lecture.
THE CONVICTS SING AND THE SPEAK
Err HAS HIS LITTLE JOKE
Convicts, instead Of guards, were at the win
dows They perched themselves, half dozen
or so. on the broad stills, and leaned comforta-
bly, against the easements. While waiting for
the speaker the prison orchestra entertained
with some very bad music. and presently glided
into "Tipperary' Instantly several hundred
voices launched into the words OF the song
sang it through correctly and demanded and
got three encores. A man who had been in the
prison twenty-three years said that it was the
first time he had ever heard the convicts sing
Where they learned the song he was unable to
explain.
II am glad" said the president OF the Pris-
oners' Aid League introducing the speaker.
TO see so many of you here loud roar OF
laughter) 1t proves that you enjoyed the pre-
vious lectures or you wouldn't have come to-
day. | will now introduce Mr. Blank, who will
speak on the subject Of The Manufacturing OF
Rope"
Rather an omnous subject for lecture 70
l.4OO convicts, but Mr.. Blank was accorded
strict attention through an Indifferent lecture OF
an hour. Incidentally the reference OF the
president to the large attendance was less hui
morous than it appeared on the surface, as the
prisoner, if he wishes, may forego the lecture
and be locked in his cell.
Naturally, an ounce OF frolic is preferred to
a pound of lecture. As late as November the
prisoners were turned into the large yard at
4:45, and allowed TO remain there until CHS.
They played baseball, checkers, quoits and any
thing else that they desired to-and they also
smoked as much as they wanted to. Prior to
the days OF Osborne there was no such thing
as social intercourse. On at least one occasion
last summer team OF nine life prisoners
played a game of baseball with team COM
posed of nine guards. You might think that
the pitcher would develop streak OF wdness
when his favorite guard came - bat, but roth
ing of the kind happened. Games between
teams Of prisoners were 50 holly contested that
Warden Rattgan finally found it necessary to
import two impartial umpires from outside the
prison walls.
Six road camps were established during the