Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-28
REPORT OF CHAPLAIN
OF THE STATE PRISON

OF THE STATE PRISON
"Illiteracy is condition Of crime if
not Il cause of crime" states Rev.
Eugene V. Allen. warden of the Maine
states prison at Tho)1aston. in his
annual report, which was filed with
the governor and council Saturday,
Less than one per cent Of the men
here have had college training and l
doubt if five per cent have completed
high school course, and a problem
in fractions would be beyond a great
ma jority Of the men, while about 20
per cent have not mastered the Primer
when committed here
Continuing in his report, Chaplain
Allen says:
This condition imposed a two-fold
task on the chaplain who is preacher.
teacher, librarian, mail man. errand
boy, and general adviser to the in
mates. first. to read letters received
by men who can neither read or write.
and write the answer for them, and,
second, to teach them to read and
write and DO number work.
This work has been carried on in
the past as well as possible with the
limited accommodations provided. Dur
ing the present year. a room has been
set apart as school room and desks
have been purchased and regular ses-
sions have been conducted. The plan
followed is to send to the shops and
have the men come in classes Of six
or eight in number and teach them
for an hour. dismiss them and call
another class until the list has been
completed, then begin again. In this
way each man has one session each
week and those needing extra help
often special session. This seems
very small, but the results are sur
prising. 1 have men who a year ago
did not know letter Of the alphabet
who now are. writing their letters to
relatives ands friends. There are 30
now taking lessons and many of them
are most interesting cases 1t is most
encouraging thing to see men whose
school privileges have been so limited
trying by every means in their power
to learn to read and write.
lit is my ambition to gradually de-
velop a regular course Of study. such
as is provided in the states prison at
Charlestown. Mass, and widely copied
in other states, and which has given
splendid results in keeping men
straight after leaving prison. 1 am
already giving number work to such
as are ready for it, and shall add
geography and history as soon as the
men have reached the point where they
can take it.
mot a few Of these pupils Of mine
come here unable to speak English or
read or write in any language. These
are. as rule. among the most eager
to learn, and make rapid progress.
have pupils who could not talk with
out an interpreter when they came
here, but who can now dictate a letter
for me to write for them, and will in
a few months more be able to write for
themselves. I regard this work as
most important.
During the past year religious SER
vices have been conducted in the chap
ell as usual We have missed the or
chestra and leadership in singing
greatly. but have done the best we
could under the circumstances. It is
with sincere regret that we report the
illness Of Rev. FIR. Driscoll whose min
istrations were much enjoyed by all
the men.
THE removal Of restrictions on the
mail privileges has placed Maine in
line with the progressive states in the
line Of prison management, and, incl
dentally. has nearly doubled the work
Of the chaplain in inspecting the same
At the present time the number Of
letters received by the men and writ
ten by them indicates a grand total
for the year Of $4,000 pieces Of first
class mail matter. In the letters re-
ceived money is often enclosed for the
men and this is placed to their credit
by the clerk. During the past year I
have handled over $500 which has
come in this manner. This has come
in sums ranging from five cents up
wards. The number Of papers received
daily is as great as In a week three
years ago. About so daily papers are
taken. and many weekly papers. These
are delivered each day instead Of once
a week as formerly.
I'm addition to this reading matter
there is provided for the men a supply
Of magazines purchased by the state.
which. in connection with those donat-
ed by friends, supply men with all this
class Of reading that they desire. They
are changed once each week during the