The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-22

position, after her liberation. I'VE
were in a room with both white and
colored women-persons sent down
for all manner OF Police Court Of
fenses, and we were treated Just Like
one of them"
As warehouses go. Occoquan Is well
conducted. and reflects credit upon
Superintendent W. H. Whitaker, Dep
uty Manuel Ream. Capt. z. L RobI-
son. Mrs. Herndon, and their assist
ants. Cleanliness Is apparent on all
sides. and the place is wen ordered
and .attractive-if prisons may be at
tfactive. Amusements are provided
occasionally for the prisoners, and
there are libraries and rest rooms.
| The female department has a lawn
upon which the women may go after
working hours.
Not Intended For Wealthy.
Obviously, the District workhouse
was nLyer intended as a refuge for
women OF wealth. refinement, supe-
rior intelligence. and social position.
That the experiences of the suffra-
gettes were calling, there can be no
doubt.
Possibly Mrs. Herndon sounded the
key to their discomfort when she said
laconicaIly:
This is for the rifr-raff OF Wash
| ington; not for Senators wives"
Both In the work and dining rooms
| the suffragettes were thrown into
close contact with other prisoners
THE silence" was required at all
/ meals and in the sleeping quarters
There was permitted a certain amount
OF conversation in the workshop
] - -
and overaIls-but not more than two
or three inmates might group them
selves together there.
Common Drinking Cup.
The prison water bucket and the
comomn drinking cup or dipper
shocked the suffragettes. In fact, they
were considerably upset throughout
by the matron's failure to draw any
line either as to color or class.
"Do you know what happened?'
asked the attractive Mrs. Reyneau. OF
| Detroit, after her return to Wash
ington and all the comforts of home
Some of the regular prisoners told
us that on Monday, the day before
we arrived, all the women were re-
quired to wash out their prison suits
coarse, one-piece affairs-so fresh
clothing would be ready for us.
Evidently they were expecting US n
Occoquan before the court sentenced US
We had to wear these secondhand suits
and no telling who had had them on the
day before.
THE wooden stockings were so thick
we couldn't get our shoes on over them
They didn't have prison shoe!
enough to go around. They said We
could go bare-legged. and some Of ui
did. The underwear they gave us was
unbleached cotton and ticking. It wa,
awful. Some OF US didn't have our hail
brushes. We wouldn't use the prison
hair brushes. so our hair just went un
combed.'
Miss Julia Hurlburt. Of Morristown
n. J., and Miss Mary Hall Ingham. Of
Philadelphia. nodded assent.
Gould you write to anyone?"
81 know / wanted TO write to my hus
band, and they wouldn't give me any
thing to write with" said Mrs. Reyncau
They said we could write one business
letter a week"
Miss InEham supplies Q queer littI'
sidelight anent her visit to Occoquan
1t Just shows you never can tell wha
may happen.
Several years ago" she said. I"
attended a banquet given by the Pub
lie Charities Association of Philadel
phia at the RItz-Carleton Hotel. On
Of the speakers OF the evening was I
Mr.. Whitaker, who spoke about thu
model prison, and exhibited picturei
OF Occoqpan. ! am sure It's the sam'
Mr.. whitaker, but when I went q
OccoquAn as a prisoner l didn't renew
the acquaintance"
sure. remember the banquet
we'll" said Mr.. Whitaker today. 81
spoke there. had no idea one OF our
vorkhousn guests was a guest al
l that dinner"
At the heaquarters OF the National
| Allan. Give Gudesn FIoNrarn