The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-05-02


Val Hslse No. s Hel%und
One Step-A-M-E-R-IC-A- .---------Frost
March-Khaki Bill ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -------- Watson
R. ]. REICHKlTzER, Musical Director
In last weeks edition, in the article on the base
ball score board referring to the large figures used to
show the Scores sentence read: These figure
cards are the work of one of the inmate sign painters
in the paint shop" That is mistake for which all
due apologies are offered The work was done by one
of the members of the in the inmates kitchen.
The outside crew that resides in cell hall B
shrunk up suddenly Wednesday morning. The
was respectable size at breakfast tme but at
there just three lonely members left, who
acted like they lost when they came into the
dining hall.
Overhearing two inmates discussing the merits
and dement's of our family journal. THE MIRROR,
last Saturday afternoon, paused to listen. One in
mate stated that the paper was of interest to the
inmates, there wasn't thing in it they would
to read. while the other, concurring somewhat
in the first speakers opinion, said that the paper
might be improved by putting in jokes and
funny stuff, and literature of class that would
be entertaining Also. he said, the articles
written by the contributors didn't appear be for
the edifcation and enlightenment of the inmates
themselves but directed at the people outside
which. in his opinion, not what genealogical
journal was for.
These two not the only ones who hold this
same view in regard to The MIRROR; there are many
others; in fact small percentage of the inmates
seem to think that prison paper should be mainly
dispenser of such news as: T. B. busted his finger
nail while making his bed, or Hello Sam! was that
you lost suspender button on the sidewalk Fridayr'
etc. Such stuff may be interesting and tickle the
fancy of those directly interested, but to fill the col
umns of prison paper with news CD of that de-
scription would be waste of valuable space that
should be used for more worthy purpose.
THE MIRROR is supposed to be the inmates paper
therefore in sense they the publishers of it, and
it would not be good policy for publisher to get
out paper for his amusement No else
would care to read it. If he has other object
than to print the facts that he is breaking his finger
nails losing his suspender buttons he better sell
his presses and type for old junk and go out of bust
ress.
Every newspaper worthy of the either
has achieved the goal towards which it striving,
and concerned mostly with maintaining the stand
ard it has for ITSELF it has object in view
towards which it is bending all it's efforts. And
prison newspaper Is no eXcepClOn; IL really mas
greater object.
While the object of newspapers generally is to
dispense news and maintain set editorial policy in
political and social affairs the object of prison
paper is of nober cause; it aims lift the fallen
man out of the depths to which he has descended
by gaining modicum of respect from the public at
large and thus in him that self-respect the
loss of which the direct of his degradation
In gaining this object. the paper accomplishes
two-fold purpose: it brings the in prison and
society in touch with each other thus benefting
only the man but safeguarding society," The out
pouring of his thoughts in the columns of the prison
paper reveals to society that which it could
have brought forth through any other channel that
the man in prison is a member of the human family,
and altho he may have erred and is undergoing his
punishment bravely, when the time comes for him
to again mngle with his kind he looks to society to
help and not shun him. By helping him it makes of
him friend thereby adding strength to the social
structure but by stunning him, it makes of him an
enemy who wishes for nothing better than to the
| whole fabric of society come tumbling down in
| heap of ruins
But do not mean to say prison paper should
| not devote some of it's space to prison that
that feature would make it more of an organ than
journal for the free expression of thought, many
of the news items tend to show the manner of life
that is lived in prison. Too much horse play" and
idle gossip however should be cut out as far as pos
| sible.