Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-01-04
PRISONERS HAVE
CHRISTMAS TREE
GOVERNOR BECKETT MAKES A
SHORT TALK IN PRISON
CHAPEL.
GOOD MUSICAL PROGRAMME
Mrs. T. W. Rickett Reads SuperIn.
tendent CoIlie's Proclamation
to the Prisoners.

the State prison, before Christmas
tree, around which were grouped gifts
for each prisoner in the institution.
Governor Beckett expressed his whole.
hearted Christmas sentiments, wish
Ing for them the pleasures that come
from without the happiness that
comes from within. and the blessed.
ness that comes from above. The oc.
casion was the celebration Of Christ.
mas at the prison. this year on scale
more pretentious than ever before.
Entertainers from Raleigh were there
and the Christmas spirit was conta.
gious.
Governor Beckett went to the prison
just after having pardoned John Wag.
staff, of Guilford, who has served five
years OF a ten.year sentence imposed
upon his conviction Of highway rob.
berry in which, 1t was alleged, he So.
cured $3.50 from negro.
BY Superintendent j. r. Collie's
orders, Christmas tree celebrations
were held at the Halifax farms and
at the various prison camps. Worl
received by him from Halifax was to
the effect that everyone was busy In
the preparation for the event.
Superintendent Collie has, likewise
just mailed out $4,000 In earnings of
the prisoners to their families or de.
pendents, few OF the checks amount.
ing to more than SIS The money rep.
resents the earnings of the prisoners
since April, set apart for use OF their
dependents
The exercises were presided over By
Mr.. r. l.. Gray, editor of the Raleigh
Times. who paid high tribute to Gov.
ernor Beckett and his administration
for the work done In behalf OF the men
and women the world has forgotten.
Songs by the prisoners, OF sacred
character with Christmas appropriate.
ness, preceded the formal program.
but the entire assembly, guests AMI
prisoners alike, stood while they sang
America" The special music for the
occasion was by a quartet composed
OF Mrs Horace Dowell, Miss Harriet
Day, Mr. j j. King. and Mr.. w. @.
Phillips Besides leading In the cho.
rus songs. the quartet sang, 1T Came
Upon the Midnight Clear" and silent
Night"
Opening the program. Mr. Gray pre-.
sented Mrs. T. p Harrison who offei.
ed prayer. Governor Beckett followed
Mrs. Harrison and IN answer to the
eloquent outburst of applause which
greeted him after Mr. Gray's eulogy
he informed his hearers that he had
not come to make them speech
II came he said, ito engage with
you and with those gathered here in
the celebration OF the birth of Hin
who came into this world and gave up
His life that all the world might be
tree.
81 am sure truly interpret the
heart of North Carolina" he added.
When wish for you everyone
merry Christmas, am sure interpret
he heart OF the State when say that
he State takes no pleasure in the i'm.
,risonment Of any human being. The
State is anxious for you to be free
Is you can possibly be yourselves II
,rings to me as the representative OF
he State very real Joy whenever in
he exercise Of the grave responsible,
les which have been imposed upon
ne. can open the prison gates for
Inyone.
But let us for the moment forget
'ur surroundings II we may. For after
IL, stone walls do not a prison make
Tor iron bars cage All Of you will
I you may and may II you will see
round you the marvellous light, and
eel within your souls the Joy OF the
hildren OF God. And hope tina.
veryone OF you, during the Christmas
eason. may have the pleasures that
ONE from within, the happiness that
ONES from without and the blessed
ess that comes from above"
The master OF ceremonies, In a hu
,orous vein, then presented Col. Frel
i. Olds. as 1.-THE Cheerful Liar" Col
,lds bowed acknowledgment Of the
ribute, paid his commitments to the
God judgment OF the presiding officer.
nd then. telling q tale In which Gov
rnor Beckett, squirrels, the Capitol q
quare, and Christmas were all involv {
d. brought rounds and rounds OF ap /
lause from the assembly and an az
rmation from Governor Beckett on {
lr. Grays Introductory verdict Then |
anne the gifts. distributed to each one s
[ the prisoners as his or her name |
as called. (