The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-01-16
HAPPINESS AT STATE PRISON
FARM

ltItCu Will HUN Vi tnO opll1t VI oIli lSh"
mas than the Christmas Eve entertain.
ment than the three for the inmates
of the State Farm at Raiford Florida.
Last year chronicled the frs. that a
real Christmas tree and festivities
ever enjoyed in the entire history of
the institution and proved such sue
cess, and brought so much gladness
to the hearts of those shut 4 from
friends and kindred and all the beau
tiful things of life, that it was decided
to repeat the happy event.
A fund of over one hundred ,lol '.rs
was raised by Miss Helen M. Cariin
of Jacksonville, who says that The
contributions were from persons who
believed in making people happy at
this the loveliest of all seasons, and
every donation large or small was
given with gladness and cheerful
ness of heart that delighted me and
therefore thrice blessed the gift"
Two handsome cedar trees set at
each side of the stage of the audito-
ruin were very artistically decorated
with flaming velvet poinsettas and va.
rious glittering, shining things served
well their mission, and to gether with
festoons and evergreens made glad the
eyes of all beholders.
A program befitting the occasion
and consisting of recitations, songs,
carol, holy-night! Silent night and
a comic sketch Family Wedding on
the Old Plantation" was prepared and
carried out by the girls reflecting
much credit upon their efforts, and
was much enjoyed and favorably
mented upon by ali the visitors.
Then presents Tor eacn and every
one was given the inmates, consisting
of oranges, apples, raisins, nuts and
candy.
Then the giving out of the pardons
by ex- Senator J. S. Bitch, the dearly
beloved superintendent of the insti-
tuition, was the most interesting and
,otlI ..tfsrs, q the eveGs events No
one except those who witnessed it
can fully appreciate this. Superinten-
dent Blitch's heart was full to over
flowing. In few very touching words
of address he asked those who were
called out to come up in front, and in
the way that only this great loving
hearted man can speak, charged them
to go out into the world and make
good.
Reverend Proctor, whose untiring
faithful and earnest work among the
inmates of the institution has endeav-
cred him to all, offered prayer and
blessing upon each and every one.
After which all joined in singing God
be with us till we meet again" Then
the inmates gave their beloved super
intendent large easy chair and when
he thanked his happy boys for their
gift, his voice trembled and his eyes
filled with tears.
Our great State is certainly fortu-
nate to have such a man as ex-senator
j. S. Bitch, at the head of one of her
institutions, and she may we'll feel
proud of the good noble and wonder
full work he is doing day by day.
He instituted the Honor System"
and has done away with the untold
horrors, cruelty and brutality which an
advanced age OF civilization and hui
manitarian movements befoulded and
besmirched the name of our State I'M
der the old prison regime. And the
Honor System is making good. He is
making our State Penitentiary what
it should be--a place of reform instead
OF punishment, torture and cruelty.
Superintendent Bitch is truely one
of the Nations great men for he
stands for all that tends to uplift hu-
manity. His lofty ideas of truth and
honor, his upright and deeply religious
trend OF mind, his loyalty and dignity
of purpose and the example of every
day life as well as his kind sunshiny
nature beams from him and has given
those placed in his care an inspiration
that has changed the very expression
OF their faces in the eighteen months
of his management of Florida's largest
institution.
The inmates Of this institution are
very proud of Miss Carolin their
Queen" and justly so far she is a
queen among the charitable people OF
Florida. Her heart goes out to the
unfortunate, and she brings sunshine
aud badness whenever she visits the