South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-16
TODAY'S TALK
py c.o-go Nfo..b.rr Adam.
RISAGNO.
BY George Matthew Adams

This IS the name OF human being OF whom I
not aware until today when read Of his re-
markable example in my daily newspaper.
For years and years Bizgno toiled IN san Fran
cisco lie saved and invested his small earnings.
lie never lost an opportunity to say a happy word
or 20 give expression 70 his appreciation OF kind
ness.
Ny attention called his life by his death.
lie left fortune OF something like s25OoO0, and he
viIled # all away those who had during his life
said a kind word TO him or who had in the
smallest way 5efriended him. There hun
dred people who were named beneicares in his will
and among the number noted bootblacks,
famous actresses society women. clerks and many In
other active walks Of life.
A quarter Of a million dolars-gven away for
kindness
Il seems 20 mo that Bisagno's city should erect
statue memory OF this fine appreciation OF the
most commonly neglected virtues OF daily lives.
that all who might pass would Immediately be
quickened to act as he acted.
The greatest little traveller in existence is kind
word. kind act kind impulse put into EXPRESSION
IN some way.
It IS such a simple thing to thank people. TO say
please" TO smile approval TO lend a hand.
Bisagno made q fortune by it-and then he gave
it all away in appreciation of that same thing that
had been given to him
The first line a beautiful sentiment by Stevenson
comes to me: ITO be honest-to be kind"
the prisoner freed he returns to his criminal pur-
suits.
Can this proper corrective influence be exercised
if the inmate Of the jail spends the period of his
confinement in complete idlencss? Schoolgirls will
tell you that the environment CT one who has been
committed TO Jail has been at fault. But what
will Of he
Individual in Jail where he spends his time in
idleness and association with others representing
every degree of criminal tendencies? On the face
of there is strong case against the present Jail
system. Instead of exercizing the corrective inau
that is desired effect of making
the inmate immeasurably more of social problem
Mr.. Fishman's solution of the problem is a sys-
tenn of work for which the prisoners should be paid
lie does not advocate that prisoners should be paid
the same scale that would be paid to workers in
similar occupations outside but that it should be
sufficient to permit the prisoner to accumulate in
two three months a sufficient amount of money
float himself when he gets out until he is able
to find some work TO do.
This indictment of the country's present Jail sys-
tenn. coming it does from a man who is qualified
by experience pass judgment on it. is indeed some
thing which should concern all county officials.
1T is not safe" Mr. Fshman continues. ito make
work OF any kind an unknown thing for months
and even years; 70 take away entirely the habit Of
wage earning: 20 make it impossible to be accumu-
Eating a little fund against the day of release for
continuing the broken thread of normal life; and
then expect a woman. all lax and unaccus-
toned. TO capture Immediately honest livelihood
in the great struggle OF economic conn etiton Such
policy has as much sense employing incendiary
in powder mill Determined though man may
be to lead straight life it takes but a day two
Of hunger to bring him to a mental state Of self
justification which is the first step crime To
turn man out in summer is bad enough in winter
is criminal"