The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
CONV|CTS { N ] OY
BASEBALL, MOVIES
AND OTHER GAMES.
State Board Holds That Con-
victS Life Is Not So Hard
After All
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD
Montgomery, Ala, May 26

Although inmates of Alabama's
state prisons are not permitted to
go and come at Will. they enjoy and
participate in practically all amuse
ments known to the outsider, &C
cording to q statement issued from
the state department of convict su
pervisorship here today.
Recreaticnal games. movies and
vaudeville stunts are provided at the
prisons=and even circuses are
brought right to the inmates at
times, the statement says. In a short
while. Libraries will be provided at
all prisons
The statement follows
THE inmates of the states various
prisons are encouraged to indulge in
as much diversion as possible after
their regular work for the day is
completed. 1t is the policy Of the
state board of convict supervisors to
help in every way with sports and
amusements of all sorts, In order that
the lot of these unfortunates may
be happier and brighter and more
eontented.
THE educational and spiritual side
is not being overlooked by the CON
Wet department officials An eX-
ample, appropriation has been made
for a library and with the assistance
of the department of archives and
history systematic library is being
arranged so that the convicts al all
the state prisons will have the bene-
fit of good high class reading mat
ter. The convict is being encour-
aged to study and read in order that
he may be better equipped to over
come his handicaps when he is re-
leased from prison.
THE two chaplains of the depart
ment are at all times in touch with
ministers and religious organizations
a
nearly every Sunday at each of the
prisons. Much interest is manifested
among the prisoners in this work.
Enjoy Ball Games
Regular baseball games are
played each week at Kilby, Speigner
and other prisons which are equal or
better than the average semi pro
fessional game. The enthusiasm and
enjoyment of the inmates in roofing
for the prison teams are equal TO
that of little world series Each
afternoon, a a number of the prisons.
the inmates play baseball. Sometimes
a five or seven-inning game between
two teams is played before darkness
ends the contest.
"A number of the inmates at the
prison engage in the age-Gld game
of pitching horseshoes. of whom
several have become experts at the
game. These contests are attended
by numbers of inmates. among whom
each contestant has his followers.
Each week the inmates are, given
the privilege of attending movies,
which are shown free to the pris-
oners as we'll as the employees. AT
several Ct the prisons first-class
string band furnishes music regu
larry.
Frequently amateur entertain
ments in the nature Of vaudeville and
MINISTRIES are put on by the inmates
of the prison and high-class Jokes
are pulled off involving fellow in
mates as we'll as prison officials,
with an occasional reference to the
higher ups of the department. HUI
morous debates on questions Of
prison interest are net infrequent and
are the source of great amusement
to prisoners as we'll as to prison Of
ficials and employees.
These entertainments are encour-
aged by the members of the board
largely because they not only create
better fellowship but tend to raise
the morale of the prisoners, and
make easier the work CT the prison
officials in discharging their delicate
duties, both to prisoners and the de-
partment."