The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-13
BY Winnifrcd Mason Huck
Former Representative to Congress
from Illinois.

I do not believe any prisoner sleeps
much the first night in jail
! lay on my narrow cot, struggling
TO breathe in the murk and gloom Of
the prison corridor The moonlight
crcpt through the great bars at the
end Of the hall, throwing a ghastly
image Of them, tripled in size, on the
stone floor.
The old world of sunlight and open
AR, of friends and family, quiet days
at home and thrilling ones in Con
gress, all the dear familiar things
That had made up my old life. had
retreated INTO remote unreality, as
II they were but picture seen
through the wrong end of an opera
glass.
My thoughts kept straying to my
quaint old Washington garden, which
seemed to typify all safety and iov.
! could not believe that I had ever
lived outside Of prison walls.
One Familiar Face
And yet | was not mt home. but
lonely. forlorn, yearning for one ia
mlliar face or one word of comfort.
1t was "A half world Of unreality in
winch found myself, and it was
peopicd with unknown tcrrors.
Then ! heard some Of the women
talking.
"1f they had let me out at the
end of six months, would have tried
TO be good, but now, keeping me here
IKE TINS, am going to be Just AS
damn bad as | please when I &c.
out"
The conversation went on with
murmurs and threats and a bitterness
that chilled my heart.
At 7:3O the night watch camc
through and put out the lights in
the rooms by switch in the hall.
After that, the prisoners could not
turn them on.
The lights in the hall were left on
all night. The night watch came
through every hour with a wooden
box containing few common rem
cdlcS. With her was a prisoner who
slept during the day and whom we
never saw about the building.
Night Of Fantasy
"hen the night watch was heard
IN the hall, any girl who wished
medicine called out to her and was
gwen Whatever she asked for.
She was pleasant, and | came to
watch for her visits and her smile.
After night of fantasy and fitful
of unconsciousness. I |
watched the first rays of the sun |
creeping through the bars where tho |
cer'c moonlight had entered the nrht
before.
At 5 o'clock, the kitchen and din
ir1c
OF these had good face and the |
bearing OF lady. learned later
that a slight mental arrangement was
responsible for her pres
encc at Marysville
She was CHEEKY and lovable. Her
hair and her good morning" were
the sunnicst one could imagine.
Here comes your alarm clock"
she said to me each morning as she |
passed. Others exchanged greetings !
as they passed, too.
Later in the day a girl named
Georgia accosted me as | talked with
a group of inmates.
Did | think ! was the only one in
the place? Didn't know that Others
to sleep in the morning? What
made me jabber before dawn and dis
turb them all?
l realized that she was referring
to the short morning greetings.
Her attack was so sudden and so
fierce that was abashed.
Ihls she observed and became very
brave indeed. She would report me
to the superintendent if l did it
again.
Elizabeth only came Yesterday"
said one Of the other girls. "She
don't know none Of the rules vet"
Very Brave
"Well, she'll have to learn them
pretty damn quick" snapped Georgia.
For moment struggled with my
temper. Then ! smiled at myself for
,aking the miserable wretch serious
~.
i am so sorry I disturbed YOU"
SAID, with some of the social honey
had found useful in Washington
circles.
Georgia's jaw dropped.
IL am learning the rules as fast
as can" I continued, pulling the
'tanmering timidity line.
She wilted. Never before had she
leard soft answer for harsh word.
She had never offered or received
IN apology.
After that ! apologizcd to her on
very occasion. and one day I was
surprised to find her apologizing to
ne for an outburst.
The Medusa
She and Eva Catherine Kaber. tho
who so resembled Medusa.