New Britain herald., 1925-07-11
By Winnifred Mason Huck
(Former Representative to Congress from Illinois).

(forlner Representative to Congress from Illinois). On week days WIG were up at [ and breakfasted at 7:S0.
 At s the whistle blew, and we all went to work assigned to us. Some worked in the laundry, which was Just across the court. It was said to be the best place in the prison to work, for 1t was we'll lighted and clean.
 Others worked in tho bakery just beneath the kitchen. Very good bread was made there. Some girls worked in the sewing room, where the mending was done and the uniforms were made. There wero Is sewing machines, two cut ting tables and a clock. l had arrived on Saturday after noon, and on Monday l was sent to the ''art room." another sewing room where the prisoners did hand sewing and crocheting, Some of them did nothing at all. "Loafcrs' Room" It was called the "loafer's room," because many of the girls who want ed to avoid work said they could not sew or bake or wash and were sent to this room, where they did their work so badly that the matron gave them no more 10 do. Then they sat yacantly, not even thinking day in and day out. The better class of prisoners despised the "art room buns"
 There were GO girls in the room when I entered it. Anne, the matron, vas out, and when they heard me coming. they thought it was she
 "Oh, it's just Betty" said one, who vas sitting at the sewing ma chine. Come over and sit by me" went over and sat by Glenna until l saw fat Susie. my bootlegger friend, sitting among the negro girls across the room. ] crossed 10 speak to her and | learned that. she had a nice room and everything was going well with 1 her.
 \ Bu,ring 4 buZ2lng among the girls alarmed me. could hear whispers: If Anne should come in. Shell set into trouble, You ought to tell 1 her"
 Susie, quite as new and ignorant as I, had begun to tell me all about the negro cottage.
 Finally one Of the girls clutchsd me, drew up closer than was com fortable, and said, You're not sup posed to leave your seat Anne will get awful mad l hurried back to my place, more to get away from that dreadful clutch than 10 avoid Anne's anger. | I had broken three rules I had left my chair: had spoken. and, above all, l had spoken to a negro
 I did not get to my seat any too quickly.
 | Reading AAloud Anne came In and announced that we might go on with our book, The girl who was reading aloud for us was called June. Her voice was pleasing but she had B hard time getting books that pleased every body.
 One day she was reading Tho Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come" and everybody was apparently en- toying if, when one of the negro women spoke to Anne in an under tone.
 The matron then announced that when June came to the words "darky,' coon "pickaninny," or "nigger," she was to omit them, for the negro women disliked to hear them.
 Later, a white girl stood up and said, "We white women resent the phrase white trash Don't you think June ought to stop reading the book"
 A snicker ran around the room June continued reading
 That afternoon the reader forgot to omit one of the tabooed words. A murmur swelled into an exrlo- sion on the side where he black women sat. Two of them arose and flounced out of the room.
 Open Rebellion
 vas surprised at the calmness with which Anne greeted their open rebellion, But later l saw that she knew what she was doing,
 Tn less than three minutes, the two girls returned and took their seats quietly.
 did not know what had hap ,pened outside, but probably they were questioned by the first matron they met and given a choice be- tween returning to the room and be- ing sent to the dungeon.
 "I want that Sprague woman" :" said girl who thrust her head in side tho door.
 "Elizabeth." said Anne, you're wanted in the sewing room."
 As I followed the girl, said to