The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-14
by Wirnifred Mason Huck
Former Represe ntative To Congress
from Illinois.

One Saturday morning I heard a
great com me- tion in the porch CORR
dor. was in the art class room, sew
ing, as usual, and wishing for an OK
cusc TO get out into the fresh air Of
the court.
"The girls are out" l heard some
one say.
"rhe girls are out" The voice
came louder through the corridor.
An electric thrill passed across the
art class. ! wondered. .t....
When we left the class just before
the dinner hour, felt that had
suddenly come upon a boisterous
family reunion. E.-,.,
p There was hugging. There was
prancing. There was laughter. There
were tears. Loud and joyous giggles
resoundcd the length of the hall.
IL am so glad you are out" and
ooh, how thin you sre!" But ] am
so glad you are out" they were say
ing.
At dinner. one of the girls who
we're Just "out," sat beside me. Her
three days in the dungeon. on a diet
Of bread and tea. had left her pale
and transparent Of skin. .,
She could not eat. She hardly
touched food. ] did not eat my but
ter or sugar until I saw that she was
not eating all of hers.
That night she tried to eat, and
when her butter was gone, offered
her mine. She did not want it. All
appetite was gone.
That afternoon five more girls
were put in the dungeon. They had
broken a new rule.
"And Mary is one of them said
Stella, with tragic eyes. "Just out
of the dungeon for another offense.
thin and with bad cold. She'll die.
She didn't know about the rule. 1t
amt fair!"
Another girl was joining the
group. Helen is one of them. too"
she said excitedly, "but Helen is all
right. She told me not to do any
thing for her. but to do all we could
for Mary"
did not see what could he done
for Mary, but did know that Super
intendent Mittendorf or his wife
would see any of the girls whenever
q request was made.
But the offense had not been seri-
Gus and the next morning found the
five girls "Out" in time for Sunday
school.
Breakfast on Sunday was the same
as on week days. But after break
fast, we were free until 10 o'clock to
read in the sun porch or to walk in
the court.
Clean Aprons
Each girl was allowed sweater.
but none of US had hats or caps Of
any kind. We did not change our
blue denim uniforms for Sunday
school, but we did put on clean white
| aprons.
We marched in to music. This was
too much for two of the girls one day.
and they broke ranks to do few
profane steps of a bunny wiggle on
the side. They spent the rest Of the
day in solitary.
Superintendent Mittendorf led the
Sunday school. He certainly under
stood prisoners, for most Of the
service was singing.
And such singing! 1t was the best
congregation singing ever heard.
| LVCIy UVuy sang HCi oSoC'
| sang. myself, and was caught up
in the general enthusiasm.
We were allowed to choose our
own songs. There was nothing to
suggest that we were in Jail.
! No Comment
\ When Mrs. Mittendorf led the SER
vice, she always read TO us. Once
she read "Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch" and once she recited kipling'
of" She made no comment on any
thing she read.
The girls seemed actually to for
get where they were during Sunday
school.
| Church services were held in the
afternoon in the assembly hall. We
dressed for this. Each prisoner had
a white dress, made just like the
blue one, except for a little crochetec
edging on the collar.
The eternal feminine always crop
ped out with the donning Of tn
white dresses.
Gee. don't look like a tub?" sal,
one girl, whose dress was exactly lik'
her blue one except for the color