The Herald of Wales. — 1888-05-19 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

WONEV.  ' As there exists in good society a pride that Rinds very far removed from vanity,so in the midst ofthe bad society to which the reader has been introduced,lingers a pride which, in its strange phases of development, is worth alluding to. The arts of colouring the cheeks from shreds of cloth, of compounding pomatinn from candle-grease and dinner-fat, altering the dress to fashionable lengths, of arranging the hair after a new style, and of extemporising a looking-glassoltc., hase been already detailed; but there are other phases of prison pride—one, not the least startling—• pride in the length of the sentence. A long-timed woman, or a " lifer,"asserts someairs of superiority over the rest very often, and that superiority is allowed by the prisoners, who evince quite a respect for the unfortunate, providing too much boasting does not ensue in consequence. It is worthy of remark that murderesses invariably look down upon common thieves , and treat them with considerable hauteur. A'grim, heart-chilling pride ibis; but none the less pride, demonstrating itself at all times, and asserting its ' predominance. A comparison having been made on one occasion between the conduct of a thief and that of a woman serving her time for a gross case of child-murder, the latter started np indignantly. "Do you compare that wretch to me—that low thief?" she cried, with hands clenched and eyes flashing at she speaker. Another form of pride was shewn very characteristically upon one occasion, when a new kind of shawl was distributed amongst the women for winter wear—a rough thick shawl,warm and comfortable enough but certainly possessing but little claim to elegance of style. The women received their shoals, CritieallY inspected them, held them to the light, held them at a distance, shook their heads over the material. "Hanged if they ain't workers shawls! "exclaimed one woman at last, "just the things the poor workue critters walk about in. Every prisoner is above the workhouse 'of course; almost every prisoner would prefer the gaol to, that mismanaged institution. The workhouse is the lowest depth to the criminal mind. Prison Characters Z),-awn from Life, with Suggestions for Prison Government. By P. N. Robinson.  AN ACTOR'S GOOD NATO= At the height of his trouhlea, when things went very badly, the expenses of the vast theatre (the Queen's) being ruinous, Mathews one morning saw a ballet-girlin a dark corner of the stage crying bitterly, and evidently in pain. The ever-gay comedian at once jauntily approached her (for nothing seemingly could dash his spirits) and said cheerily, " What's the matter,my dear?" The girl sobbed in !reply, " Oh, Mr. Mathews !I am in such pain. I have got such a dreadful toothache." " Tooth-ache ! "said be; "poor thing, lam so sorry. I'll let you off rehearsal; go and have the tooth out." "I can't, Mr. Mathews." "Can't! Why not ? " said he. "I a-a-a 4 afford it," blubbered the girl. "Can't afford? Nonsense " answered Mathews. "Run round the corner to St. Martin's-lane, where you can get rid of it for • shilling." "But I haven't g-o-t a shilling, Mr. Mathews." "Not got a shilling ?" he replied at once; "neither have I. But corn* into the green-room, and I will take your tooth out myself."—Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft en and off the Stage. Written by Themselves.