Year: 1879

Il


There is nothing new under the SUM- IN q


railraod tour and 1t is fast becoming one Of the


most common events Of everyday life; yet he


who can travel over u hundred miles and no,


find either IN the cars or out OF them something


to greatly enrich his mental treasury, he who


can spend two or three hours IN any city OF


more than thousand inhabitants and make


them proftcss purposeless hours, is one OF


those unfortunate beings who having ears hear


not, and having eyes see not


Proud rs Ottawaians are of the great natur-


al beauty Of our city, of lis many advantages
! in a commercial point of view; of its press,


original, outspokcn, able and without patent
insides; of ITS park with the beautiful memori'


al of the grand heroism OF our dead soldiers


of its living representatives who in high
places of honor and trust, scattered through


the land, reflect their glory back upon their


mother we have never in our most gushing


moments been led TO speak with enthusiasm


of our county Jail When the press of other
cities remarked that the Jail was shameful


reflection on the wealth of La Sale county


and asked us why we did not build better
one, our only answer was that we would glad
ly build a palace if they would lend us Alad-


in's lamp. Whenever the inmates poked fun
at US in melodious verse, we could only hang
our heads and sadly admit that there was more
truth than poetry IN what they said, MOI
stranger, in passing through our city, eUer mis-.
took our jaU for college, or expressed de-
sire to any citizen to inspect its elegant apart
ments.


1t was the writer's happy privilege, while
spending couple of pleasant hours IN Gales
burg to learn just how to build frstolass
Jail; and also to wildly realize the great mis-
take which the citizens Of her own city had
made in the location and style of home for
criminals AS plans for such an institution
may soon be of vital importance to La Sale
county slight pen photograph of Knox
county Jail may be of interest to the readers
OF the FREE TRADER.


1t stands away from the noise and hustle OF
business in one of the most attractive portions
of the city, and in spot peculiarly adapted
to pensive and not unpleasant meditation. I'll
is surrounded by beautiful homes, by cluster
of grand churches and venerable college build
ings. Thus its outside influences, social, intel
lectual and religious, are the best that the city
of Galesburg, one of the Oldest, weathlest and
most substantial in Illinois, can give. A neat
sidewalk adds to the appearance, and very
tasteful iron fence guards the precincts from
intrusion; the lawn is as smooth and soft as
velvet, and the broad stone sidewalks are spot
lessly white. AS we entered a group of chill.
drcn-gay- hearted and free from care as If
such a thing as cell did not exist in the world
-scampered away from our, approach The
building Is handsome affair of the best quail
ty of brick, combined with marble trimmings
in an artistic way that reflects no small degree
just above our high school, would lend the
crowning ornament to that lovely street, and
no one would ever cream that Ottawa contain.
ed a JAIL if the label was left off; an improve
over the imposing entrance the words "Knox
Jail" were only too visible.


We were informed that the sheriT's apart
mens were all that highly cultured and fas
tdlous family could ask, in the way of home
even, if they were making their own selection,
and certainly the neat Office Just across the
prisoners corridor was very inviting in Its
perfect order. Nevertheless as the massive
,ron door whnan SOLID iron h,ru uoo,r .l ia "A In.
fy human strength, swung back and admitted us
To the presence of the prisoners, separated from
the group OF oung mcn-for the dew of youth
was on all their taces-only by those dismal
gratings, all enthusiasm for the elegant seclu.
sion of Knox prison died within our breasts
Oh, it was pltiable to see them pacing to and
fro, to and fro over the dreary stone corridor,
and think what life might have been with Its
glorious opportunities, its priceless gifts from
God and man. and then remember what 1t was
Nothing in all the world is quite so fearful rs
the maddening rcmorse of brain left to feed
upon itself when its most vivid memories are
only those of sin.


We spoke to one of these prisoners, one
whose fine features and thoughtful brow would
have commanded attention anywhere, and his
answer brief as 1t was, held an unspcakableI
sorrow in its depths. We had said that this
was no place'for him, that he was meant for
better things. All, the pathos that fingered IN
the few words, IL know 1t, know it," God
give him strength for the struggle up from the
valley of Humiliation; God grant that purl-
fled by the intense suffering of the past he,
jall-bird though he be, may win from the fu-
ture the Jewel of noble christian character


No grander grove Of majestic forest trees
ever enshrlned "A school of learning than those.
which sweep around Knox College. II the
beauty of nature has anything to do with the