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IBS TT« % y ris on 3jtXirror. Edited and Published by the Inmates. Entered *t the I’ost Office sit Stillwater Minn as Second Class Mail Matter. Subscription Hates. THE PRISON MIRROR is issued every Wednes day morning at the following rates: One Yeav ..SI.OO Six Menths <SO Three Montns 35 Single Copies 5 € inscriptions must be paid invariably in ad vance. Advertising rates given upon application. Adtress, KDITOIt PRISON MIRROR, Stillwater, Minn. TO 'i'Hli PUBLIC. TUK PRISON MIRROR is a weekly paper pub lished in the Minnesota state pr s >n. All matter published in its columns is contributed by the inmates, except that properly credited:. Its sup port must come from the outside as every inmate is given a paper without cost. It is published in the interest of the prison library and after paying for the printing outfit, contributed $l5O to the library fund the lirst year. Its objects are to en courage individual intellectual effort, provide a healthy journal for the inmates of this alid other prisons, and, above all, to acquaint the outside world with the needs of the prison by reflecting its inner life and thus aid (he cause of moral ad vancement and prison reform. THE MIUIiOR w 11 be sent to any address on receipt of subscrip t on price: SI.OO per year. (iOc. for six months. FIVE VEA KS HENCE. My dear Dan: When your eves rest upon these lines, and you note the place from •which I am writing, do not think for an Instant that 1 have again registered behind the bars, and taken up my residence here for a period of years; but note the fact that I am here as a visitor to the scenes of our former disgrace, and am looking with amazement at the wonderful changes that have been wrought. I am seated on the brow of the bluff, un der the shade of one of those little scrub oaks which we used to look with longing eyes toward, especially when a couple of youthful lovers came here on Saturday afternoon to gaze down upon our disfigured forms-in the attire symbolic of ferocity. I now iook down upon the same prison build ings and see passing from shop to shop neatly-dressed men, in suits of three colors. ’ I learned yesterday from the warden, after making a tour of the prison, that the im mates are graded, and the three colors rep resent the classes to which they belong. While at labor in the shops (the state ac count plan is now in vogue), each man lias a change of working clothes, consisting of a cap, blouse and overalls. These are kept in a press to which each man carries his key, and on entering the shop he prepares for labor by removing his coat, vest and cap, placing them in the press, and dons his working suit. Ten minutes before leaving the shop lie removes his working suit, washes his face and hands in a tin basin, one of which serves for four men, and again puts on his coat and cap. This method you will recognize as somewhat dif ferent from the plan in vogue when we Mere inmates of the prison. Then you will remember there were men in our shop who did not wash their faces and hands oftener than once a mouth, and only took their “an nual” batli when compelled to by the officers. Now the bathing of face and hands twice a day and the body once a week is compul sory. The process of grading will.no doubt, in terest. you, but I cannot describe it in full, though will give you some of its features: "When a prisoner is delivered at the prison, he is taken into a room, while yet in his citizen clothes, and there by the Deputy Warden, with a stenographer present, he is questioned as to his past life, and the offense for which lie is to undergo imprisonment. His story is taken by the stenographer, and whenever desired can be reduced to writing; but in most cases it remains on file in the Warden’s otfice and is only referred to when necessary. The Warden related to me an incident which goes to show some of the many ways this plan assists them. He said: “About two years ago a man of striking appearance was sentenced to ten years for forgery. The offense was given wide-spread notoriety, as such matters usu ally are. and he was credited with being a Tetined gentleman, of good family, and a novice in crime. When he was delivered at the prison I was struck by the unusual agitation he was undergoing, and I in- structed the Deputy to ascertain if possible its cause. After the interview by the Dep uty, I had the stenographer read his notes to me, and I discovered that he had abso lutely refused to tell anything regarding his identity. Among other things he said to the Deputy, in answer to a pressing question as to his identity, ‘No, 1 will die before I tell you who I am. As regards my antecedents. 1 will tell you this, and if it will be of any service to you well and good, if not you will have to pursue the course you deem best: lam not a crimi nal; my relatives are respectable, and rank with the first families of my native state. 1 am here through mistaken identity and 1 have no hope of pardon for 1 will not reveal my identity, and 1 have no one on whom I can call for assistance without exposing myself.’ 1 went to this man’s cell while he was yet in his citizen’s suit and tried to in duce him to reveal himself to me. He would not do so, and I abandoned the ef fort. Well, when he was taken to the bath house to he measured and dressed (the Ber* tillon system prevails now in all the princi pal prisons of the country) he showed still greater agitation. So marked was it that the guard who conducted the measurements, came immediately to me, when he had finished. We compared his measurements with our register of other prisons, and a few minutes revealed the fact that the gen tleman had been an inmate of no less than three prisons, and was not only a forger hut an all-round thief.” Now, Dan, you will recognize the advantages of the plans in vogue over those under which we were re quired to serve our terms. If the gentle man referred to by the Warden had been an inmate at the time we were, lie would, in all probability, have gone to the topmost rounds of prison respectability, and would have reaped advantages innumerable over those more deserving. He was well edu cated, refined in manner and capable of commanding tiie entire respect of the prison officials. Ilis agitation would have been taken for sentiment of the most laudable character, and he would have been a hero. But the Deputy's interview drew out his play and the system of identification de stroyed his sentimentality. You see he had been in prison and knew just how to act to “win” the officers. He had not a true, manly principle in his nature, as was shown by his subsequent conduct, lie is here yet but his whole manner is changed and he will doubtless go out no worse than he entered, and if he can be improved by im prisonment the opportunities are here for him to do so. The prisoner after being clothed in the suit of the lower grade, is assigned a place in the shop and may ad vance rapidly. Another very great change is the board of pardons, which is composed of three fair, non partisan, philanthropists. They are appointed by the Governor, hut only two can be of one political paity, and as the appointments are made from those nominated by the supreme judges of the state, they are practically free from politi cal influences, and hold their office during life, unless removed for cause. When a vacancy occurs, each of ttie supreme judges of the state nominates a man, and from these nominations the Governor makes the appointment. The board convenes every month and its members are at all times privileged to go through the prison when they please. They are each required to spend two days a month at the prison, inter viewing those prisoners who are seeking clemency, or may have grievances. They also make the acquaintance of every pris oner and when one is discharged by their decision or at the expiration of his sentence, they provide employment for him or sustain him until he procures employment. The fund tor this purpose is furnished partly by the surplus from earnings of the prison and partly by appropriation. The parole sys tem extends to all prisoners and as strange as it may seem to you there are hut five men in the prison who were there when we were, and the population of the prison is but two hundred. Here you will see the direct effect of confining those in prison whom society has reason to fear and releas ing those who have made a misstep hut are in no respect different from the generality of society at large. « All prisoners are sentenced for a definite period of years, but may be released at any time when the board of pardons so decide. The indeterminate sentence does not prevail nor do 1 believe it ever will. The board supplies all cail for an indeterminate sen tence and the Bertillon system makes iden tity certain in a professional criminal, and it is made so sultry for him that he is usu ally very ready to accept an honorable posi tion at the expiration of his sentence, and even the professional often receives the ben efit of the board’s action and fills with credit the position secured for him. One very commendable feature of the prison, and one which struck me as one of the most sensible from every point of view, is the educational advantages offered. There is a regularly organized school com prising the whole prison. The better edu cated of the prisoners are teacher, and the others are pupils, organized in regular classes, and graded by a simple but effective marking system. The Chaplains are the superintendents of the school, and they together with the Warden and Deputy ap point the teachers. There is a reading room in which all the inmates of the first class may congregate in the evenings and on Sabbath afternoons and read the daily papers and leading magazines, when not employed in the school. Classes are so ar ranged that each inmate of the first class, (this class is made up of all degrees of edu cation, the requirements for admission be ing manly, straightforward conduct) can spend at least three evenings a week in the reading room. Those of the other classes spend their time in study or as they think best, when not in school, but with few ex ceptions, the one object sought is to gain ad mission to the privileged class, for admis sion to it means probable consideration by the hoard of pardons, better clothes, better food, and numerous privileges. What a fal lacy tiiat was which so long held sway in the prisons, when all men were supposed to be treated alike. How much better it would have been if they had said: ‘‘We will treat you as you deserve to he treated —as your conduct warrants.” Now a distinction can be made between servile, action, and true manly conduct. Another change 1 will mention is the guards and their treatment. They, too. are graded and receive salaries from one thous and to two thousand a year and board them selves. By this means they can afford to he thoroughly interested in their work, knowing that the eyes of the Warden and the members of the board of pardons are always upon them. And now Dan, I must close my letter and go down to the prison, as 1 want to see the men come in from the shops and 1 have but thirty minutes to make the trip in. When you write me let it he such a letter as can be published in The Prison Mirror. The paper has improved wonderfully, and is now an eight-page journal with a circula tion of five thousand. It lias a regular cor respondent in almost every prison of the country and gives a brief summary of the prison news throughout the country. In The Mirror office all the work is done by the inmates and they have a press, and a full-fledged printing outfit. But 1 must “fly,” so good bye until 1 can hear from you. Y'our friend, Observer Stillwater, Minn., Aug, 10. 1893. [Original.] THANKSGIVING DHEA.TI. There ne'er was a turkey like this I will mention And if, gentle reader, you’ll give your attention. I'll tell you a tale of elfe :t and its cause, That will help you to chuckle and wiggle your jaws In heart-felt enjoyment, just simply because The like is unknown to natural laws. This bird was raised on the shores of St. Croix. (This was told to our Steward when he was a boy,) And so great was its age and wonderful growth That the Warden averred, and the Doctor made oath. And the Deputies declared they would bet what they’as worth 'Twould out-weigli Alexander, and Goldsmith out girth. So ponderous it was when it was delivered, (By way of the lake), that the wharf planks were slivered And ground in the earth, at a great loss to all. For it lost the left wing by the force of the fall. And in lifting his “highness’’ to the height of the wall A toe nail-dropped off and stunned Steward Hall. But once in the yard the boys were called round, Some mounted step-ladders, some stood on the ground. And with axes and saws and picks and crow-bars. The task was pursued till out came the stars, And declared to the carvers “The bird is from Mars.” “That’s right,” said the boys, “we’ve got her in tow She may be from Sheol for aught that we know.” At nine in the evening the back bone is broke By a sledge hammer blow by the sturdy O’Roque And by twelve all was quiet, tue cook had awoke And lighted a lire and, laughed at the joke. For joke it wass'twas brought for a hen The joke was discovered by one of the men When dissecting the creature, they said ’twould be tender For all supposed 't vas the feminine gender They soon laughed out and lauded the sender For fooling our Steward on a pretense so slender. To shorten our story we must skip past the acts Of preparing and cooking, and whatever this lacks You may charge to THE MIRROR for hurrying us through To the gist of our story and making us do In these few lines, wnat, twixt me and you Would fill a large volume, and stick to what’s true. ’Tis Thanksgiving day. the boys are released To tell funny stories and sit at the feast— Of the champion turkey of all times and nations The dinner is served in-extra-large rations To meet the demand of these Thanksgiving ses sions Of we who are caged for our healths and salvations. “But hold! is that turkey? No, this needs no proofs That turkeys are bipeds and cannot have hoofs— Not a bovine either for their hoofs are split While this one is solid—a shoe has been lit ’Tis the hoof of a horse in my dish l have git Away from my door, I’m having a tit.” So endetli my dream, in joy ’twas begun. But all is vanitj under the suri; The castles 1 build, so have builded all men: Theirs ending in death and mine in the “pen.” DODO. OYSTERS! AT N. PATWELL'S. CARPETS! \ If you liavc a Carpet to buy this Fall, and don’t wish lo make up aay Blue room or Pink room, or aay 1 king out of the usual run, so it will not take a regular Carpet stoek to suit you, eall at the LADIES’ BAZAAR. We only handle good, common-sense, everyday Carpets, nothing fancy, but on these we claim and know we can save you a few dollars on your pur chase. The profit, what little there is,will not have to pay interest on a great big lot of money invested in stuff that only sells once in a while. So you can see that we can sell you a Car pet for a little less than those that carry a regu lar line. Respectfully, IG.ScMlger&Co. STILLWATER, MINN. ELLIOTT HOUSE, Cor. Third & Chestnut Sts., STILLWATER, .... MINN. TERMS, $1.50 PER DAY. J. E. ELLIOTT, Manager. 'i 11