Mirror
Edited and Published br the Inmstss of the
Minnesota State Prison* Stillwater, Mina.
Entered at tbe postofSce at Still water, Minn., aa second-class
mall matter.
Contributions so'Mted from all sources. Rejected manuscripts
Will not be returned.
THE MIRROR is issued every Thursday at the following rates:
One Year ------- - - - SI.OO
Six Months - - .50
Three Months - -- -- - - _ __ .25
To inmates of all penal institutions - - - 50 c*s. per year
Address all communications to
THE MIRROR,
Stillwater, Minn.
THE MIRROR Is a weekly paper published in the Minnesota State
Prison. It was founded In 1887 by the prisoners and Is edited and man
aged by them. It alms to be a home newspaper; to encourage
moral and Intellectual Improvement among the prisoners; to acquaint the
public with the true status of the prisoner; to disseminate penological
information and to aid In dispelling that prejudice which has ever been
tbe bar sinister to a fallen man’s self-redemption The paper Is entirely
dependent on the public for Its financial support. If at any time there
•hall accrue a surplus of funds, the money will be expended In tbe
interests of the prison library.
TO INMATES.
For the information «f new arrivals and all others desiring to send The
Mirror to friends we wish to sav that the privilege will be granted by
complying with the following rules: Write your own name and register
number and send same to this office with name and address of person to
whom paper is to be sent. Each paper must be kept clean and folded
in the same manner in which it is received and placed in your door
every Friday night. All inmates are requested to comply with this order
whether sending out a copy or not.
CHURCH NOTICE.
Service in the Prison Chapel at nine o’clock every Sunday morning.
Protestant and Catholic service every alternate Sunday. Rev. C. E.
Benson and Rev. Fr. Corcoran chaplains.
S After Oliver. •
• 2
• «
0 My sense of sight is very keen •
• My sense of hearing weak. •
• One time I saw a mountain pass, •
0 But could not hear its peak. •
0 —Oliver Herford. •
• s
• Why, Ollie, that you failed in this 2
• Is not so very queer. •
• To hear its peak you should, you know, •
• Have had a mountaineer. •
J —Boston Transcript. •
• 2
(But, if I saw a mountain pass, ?
My eye I’d never drop; \
• I’d keep it turned upon the height, •
• And see the mountain’s top. 0
—Philadelphia Public Ledger. ?
© I didnt see the mountain pass, 0
• Nor hear its peak, by George; *
? But, when it comes to storing stuff, ?
I saw the mountain gorge! \
• —Exchange. 0
: :
• The mountain, peaked at this, •
\ Frowned dark while Ollie guyed; f
0 A cloud o’erspreau its lofty brow, J
0 And then the mountain side. •
• —Transcript. •
l i
f If Ollie could not hear its peak, f
• Or song of any bird, 0
• Of lambs, or cows upon its slope, 2
• Be sure the mountain herd. 2
• —Tips and Tales. 2
• •
• •
0 Of tliis no more need be said, J
0 Or given any heed. J
0 One thing sure: Ollie never J
0 Saw the mountain “treed.” J
• •
• # # # 0
• •
• •
• Just one thing more: I’d like to see •
• A mountain pass me by. 2
• But a mountain pass how can I see 2
• Without a mountain nigh? 2
• —Mirror Comp. 2
Consumption is curable, if the viotim takes
hold of the matter in time. Taberenlosis has baf
fled the skill of physicians, but at last common sense
is combining with scientific knowledge to overcome
this dreadful disease. One of the most sensible and
practical persons in the field of general usefulness is
Mr. Bernarr Macfadden, the wellknown athlete and
editor of the popular magazine, Physical Culture.
In a recent issue Mr. Macfadden, among other
things, had the following to say on the sublect of
Exercise versus Disease:
“One might say that disease is eternally after
us. It is watching for a chance to attack us, and
EDITORIAL.
whenever we divert from that which is normal we
lower our vital resistance or lessen our strength, and
are liable to be attached by disease,, and we make
this possible simply beoause of the depleted vitality
that results from causes within pur own oontrol.
Consumption, the terrible scourge, is really caused
by inactivity, by the accumulation of dead cells. It
is nothing more than a vast quantity of catarrhal
poisons in the blood seeking an ontlet. This fear
ful disease can be cured in its very first stages, with
but little more than muscular exercise. If the com
plaint has advanced to any great extent, then more
stringent measures are necessary, more careful diet
ing, and various other aids, must be used, but at the
outset of this complaint, if you will follow what is
termed an ordinary wholesome diet, remain out of
doors as much as possible, breathe pure air, walk,
rnn, and exercise all the various muscles of the
body, it will disappear in a remarkably short time.
“The forefathers of the present generations of
American stock were a raoe of hardy pioneers.
These pioneer Americans did not n*ed physical
culture exercises. They lived in the open air.
Their living rooms were well ventilated—they did
not know how to make them otherwise. They were
compelled to take all sorts of strenuous outdoor ex
ercise. This vigorous muscular activity was essen
tial to their health. They knew little or nothing
about developing strength. They had to make ac
tive'use of their muscles to get food and clothing,
and build the houses that were essential to their
comfort.”
The Mirror has heretofore frequently expressed
the opinion that the best cure for consumption is
work. A concrete example may be cited in The
Mirror offioe: The press in the printshop is run by
hand power. Most of the printers seek to avoid be
ing compelled to pump it because their “strength
will not stand it.” The reply was often made to
this excuse, “if you will take a little of that physical
culture you will soon have the strength to stand it.”
That is about the best illustration that can be given.
Take a thoroughbred racer or pacer and look
him up in a stable without exercise and lie will soon
be out of commission as a track animal and finally
fade away and die of a hundred complaints.
Many men and women do not take as good care
of themselves as they do of their animal pets—hence
the decline in their health. In addition to the ex
ercise recommended by Mr. Macfadden. men and
women must keep their bodies clean—on the inside
as well as the outside. Eating too much is worse
than not eating enough, but to come back to the
original proposition: Deep breathing, plenty of
work or exercise, careful diet, pure air and general
cleanliness will knock tuberculosis in its incipient
stages sky high. There is no doubt about it be
cause the results are certain in all indicated cases
where the above rules have been followed.
A lazy liver is usually the result of a lazy life.
A lazy life produces lazy lungs and lazy lungs lead
to the worst of diseases—Consumption. No one
need be the victim of that dreaded disease without
inviting it —and that fact is becoming generally
inown.
Out in Wyoming —the Sagebrush country—
women have been granted full political rights for
the past ten years and in a recent number of his
wellknown monthly magazine, Bill Barlow among
other things upon the subject of women has the fol
owing to say:
“Female suffrage does not cheapen or degrade
her [woman] nor lower her standard as the best God
made. It does not detract from her every charm as
sweetheart, wife and mother—does not rob her of
one rose of her winsome womanhood—never yet has
taken from her one whit of her refinement, estranged
real friends, nor broken up a family—and insofar as
chivalry concerns, we who vote with her are as ready
to vouch for Wyoming women as ladies ooe and all,
as ever belted knight cast a glove into the arena in
token of valorous confidence and respect. But—if
the fearsome prophecies made by many equal suf
frage leaders were like to be verified—if right to
vote carries with it license to disgrace womanhood
and raise hell—if the franchise were calculated to
transform wives and daughters into collar-and-elbow
political plug-uglies, ripe any old time for a vote—
ready to wrestle with every sort of fanaticism, from
rum to religion, including the wanton and the man
who made her immoral—if rowdyism and open de
fiance of law and decency such as obtains among
wenches of the militant typo must be the rule—man
and God both forbid.”
Bill says the women, as a rule, pay very little
attention to voting at general elections in Wyoming
and none whatever to the primaries—that families
usually vote as a unit and that Woman Suffrage has
made Wyoming no better or no worse than it would
be without it.
Just so. And that’s enough. And since Wo
man Suffrage does no harm it might as well be in
universal vogue as not.
That dear Elbert Hubbard is a perennial de
light.
Home and
Happiness
A Happy Home is the Nearest Ap
proach to Heaven in this
Vale of Tears.
There is a great deal of talk now
adays about women’s “rights,” but
I dont care to enter upon a dis
cussion of the merits of that sub
ject. I only say that if women,
from the highest to the lowest,
were systematically educated to
wield the great power they possess,
a power which can be made to
move the secret springs of business
and success, they would then have
little reason to complain of the
want of influence. If they were
trained so as to enter actively and
energetically into home and do
mestic affairs, that none could
deem it a pursuit unworthy of
them, they would then find ample
scope for daily faculties. I would
not have domestic economy and
home duties vaunted or made the
constant theme of conversation or
“gossip.” They are the private
employments of a woman. Those
who talk most of their duties are
generally those who perform them
the most imperfectly.
When we think of happiness we
usually think of home. It seems
to me that a happy home is the
nearest approach to Heaven that
we are likely to find here on this
earth. Where happiness and love
are there is heaven. The most
beautiful mansions in the world,
magnified in proportion, with fur
nishings bej oud the ordinary pow
er of description, are not happy
homes unless the inmates are filled
with the spirit of loving and giv
ing. It seems to me and I actual
ly believe that the palaces of the
wealthy are not always happy
homes. I believe the greatest
number of happy homes will be
found among the middle and low
er classes of people. In such
homes the members are more unit
ed. They are interested in one
another and in home life. They
learn the lesson of appreciation, to
show their love iu words and deeds
and by so doing they find real liHp
piness in a home.
Tbia is certainly a large and
beautiful world. In spite of wlmt
grumblers may say, there are hun
dreds, yea thousands of people who
would find it a much happier one
if they studied more what they
ought to do, or indulged their fan
cies less. Every human being ex
ercises some influence in the char
acters, happiness and destinies of
others, and is accountable for op
portunities wasted and blessings
negleoted or transformed. This
is especially true of women. Every
sensible woman is, or may be, a
blessing to many; if not by great
deeds or achievements the world
calls heroic, nevertheless by a
simple, qniet, forward performance
of the duties which lie before her
and are therefore given her to do.
When a man returns home from
his day’s labor, he is, perhaps,
tired and disappointed from the
day’s business. He naturally does
not care to be annoyed by the de
tails of domestic affairs. He has
probably had his worries during
the day, and with that pride, or
reserve, or want of confidence
which is peculiar in most men, he
perhaps keeps them to himself.
This example should be followed
in all cases, where advice or as
sistance is not necessary. Some
pleasant, cheerful theme shonld be
chosen or some amusement be se
lected which would render the
evening and leisure hours those of
relaxation and enjoyment and tend
to give a charm to a borne which
no other place can possess. Men
are free to go and come at will.
They have so much liberty of ac
tion and so many outdoor resources
if worried with indoor affairs that
it is good policy, if nothing else,
to make home attractive as well as
comfortable.
Sadness and worries should al
ways be avoided. There is na
more poisonous weed in the gar
den of life than worry. Another
bad habit that one should avoid
and still it’is very contracting and
that is “borrowing trouble.” Peo
ple who do this are never the ones*
who do the best work or are pre
pared to meet real trouble when it
comes. It is always best to have
a sunny disposition. Why? Be
cause it is sure to bring happiness-
Money alone will not give happi
ness, while the mind which is free
and content, which sees beauty in
the common things of life, is a
source of joy always; the reflected
warmth and brightness of a snnny
disposition is sure to make glad,
its possessor.
At the] present writing I can
hear the merryjlaughter of boys
and girls in the distance. Of all
the delightful sounds of the earth,,
there is none more pleasing to the
ear than the merry laughter of
boys and girls, and nothing will
dissipate gloom and sadness quick
er than a good hearty laugh.
When a[man returns home after
a necessary absence he does not
think of it as simply a domicile,
ora place to stop at; the word
means to him far more. His af
fections, his aspirations and his
whole being are wrought up in the
visions of thissimple word “home. ”
And in the center of it all is a
figure called “Mother.” Without
her it is almost impossible for a
home to exist.
Hot Weather Hints.
The moie you bother and worry
about an uncomfortable tempera
ture, the hotter you will beoome.
The principal discomfort incident
to hot weather comes from wet,
sticky underwear. If you build up
a satisfactory functional condition
you should not perspire to excess,
and if you wear underclothing, use
a material that will not adhere to
the skin like glue when damp. If
the body has become excessively
heated, either through exercise or
from being in the sun too long,,
plunge the hands and arms in cold
water. You will really be amazed
at the almost immediate cooling
influence of this simple act. The
temperature of the body will be
perceptibly reduced in a few mo
ments.
Overeating at any time is the
source of much ill health and dis
comfort, but itseffects are especial
ly disastrous during hot weather.
Remember to avoid the habit of
stuffing one’s self with unnecessary
food.
Green salads and vegetables are
ideal summerfoods,andoneshould
confine the diet as nearly as pos
sible to these dishes. Peas, beans,
lentils and cereals furnish as much
nourishment as will meat and will
be found more satisfactory forms
of food. A salad dressing of one
third vinegar and twothirds oil,
seasoned to taste, makes a salad so
appetizing as to encourage the use
of other healthful dishes of a sim
ilar sort.
Dont wear starched shirts and
collars if you eau dispense with
them. The day of the stiff starched
shirts seems to have reached its
end—in most instances at least.
May it rest in peace. An un
starched shirt, with a soft rolling
oollar, is the best form of this gar
ment for midsummer use. If cir
cumstances make it necessary to
wear a linen oollar, let it be of a
height suited to your comfort and
not to the dictates of style or cus
tom.—Pbysioal Culture.
R. S.