the twin hells(两个地狱)-第37节
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The prison is supplied with a large library of choice books to which
the inmates have access。 They also are allowed to read daily newspapers；
if they have money with which to purchase them。 The managing officials
of the Kansas penitentiary are possessed of a very foolish notion in regard
to the reading of daily newspapers。 They will not under any circumstances
allow a prisoner to take his home paper； or have access to any political
daily。 They claim that it excites the prisoner and makes his imprisonment
more difficult to bear when he knows what is going on in the outside
world。 It seems that this custom smacks of barbarism； and the prison
directors of the Kansas prison should discard it at once。 Imagine the
condition of a prisoner who has been in confinement for ten years； having
no access to the daily or weekly newspapers。 He would be an ignoramus
of the worst type。 Our penal institutions should try and improve their
prisoners； instead of rendering them more ignorant and debased。 We are
glad to note that the Missouri penitentiary is in advance of the Kansas
prison in this respect。 If the prisoner can take a little pleasure in reading；
daily or weekly； what takes place at his own home； why not give him the
privilege； since it is evident that such a permission will not be detrimental
to prison discipline？ There are school books to be found in the prison
library； and the prisoners； if they desire； can get these books and study
them。 A great many do improve these opportunities； and a number have
made great advancement in their studies。 They are also permitted to have
writing materials in their cells； a privilege which is considered very
dangerous； and which but few similar institutions grant。 Many of the
convicts who could not read or write on entering the prison make
considerable progress in these studies。
The Missouri prison does not go far enough in matters of education。 It
should be provided with a school。 In this matter the Kansas and Iowa
penitentiaries are far in advance。 They have regular graded schools； and
many convicts have acquired an education sufficient to enable them to
teach when they went out again into the free world。 It is to be hoped when
the Legislature meets again the members will see to it that ample provision
is made for a first…class school at the prison； with a corps of good teachers。
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The State will lose nothing by this movement。
In the Iowa prison at Ft。 Madison the convicts are taught in the
evening； after the work of the day is over。 In the Kansas prison； instruction
is given Sunday afternoon。 These schools are accomplishing great good。
The chief object of imprisonment should be reformation。 Ignorance and
reformation do not affiliate。 Some will argue that if prisoners are educated
and treated so humanely they will have a desire to return to the prison； in
fact； make it their home。 Experience teaches us that； treat a human being
as a prince； and deprive him of his liberty； and the greatest burden of life is
placed upon him； and he is rendered a pitiable object of abject misery。
There is no punishment to which a human being can be subjected which it
is possible to endure； that is more to be dreaded than confinement。 Those
long； weary； lonely hours that the prisoner spends in his cell are laden with
the greatest of all continuous sorrows。 There is but little danger of
surfeiting him with kindness and advantages； so long as he is deprived of
his freedom。 If there is any hope for the reformation of the vicious and
depraved； no better place can be found to commence that reformation than
while he is an inmate of the prison。 While there； he is shut out from the
society of his wicked companions； he is not subjected to the same
temptations in prison as on the outside。 Save being deprived of his
freedom； he is placed in the most favorable position for reformation that it
is possible for one to occupy。 If he is not reformed here it is not likely he
ever will be。 It is to the highest interest of the State that these opportunities
should be improved。 Every effort should be put forth to make these men
better while they are in prison。 They are worth saving。 It must not be
forgotten that one of the essential features in a thorough reformation of a
man； is to drive away the mists of ignorance by which he is surrounded。
Other things being equal； he is the better prepared to wage successfully
life's warfare； who is educated。 He will be better able to resist the
temptations which he will meet when his days of bondage are over。 Yes；
by all means； let every prison have its school。 It is of the greatest
importance to the prisoner； likewise to the State。 As I was passing through
these cell…houses； reading the names of the convicts； placed above the cell
door； I came to one which contained four brothers。 Five brothers were
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convicted of robbery and sent to the prison； but a short time ago one of
them was pardoned； and the four now remain。 The liberated one was on a
visit to his brothers while I was at the prison。 Reader； is it not a sad
thought that these four young men； brothers； should spend ten of the best
years of their lives in a prison？ Surely the way of the transgressor is hard。
Young man； you who have as yet never been an inmate of a prison；
imagine； if possible； the loneliness experienced as one spends his days；
weeks； months and years behind these frowning prison walls； shut up the
greatest portion of the time in these small cells that I have described in this
chapter。 If you do not wish a life of this nature； shun the company of
wicked and vicious associates； and strive with all your power to resist the
tempter in whatever form he may approach you。 It is not force he employs
to drag you down to the plane of the convict； but he causes the sweet song
of the syren to ring in your ear； and in this manner allures you away from
the right； and gently leads you down the pathway that ends in a felon cell；
disgrace and death。
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CHAPTER XV
THE WORK OF THE CONVICT
It is a great blessing to the convict that he can have the privilege of
working。 When prisons were first started in this country it was thought
best to keep the prisoner in solitary confinement； have him visited daily by
a spiritual teacher； place the Bible and other good books in his hands； and
in this manner reform him； and send him out into the world a better man
than he was on entering the prison。 The； great penal institution of Auburn；
New York； was for a time conducted in this manner。 The plan； at first
thought to be a good one； had to be abandoned。 The criminal could not
endure solitary confinement。 HE MUST HAVE WORK。 Many of them
became insane； while still others died for want of the open air； out…door
exercise； and some diversion for the mind。
In all the penitentiaries of the country； at the present time； convicts are
required to perform some kind of useful labor。 That is one point of the
prison question that is； doubtless； forever settled。 All prison men agree that
the convict must perform some kind of work。 Labor to the prisoners means
health of body and mind。 Solitary confinement means the reverse。 But
what kind of labor the prisoner should perform； and what should be done
with the results of his labor； is one of the most difficult questions to
decide。
All the prisoners of the Missouri penitentiary are let out to contractors；
with the exception of those needed to do the work about the prison。 The
work consists chiefly of making
