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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:48:14 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:48:14 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29797-h.zip b/29797-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1aec182 --- /dev/null +++ b/29797-h.zip diff --git a/29797-h/29797-h.htm b/29797-h/29797-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5bb8535 --- /dev/null +++ b/29797-h/29797-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7069 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Prison Chaplaincy and Its Experiences, by Rev. Hosea Quinby. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + hr.betweenchapter {width: 15%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .chapnum {text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + .chapnum2 {text-align: left; vertical-align: top;} + .chapname {text-align: left; padding-left: 4.5em; + text-indent: -2em; padding-right: 1.5em; vertical-align: top;} + .chapname2 {text-align: left; padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -2em; padding-right: 1.5em; vertical-align: top;} + .chappage {text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + + td.year {text-align: center; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; + font-size: 120%; + border-left: solid black 2px; border-bottom: solid black 2px;} + td.left {text-align: left; vertical-align: top;} + td.left_border {text-align: left; vertical-align: top; + border-right: solid black 2px; padding-right: 0.5em;} + td.right {text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + td.number1 {text-align: right; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 0.5em;} + td.number2 {text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding-right: 0.5em; + border-right: solid black 2px;} + td.number3 {text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding-right: 0.5em;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 90%;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its Experiences, by +Hosea Quinby + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its Experiences + +Author: Hosea Quinby + +Release Date: August 25, 2009 [EBook #29797] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRISON CHAPLAINCY, EXPERIENCES *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1><span style="font-size: 70%;">THE</span><br /> +PRISON CHAPLAINCY,<br /> +<span style="font-size: 50%;">AND</span><br /> +<span style="font-size: 80%;">ITS EXPERIENCES.</span></h1> + +<h2>BY REV. HOSEA QUINBY, D. D.,<br /> +<span style="font-size: 50%;">EX-CHAPLAIN OF N. H. STATE PRISON.</span></h2> + +<p class="center">IN TWO PARTS.</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<p class="center">CONCORD, N. H.:<br /> +<span style="font-size: 80%;">PUBLISHED BY D. L. GUERNSEY</span><br /> +<span style="font-size: 70%;">BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER.</span><br /> +1873.</p> + +<p class="center"> +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by<br /> +D. L. GUERNSEY,<br /> +in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</p> + +<p class="center">MORNING STAR STEAM JOB PRINTING HOUSE,—DOVER, N. H.</p> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<h3>PART I.<br /> +<span style="font-size: 80%;">UNDER THE REFORMATORY SYSTEM.</span></h3> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="80%" summary="Table of Contents, Part I"> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">1.</td> +<td class="chapname">Emotions at the Idea of Assuming the Position, and Object +of these Pages,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_1">7</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">2.</td> +<td class="chapname">Our First Meeting for Worship,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_2">8</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">3.</td> +<td class="chapname">The Sabbath School,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_3">10</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">4.</td> +<td class="chapname">General Appearance of the Convicts,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_4">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">5.</td> +<td class="chapname">The Warden,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_5">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">6.</td> +<td class="chapname">Educational Means found in Operation,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_6">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">7.</td> +<td class="chapname">Influence Left by the Former Chaplain,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_7">13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">8.</td> +<td class="chapname">Prison Order,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_8">13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">9.</td> +<td class="chapname">Chaplain's Routine of Duty,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_9">14</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">10.</td> +<td class="chapname">General Description of the Prison and Prison Management,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_10">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">11.</td> +<td class="chapname">General Remarks upon the Prisoners,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_11">22</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">12.</td> +<td class="chapname">Prayer-meetings Commenced,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_12">25</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">13.</td> +<td class="chapname">Pike, the Hampton Murderer,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_13">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">14.</td> +<td class="chapname">Doctrinal Discourses,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_14">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">15.</td> +<td class="chapname">Effect of the Prayer-meeting on Prison Order,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_15">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">16.</td> +<td class="chapname">The New Chapel,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_16">35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">17.</td> +<td class="chapname">Prison Repairs and Mistakes,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_17">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">18.</td> +<td class="chapname">Profanity Attacked,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_18">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">19.</td> +<td class="chapname">Efforts for a Son, from a Mother's Plea,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_19">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">20.</td> +<td class="chapname">Warden's Efforts for a Young Man,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_20">40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">21.</td> +<td class="chapname">Experience with noble appearing Heads in Prison,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_21">42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">22.</td> +<td class="chapname">The Warden Admits Presents to Prisoners from Friends +Outside,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_22">44</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">23.</td> +<td class="chapname">Warden Decides to Resign,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_23">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">24.</td> +<td class="chapname">Prisoners' Anxiety at the Rumored Resignation,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_24">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">25.</td> +<td class="chapname">Governor and Council Memorialized by the Prison S. S. +Teachers and Chaplain,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_25">48</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">26.</td> +<td class="chapname">Prison Funerals,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_26">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">27.</td> +<td class="chapname">Educational and Sabbath school summing up,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_27">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">28.</td> +<td class="chapname">Religious Success,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_28">51</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">29.</td> +<td class="chapname">Fourth of July at the Prison,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_29">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">30.</td> +<td class="chapname">The true Principle of Imprisoning and Prison Managing--on +the Idea of Reform in the Convict,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_30">53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">31.</td> +<td class="chapname">The Commutation System,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_31">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">32.</td> +<td class="chapname">Chaplain's Proposed Attempt at Tobacco Reform,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_I_32">60</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<h3>PART II.<br /> +<span style="font-size: 80%;">UNDER THE PUNITIVE AND MONEY-MAKING SYSTEM.</span></h3> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="80%" summary="Table of Contents, Part II"> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">1</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Warden Chosen, and new Arrangements for the Chaplain,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_1">61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">2</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain almost Resolved to Resign, but Decides to Continue +and Arranges his Work,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_2">64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">3</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Cells Cleared of Trinket-making and Tracts,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_3">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">4</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Necessity for the Chaplain's Undertaking what He Did,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_4">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">5</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">New Phase at the Prison, and the Chaplain's Efforts,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_5">66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">6</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Sabbath School Commences,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_6">69</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">7</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Warden's Views Considered,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_7">69</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">8</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain's Restrictions,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_8">73</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">9</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Prisoner's Aid Association,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_9">76</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">10</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Complaint of Prison Hunger,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_10">76</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">11</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain's Object in hearing from Released Prisoners and +Others,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_11">77</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">12</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">B. and E.'s request, and the Connected Abuse,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_12">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">13</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Alleged Prison Conspiracy,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_13">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">14</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">National Prison Reform Congress,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_14">81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">15</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Money-making and Punishing, the Paramount Objects in +our Prison Management,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_15">83</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">16</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Waste Paper in the Cells,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_16">83</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">17</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Defective Beds and Bedding,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_17">84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">18</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Cracked Wheat Dinner,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_18">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">19</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Bad Fish, &c.,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_19">87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">20</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Prison Suffering from Cold During the Winter of '70 and '71,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_20">88</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">21</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Lighting the Hall,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_21">93</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">22</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Aid of the Association to Released Prisoners, and +Warden's Course,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_22">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">23</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Lecturing for the Prison Aid Association,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_23">99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">24</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Prison Correspondence under the New Rule,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_24">100</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">24</td> +<td class="chapnum2"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2.</span></td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain under a System of Espionage,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_24_HALF">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">25</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Chaplain's Pacific Efforts severely Taxed,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_25">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">26</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Death of Gideon Sylver,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_26">109</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">27</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Sylver Case Excitement and Hearing before the Governor +and Council,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_27">115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">28</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Preparing for the Adjourned Session,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_28">118</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">29</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Adjourned Hearing,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_29">120</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">30</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Motives for Desiring the Chaplain's Removal,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_30">122</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">31</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain's Change of Course, and the Question as to who +should Conduct the Prison Correspondence,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_31">124</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">32</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Change, for a Time, in the Warden's Management,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_32">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">33</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Fate of Henry Stewart and others,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_33">129</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">34</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Warden's Want of Courtesy to Prisoners' Visitors,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_34">132</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">35</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Effects of the new Order upon the Prisoners,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_35">133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">36</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Comparative Prison Order for the two years,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_36">139</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">37</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Good Traits in the Warden for Prison Service,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_37">143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">38</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain's Inability to Prevent Knowing more or less of +the Prisoners' Troubles and the Prison Management,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_38">143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">39</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Secular School Success,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_39">144</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">40</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Sabbath School Success,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_40">147</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">41</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Religious Success,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_41">149</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">42</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Lack of Truthfulness at the Prison,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_42">149</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">43</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Reported Quarrel between the Warden and Chaplain,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_43">151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">44</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Prison Report for '71,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_44">153</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">45</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Efforts of the Prison Aid Association for Legislation in Favor +of the Prison,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_45">163</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">46</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Experience with the new Government,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_46">169</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">47</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain Determines to Have an Investigation into the +Charges against Him,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_47">170</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">48</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Anniversary of P. A. Association for '71, and remarks on +our Jails,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_48">171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">49</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Fourth of July at the Prison in '71,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_49">173</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">50</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Chaplain's Removal from Office,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_50">174</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">51</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Prison Fare under the new Government,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_51">176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">52</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">The Warden Question,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_52">177</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">53</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Experience at the Prison subsequent to Dismissal,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_53">178</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">54</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">Prison Report for '72,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_54">181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum">55</td> +<td class="chapnum2">.</td> +<td class="chapname2">International Penitentiary Congress, London, July 3-13, '72,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CHAPTER_II_55">188</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="chapnum"> </td> +<td class="chapnum2"> </td> +<td class="chapname2">Conclusion,</td> +<td class="chappage"><a href="#CONCLUSION">197</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<h1><a name="THE_PRISON_CHAPLAINCY" id="THE_PRISON_CHAPLAINCY"></a>THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY.</h1> + +<h2><a name="PART_I" id="PART_I"></a>PART I.</h2> + +<h3>UNDER THE REFORMATORY SYSTEM.</h3> + + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_1" id="CHAPTER_I_1"></a>1. <i>Emotions at the idea of assuming the position, and object of these +pages.</i> The proposal of friends that I become chaplain of our State +Prison at first struck me with much disfavor, from the idea that the +position, instead of affording the encouragement and satisfaction +attendant upon my former labors in schools and churches, must be up-hill +work, and repulsive to the finer feelings of the heart. Still, having +been no little accustomed to laying aside personal tastes and +conveniences for the good of others, I yielded, and commenced the work +on the first Sabbath in July, 1869.</p> + +<p>The experience gained in this connection, with the hints and suggestions +on collateral subjects, is set forth in the following pages, not for the +purpose of personal notoriety, but for the sake of correcting important +misconceptions by giving the true facts, and making a humble effort +towards awaking in the public mind a deeper interest on a subject in +which every citizen should feel a concern, and on which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> he should +become duly informed, and thus be prepared to act intelligently. For +this preparation he needs light, which light the real working of things, +properly set forth, would surely give. Experience is ever regarded as +the best school-master, the proper touchstone to all our theories.</p> + +<p>Never was the community more widely and deeply stirred than now on the +questions, "What course will prove the most corrective of crime with the +least public burden? What is the true method of managing penal +institutions?"</p> + +<p>These are questions of no trifling moment, questions which bear largely +on the public weal. From the days of Howard, the philanthropist, they +have been rising in the public estimate, now to stand among the more +prominent of the age.</p> + +<p>On these, widely differing theories are brought face to face in earnest +antagonism; some contending for the sterner type of the vindictive, for +rendering the condition of the wrong doer as repulsive as possible, thus +to terrify him from erring,—others contending that they have found a +better and more effective way in humane, reform, gospel +efforts,—efforts prompted by the principles of enlightened +Christianity.</p> + +<p>The writer, while touching upon a somewhat wide range of points, will +constantly aim at as great brevity in statement as may be consistent +with perspicuity, go into detail only so far as shall appear needful to +the end in view, and feel amply compensated for his labors, if the +developments and suggestions here made shall in any degree aid the cause +of prison reform.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_2" id="CHAPTER_I_2"></a>2. <i>Our first meeting for worship.</i> In assembling, while the ladies and +gentlemen, admitted from the city,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> were taking their places at my left +and front, the female prisoners were being arranged at my right, closely +facing the wall, with the matron and assistant beside them, that they +might not indulge in looking about upon others, for such an act was held +as a misdemeanor. This done, and the south door securely bolted, that +leading to the hall was unbarred, and the male prisoners, some one +hundred and twenty, were marched in by divisions and regular file, +taking their seats with perfect order before me, and filling every +available foot of otherwise unoccupied space in that small and ill +ventilated room called "the chapel," thus packing it as closely +apparently as could be.</p> + +<p>What a sensation thrilled every nerve on this my first experience in +attempting to dispense the gospel, thus locked within walls of granite +and iron, with a military guard at each window ready to deal summarily +with any who should attempt escape, or commit a disorderly act. Then +what mingled emotions of sorrow and pity at the thought of so great an +amount of talent present, which had been devoted to crime, and the +depths to which their iniquities had sunk the wrong doers,—enough to +make angels weep.</p> + +<p>The singing by the prison choir, a young lady of the city presiding at +the instrument, was exhilarating, voices good, all in time, and movement +spirited, the whole having a peculiar charm. Many a choir outside might +have listened with advantage. The Scripture reading was responsive, the +chaplain repeating a verse and then the audience. As the speaker +commenced his sermon, every convict's eye was fastened upon him, +apparently with the deepest interest, continuing thus to the close.</p> + +<p>This fixed attention, with all the connected circumstances, acted as a +powerful stimulus to his intellect and heart,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> causing thoughts and +words to flow almost unbidden, and those of a peculiar unction, thus +rendering preaching in the place easy. The numerous moistened eyes and +earnest countenances seemed plainly to say, "Here are minds responsive +to the truth, a field which can be cultivated for God and humanity."</p> + +<p>Those anticipated feelings of repulsion did not arise, but rather the +assurance that success and pleasure would attend a faithful dispensing +of the word for reforming and elevating the prisoner in his bonds, as +well as in efforts to save sinners under more favorable surroundings.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_3" id="CHAPTER_I_3"></a>3. <i>The Sabbath School.</i> This met Sabbath afternoon in two places, the +females, eight in number, in their work room, with the matron and other +ladies who might attend from the city as teachers; the males in the +chapel, a number of Christian ladies and gentlemen from outside +attending and hearing classes, some having long been laborers here in +the work, one having, years previous, helped set the school in +operation. The toils of these earnest workers were evidently being +blessed, under God, to the good of their pupils, producing impressions +upon some, which greatly aided them in their efforts at reform. My +attendance was with the latter, and the interest was fully equal to that +I had witnessed in the forenoon worship.</p> + +<p>The prisoners were required to attend the latter, while the Sabbath +school attendance was left to the inmates as a voluntary matter, and yet +some ninety males attended this, about three-fourths of the whole +company from which the audience was usually drawn,—a much larger +percentage probably than any outside congregation can boast of.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_4" id="CHAPTER_I_4"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>4. <i>General appearance of the convicts.</i> Judging from appearance as they +sat in the assembly, a few were evidently hard cases, narrow-minded, +sordid, ugly. To a number, dame Nature had dealt bountifully on the +score of mind, they having noble foreheads, and bright, sparkling eyes, +indicative of no small natural ability. One would think that some of +these would have shone conspicuously in any of the learned professions, +business circles, or common industries of life had they bent their minds +in the right direction. Certain visitors at the prison and State House, +in time of the legislative session, were wicked enough to say that they +found the likelier appearing company at the former place. Other inmates +partook more of the low cunning, the artful, leading them to accomplish +their ends by more adroit means, while a small number seemed bordering +on insanity, two on idiocy.</p> + +<p>In dealing with these, as a whole, while at large, no doubt the police +had found their own shrewdness, at times, keenly taxed, and been made to +feel that they were called to grapple with mind worthy of a better +cause.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_5" id="CHAPTER_I_5"></a>5. <i>The warden.</i> He was found to be a man of generous impulses, an +earnest Christian worker, with a heart full of kindness, professing to +act for the prisoners' highest good. He would furnish them with enough +of suitable food, good clothing and bedding, all needed care in +sickness, with the requisite means for mental, moral and religious +improvement, fully believing in the practicability of labor to reform +the wayward and elevate the fallen, that reform is the primary purpose +of the institution. As one great means to this, he seemed to feel it +needful that the inmates be kept under strict, wholesome discipline, +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> required at all times, when able, to perform their tasks fully and +faithfully.</p> + +<p>He was accustomed to hold correspondence with other prison officers of +like faith with himself on prison management, and profited by any +feasible hints thus gained. His motto was, "Keep the prisoners on good +fare, provide them all needed means for reform and make all the money +practicable from the prison as subordinate to these."</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_6" id="CHAPTER_I_6"></a>6. <i>Educational means found in operation.</i> By the combined effort of the +warden and my predecessor, what we may term a secular school had been +established in the chapel, to be held evenings, in sessions of one hour +each, as often as a guard could be spared from other prison duties. This +was voluntary on the part of these gentlemen, and was intended to be +open for all the male prisoners of good behavior to attend, and take +such of the common branches as each should need.</p> + +<p>The legislature had so far recognized the move as to vote the chaplain +an increase of salary in consideration of his labors as teacher in the +school. But here it stopped, and that short of its full duty. It ought +to have gone further, and made the thing a fixed fact, obligatory upon +all prison officers, as really as our common school system outside is +upon town officers. Why not? The State has taken the convicts under her +care as wards, moved them from their vicious surroundings, and put them +where, with a little additional painstaking on her part, many of these +may be led to the daily habit of devoting their otherwise idle or +squandered moments to storing up valuable ideas for future use, a long +step towards their true reform.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>As leading in the same direction, these gentlemen had adopted the custom +of having occasional lectures in the chapel for the men by outside +speakers, also readings by a lady elocutionist, and meetings for +instruction and drill in singing.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_7" id="CHAPTER_I_7"></a>7. <i>Influence left by the former chaplain.</i> This influence was of a +highly salutary character among the prisoners. A number would feelingly +refer to his efforts for their best being, and from which they had been +constantly striving to profit. Some professed to have experienced a +change of heart under his ministration, and were still living in the +exercise of daily Bible reading and prayer, being obedient prisoners, +duly attentive to all the prison rules, and in good repute among the +officers of the institution. They continued thus till leaving prison, +and had not fallen from their integrity when last heard from. Eternity +alone can unfold the amount of good secured to those once degraded men +by these efforts.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_8" id="CHAPTER_I_8"></a>8. <i>Prison order.</i> While intent on reform measures, we were not for a +moment to lose sight of the strictest order. The warden would have the +rounds for this carefully observed, that no risk should be run with +regard to the safe keeping of the prisoners and their due observance of +the rules. Hence, the chaplain was not allowed to hold his school in the +chapel for instructing the men, or have any gathering of prisoners there +without a guard. Then, previous to their admittance, we were required to +be certain that the south door to the chapel was securely fastened, and +the key, for safe keeping, passed through an opening to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> guard-room. +And when the exercises were ended, and the men secured in their cells, +on a given signal, the keeper of the key would open for our release.</p> + +<p>This order was not to be deviated from under any circumstances. From +this fact, had the prisoners, at any time, risen in rebellion, +overpowered the guard and chaplain, they would have found no means in +the room for escaping. Or had any professed goodness, or pretended to a +great desire for education with the hope of being taken to the chapel +under circumstances favorable to their getting away, they would have +found it of no avail. Good or bad, professedly reformed or not, all were +treated alike in this respect. And, so far as I had the opportunity of +observation, the same strictness was observed in all other departments +of the prison.</p> + +<p>True, one escaped, but from no lack of internal watchfulness or order. +His time had almost expired, he having been a faithful, obedient, +well-disposed prisoner. The warden set him at work doing chores about +the stable and outer yard, not supposing that he would leave for so +short a period, and thereby forfeit his commutation and render himself +liable to be returned at any time through life. But after serving here a +few days he absconded.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_9" id="CHAPTER_I_9"></a>9. <i>Chaplain's routine of duty.</i> In this were embraced, not only the +Sabbath morning service and the Sabbath school care, but also visiting +the cells for giving words of advice, visiting the hospital for +imparting religious consolation, managing the secular school, changing +the library books for the inmates, Saturdays, learning, from the +prisoners, enough of their past history to enable him to judge of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +instruction adapted to each, and, in fine, to speak such words here and +there as would conduce to the requisite order. This gave a wide range, +an important field. I seemed to have returned to my school keeping days; +and found my long habit of reading human nature in students of no little +use, aiding me to understand the best manner of approaching each so as +to gain his confidence. Also my custom in school discipline, which had +at times been complained of as being too strict, now served an excellent +purpose, prompting me, at every step, to move in decided contrariety to +all irregularity and disorder.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_10" id="CHAPTER_I_10"></a>10. <i>General description of the prison and prison management.</i> The old +part of the prison was erected in 1812, favored by Mason, Woodbury and +other distinguished men of that day, the avowed purpose being to have an +institution where the criminals of the State could be gathered and put +under reformatory influences. Thus it appears that the idea of reform +was a fundamental one in the founding of the establishment. Some years +since the north wing, for the male prisoners, was erected, which is +three-storied and contains 120 cells, each about three and one-half feet +wide, seven feet long and seven high, the bedsteads being of iron and +made to turn up. The south wing, or old part, contains a tenement for +the deputy and cells for the female prisoners.</p> + +<p>The warden occupies the main building, or middle part. Here, too, are +the cook room for the male prisoners, the chapel, the office, guard +room, hospital, dormitories for the guards and overseers, and the +reception room, in which the library is kept.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>The prison yard is surrounded on three sides by a granite wall, perhaps +sixteen feet high, the prison itself constituting the wall on the fourth +side. In the yard are two buildings of brick, each two stories high, one +much larger than the other: the smaller, on its lower floor, affording a +wash-room, tailor's shop, &c., the second story and attic rooms used for +storage or any needed mechanical purpose, sometimes as shoe shops; the +larger building is devoted to bedstead manufacturing, the machinery +driven by steam.</p> + +<p>From this engine these two buildings are warmed by means of steam pipes, +the boiling in the wash-room being done by the same. The hall is +furnished with a steam boiler, which not only warms that, but also the +guard and reception rooms, and the chapel, and the steam is used in the +men's cook room, all other warming and heating in the prison being done +by wood fires. To economize fuel as much as possible, a steam pipe has +been extended from the engine room to the prison to conduct the waste +steam of the shop boilers for use in those apartments.</p> + +<p>The female prisoners eat at a table in the warden's kitchen and from the +same food as goes to his own table. The men have a prescribed diet, +called rations, the allowance of each being dealt out in a tin +basin,—meat, potatoes, gravy, &c., all together, the potatoes unpared. +Coffee is given in a tin dipper. The meals being ready, the men are +marched through an entry by a long table standing contiguous to the +kitchen and loaded with their rations, each taking what belongs to him, +carrying it to his cell and partaking in solitude. Their mode of eating +is quite a curiosity. They generally use their beds for tables, and each +has a knife, fork and spoon in his cell of which he takes the exclusive +care. He fishes out his potatoes and pares them; but where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> shall he put +the parings, dripping as they are? He has no extra dish. Then how shall +he wash his knife, fork and spoon? He can use his tongue, for he has +nothing else, and he may or may not have a towel on which to wipe them, +but his jacket sleeve or pants' leg is wonderfully convenient.</p> + +<p>What a dehumanizing system! Why not let the men eat at tables the same +as the women, and have some decency about the matter? Then how much +better in another respect. By the present system, rations must be dealt +out to all alike, giving the same quantity to each, with the result of +having more or less food returned or a part not have enough, some eating +more than others. But if at a table, each can eat as he needs, and thus +avoid suffering or waste.</p> + +<p>The men are provided with means for ablution by a few bathing-troughs in +their wash-room. An old man gave me quite an amusing description of the +operation, thus: "The bathing department here is a wonderful +institution. They will march a file of men into the wash-room, old and +young together, fill the troughs with water, put in a little soap, then +a nigger or two to grease it with; when done, the men must strip and go +in one after another. A wonderful institution! I never would go that."</p> + +<p>The female prisoners are employed in mending and making apparel for the +men, and in domestic labors in the family apartment. The feeble men are +employed in light work about the hall, such as dusting, carrying water +to the cells, whitewashing, sweeping, &c., or in repairing clothes. Two +able-bodied men are required in the cook room, another in the wash-room +and to do chores, and part of the time still another. The remaining men +are let to a contractor, who pays a stipulated price per day for each +when he works.</p> + +<p>The needed officers to the institution are the warden,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> deputy, +physician, chaplain, hospital steward, four overseers, four guards, and +two night watchmen, fifteen at least. All of these must be paid from the +prison earnings. When to this is added the cost for supporting the +prisoners, the ordinary repairs, printing the Report and annual +apprisal, we have the net prison gain. But the outsets, with the +strictest economy, must always of necessity be large, showing that crime +is an important drawback to industry and thrift.</p> + +<p>When I commenced my labors at the institution, it was about emerging +from an experience which had brought no little opposition to the warden +from some in the city, especially in the line of his reform moves.</p> + +<p>He took the prison in '65, the inmates, numbering seventy, being let on +a contract of forty cents per day; the bedding extremely limited; the +cells swarming with those pestiferous attendants on sleeping hours, +every crevice between the stones and bricks affording a safe resort; the +food for the inmates insufficient for prison demands.</p> + +<p>He at once commenced a war of extermination in the cells. Having secured +a change of bedding, and taking a division at a time, he would remove +all the articles for washing and boiling, and inject burning fluid into +the cracks and crevices, setting fire to it, and thus literally burning +out each apartment. He found it essential to renew this attack, however, +as months rolled round.</p> + +<p>Finding, from the best authority at hand on prison fare, that it is not +safe to run the supply to a man lower than twenty cents per day in cost +for the raw material as the market usually is, and that flour bread is +an economical food for prisoners, as well as being humane, he resolved +to adopt this with a diet commensurate with nature's real de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>mands, +built a baker's oven, and hired a baker for instructing certain selected +inmates in the art of baking, and established the daily supply seen in +the Bill of Fare at the end of this article. Under the head of +"vegetables" are embraced all the articles commonly used as such on our +tables,—onions, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips and cabbage. Not, +however, using all at any one meal.</p> + +<p>In the chapel service the warden gave the prisoners liberty to look upon +the speaker,—a great relief from the former downcast method,—and the +chaplain introduced the responsive manner of reading, denounced by some +as a most dangerous innovation. The Sabbath school was held the year +round, instead of simply during the session of the legislature, and a +few months beside.</p> + +<p>But it required close calculation and strict economy with the warden to +meet the current expenses with the wages of forty cents per day to a +man, though he did that and gained a little.</p> + +<p>The war ending, the tide began to set towards the institution, +increasing the number in '66 to 111, '67 to 118, and '68 to 135, the +highest number ever reached by the institution. The current then turned, +the prisoners numbering in '69, 129, and in '70, 118.</p> + +<p>In '67 the authorities relet the prisoners at ninety cents per day +instead of forty, a great advance, brightening the financial prosperity +of the institution. But in doing this they had to make a great outlay in +enlarging the shop, obtaining a new engine, boilers, &c. There were, +also, important repairs, with improvements in the drainage and +ventilation, made.</p> + +<p>These outlays were mostly made by the warden, the Governor, for the +time, assenting and advising. In '69 the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> Governor and council relieved +the warden of all financial responsibility, appointing one of their +number to act as prison agent, and make the purchases and meet the +outlays at the prison, in which year they put a new roof to the south +wing and made other important alterations and repairs. From the +legislative grants and prison earnings all these expenses were met, and +the year closed with the institution free of debt, in good repair, and +with all needed labor appliances, which was a great relief to all having +the care and responsibility of the concern, rendering the task of +keeping things tidy and in comfortable order much easier than formerly. +It is better and more economical for the State. That constant patching +up and fixing over in numerous places, swallowing up money, no one +hardly knowing how, is now nearly ended, permitting the real gains of +the institution to accumulate and stand prominently in view, though +everything there is not quite perfection yet.</p> + +<p>The drainage and ventilation were found very defective and in bad order, +but by the remodeling are made as good, perhaps, as can be in the +situation.</p> + +<p>In this general fitting up, the prison officers and men voluntarily +contributed to quite an extent, of which no account anywhere appears, +though the State enjoys the gain. In the summer and fall of '69 and the +spring of '70, I frequently saw the deputy, out of the usual work hours, +going with squads of men to labor on the sewers or wherever they could +advantageously.</p> + +<p>The prison is lighted by gas. In the hall the burners, thirty-two in +number, are placed along the outer walls, each from eight to ten or +twelve feet from a cell, but being old and leaking badly, they give a +poor light, the bars to the cells casting shadows on the books or papers +the prisoners may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> attempt to read. Hence, one of the governors ordered +candles to be furnished to the cells extra when desired. These were so +extensively called for that in '69 the gas had been largely dispensed +with for the candles.</p> + +<p>In case a prisoner is attempting to run away, or is rising upon an +officer, the officers are held at liberty to shoot, knock down, or use +whatever means may be needed in self-defense or in preventing their +escape. Otherwise prison rule does not allow an officer to strike a man, +but he must be punished by the solitary or ball and chain at the +discretion of the warden, who found it needful to use no little +precaution as to the length of the former, "for too great severity in +that tended to insanity on the part of the punished."</p> + +<p>In letting the prisoners on contract, the State furnishes the shop to +the contractor rent free, also the motive power, shafting and belting, +keeping these in repair.</p> + +<p>In managing the prisoners, each officer has his assigned position and +duty, and everything is conducted with a precision closely approximating +that of a military character.</p> + +<p>The south door to the chapel, spoken of, opens to the female part in the +south wing and to the pass-way down two nights of stairs and out of +doors.</p> + + +<p class="center">BILL OF FARE</p> + +<p class="center"><i>At New Hampshire State Prison.</i></p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Sunday</span>:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Baked beans, brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Rice pudding, brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Monday</span>:<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Flour bread, brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Dinner</i>—Corned beef, vegetables, and brown bread.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Flour bread, molasses, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Tuesday</span>:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Corned beef, warm brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Dinner</i>—Codfish, potatoes, butter gravy, and brown bread.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Flour bread, molasses, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Wednesday</span>:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Fish hash, brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Dinner</i>—Fresh beef soup with vegetables, and brown bread.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Flour bread, molasses, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Thursday</span>:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Meat hash, brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Dinner</i>—Stewed peas with pork, and brown bread.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Flour bread, molasses, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Friday</span>:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Meat hash, warm brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Dinner</i>—Baked fresh fish or chowder, potatoes, and brown bread.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Flour broad, molasses, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Saturday</span>:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Breakfast</i>—Meat hash, brown bread, and coffee.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Dinner</i>—Fresh beef soup with vegetables, and brown bread.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Supper</i>—Flour bread, molasses, and coffee.</span></p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_11" id="CHAPTER_I_11"></a>11. <i>General remarks upon the prisoners.</i> When entering my service here, +the prison had more inmates than cells. Eight were females. The +community was reaping a sad harvest from the demoralizing effects of the +late war. Six or eight were U. S. prisoners.</p> + +<p>All treated me with due respect. The most were easily approached, free +in conversation, readily giving account of themselves, admitting their +crimes and the justice of their sentences, which probably they would not +have done to one in whom they could not confide. A very few would plead +innocence, some, no doubt, rightfully; three probably having been +victims of fiendish plots. Two or three were very reticent, one saying, +"No one here shall ever know my real name, native place, or business of +life."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>It was heart-sickening to listen to their tales of wrong and suffering, +clearly showing that "the way of the transgressor is hard." Sin has a +most debasing effect upon its victims. Three-fourths or more doubtless +came to prison directly or indirectly through strong drink. True, in +many cases, more remote causes lay back of this, a native inclination to +sin, loss of parents, parental neglect, family infidelity, vicious +associates, ignorance, Sabbath-breaking and the like. A very few had +used no strong drink. A large share were young, some mere boys on their +alternate sentence. Many, on entering, could neither read nor write.</p> + +<p>The crimes were various, extending from the worst murder cases down to +the lower grades of iniquity, some perfectly fiendish, horrible. It +would seem impossible for men and women to do such deeds.</p> + +<p>But these inmates were evidently not all the wrong doers of the State +who merited punishment. In a few cases, no doubt, the prosecutor rather +deserved the doom. Then there are those rum-sellers, keepers of billiard +saloons, gambling dens, and houses of ill fame, all inciting to crime. +Numbers of them stand really in the light of <i>particeps criminis</i> to our +inmates, and perhaps were more deserving of this confinement. How long +will the people see this class making criminals of our sons and +brothers, yea, of our daughters and sisters too, and remain inactive? +Why do not the very stones cry out?</p> + +<p>I found all the prominent religious persuasions here represented, from +the Universalist to the staid Quaker; a number had been Sabbath school +attendants, one quite an Advent speaker, who seemed positive he would be +able to convert us all to his notions could he have the stand for a +suitable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> time, a privilege he earnestly strove for. More came from the +Catholics than from any other sect, and more from the shoe-makers than +from any other business class.</p> + +<p>When introducing the subject of personal piety to each, no little care +was required to bring it forward in such a manner that it should not +strike the mind repulsively, and thus fill it with needless prejudice, +but rather conciliate and convince, leading to free conversation upon +the subject. In this a great advantage would be gained.</p> + +<p>The larger portion acceded to the just claims of religious truth upon +them, some hoping that their imprisonment was being sanctified to their +highest good. One feelingly said, "I was swiftly floating on the stream +of sin and corruption towards that awful gulf in which I must have +landed ere this, had not the prison walls caught and saved me, as I +trust." Some I found professing a belief in infidelity, a few in real +atheism.</p> + +<p>As weeks passed on, it became evident that something beyond human power +was at work in the minds of a few. Personal conversation developed the +fact that they were really and seriously considering their ways. A case +of much hope would occasionally present itself. "But," says one, "these +fellows were professing this with the hope of getting out."</p> + +<p>That could not have been the case with some, most surely, as their term +had nearly expired and they neither asked nor looked for a pardon. The +work must have been genuine with these, if not with all. Nor could I see +any reason to doubt the sincerity of any, and I scrutinized closely.</p> + +<p>The classification of prisoners, as to their crimes, affords an +interesting subject. It will be largely found that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> wrong doing of +each is of a specific character rather than a general. Thus that of one +is simply in the line of murder; that of another, robbery; of a third, +stealing, or picking pockets, acting the burglar, assaulting female +character, or of whatever sort. Then, thieves can be classified into +horse thieves, sheep stealers, leather thieves, watch and money thieves, +and so on.</p> + +<p>Some commit crimes only when influenced by strong drink, and then steal, +quarrel or murder. Many can not help their wrong doing, or will not, and +therefore should remain in prison, where they can live as very good men, +and aid the State instead of cursing society by their wrong deeds.</p> + +<p>They do not all steal for the gain, but for the sake of stealing. Hence +here is one who will hoard up his booty and never go to it afterwards. I +asked an old man, a burglar, what induced him to lead such a life, and +received this answer: "There is something peculiarly exciting in the +engagements. I never engaged in it for what I could obtain."</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_12" id="CHAPTER_I_12"></a>12. <i>Prayer meetings commenced.</i> Previous to the present fall, no prayer +meetings had been established at the prison, the need of which we now +greatly felt. After much thought on the matter, I asked the warden if we +could not introduce them, and he answered, "Oh no, that can't be. There +are so many hypocrites among the prisoners, who would take advantage to +say what they might choose, and to the disgust of the others, that we +can not control the matter." This came from no lack of interest in the +subject, for it was the very thing that had found a large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> place in his +contemplations and desires, though he had seen no time when he could +feel it safe to take the step. Not being able to put the idea out of +mind, I soon brought it before him again, but in connection with the +Sabbath school teachers. After duly considering the pros and cons, the +question was decided thus,—"Start such a meeting, to be held weekly, if +found practicable. Next Sabbath let each teacher, when hearing his +class, select such of the number as he may think fitted for the +exercise; passing the names to the warden for him to invite them in at +his discretion, the meeting to commence the following Monday evening."</p> + +<p>To prepare their minds for the occasion, the discourse, the next +Sabbath, was on hypocrisy, the text being the account of Ananias and +Sapphira, with the attempt to point out the enormity and danger of that +sin, that the truly sincere should not be kept from duty by hypocrisy as +seen in others, or by being accused of it in themselves by the +malicious. At the close, the warden, grasping my hand, said, "We will +let all go in who choose. We will make no selection," and we appointed +the meeting accordingly.</p> + +<p>Met at the time appointed, nearly one hundred being present, for it was +a novel matter there. In the commencement I clearly stated what would be +expected of all who might engage in prayer or speaking, referring to the +subject of the sermon the past day, and said that the opportunity was +offered for those only to improve who sincerely desired to become better +and were truly determined to act accordingly, expressing the full +conviction that none would presume to come forward under any +hypocritical pretenses.</p> + +<p>A few of the Sabbath school teachers present took part<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> to good +acceptance. Then two or three of the inmates offered prayer, and three +or four spoke of their feelings and desires. They could not have been +more appropriate in their words, spirit, or manner. To all appearances +they were sincere.</p> + +<p>Perfect order prevailed,—a most profound and respectful attention. Much +of the time the dropping of a pin upon the floor could have been heard. +An overpowering spirit seemed to pervade the room, not so much in the +words uttered as in the convictions of each man's own heart, it was an +impressive season. How was my soul relieved at this triumph over our +fears and rejoiced at the way God had evidently opened before us.</p> + +<p>Thus the meetings commenced and that too indicating, as the first +results, the very blessing I had been hoping and praying for, a deeper +impressiveness to our Sabbath and other religious efforts. Shortly +after, we found that hearts not sensibly touched before, were being +deeply impressed, among them one of the worst cases perhaps in prison. +It was taking a new start in the right direction.</p> + +<p>In laboring with these men now, as at all times, I felt that a great +responsibility rested on me; that this was no place for dealing softly, +petting them with insinuations that they had been more sinned against +than sinning, and that nothing was needed for them but a professed +determination to amend, with a few efforts in that direction. Duty +seemed imperative that I should labor to bring the wrong doings of each +as clearly and impressively as could be before him, how deeply he had +sinned against his own best good, his fellows and his God, enforcing the +absolute necessity of true repentance, and turning to the right through +faith in Christ; that he must make a thorough, radical work of the +matter, or it would avail nothing. Thus plainly, yet coupled with a +feeling heart, I invariably met the prisoners on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> these subjects. And +where no evidence could be found of a realizing sense of sins committed +and true compunction therefor, we could found no hope in the case.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_13" id="CHAPTER_I_13"></a>13. <i>Pike, the Hampton murderer.</i> On entering, I found him in prison, +not at work, but confined to his cell according to our present law, +that, when one is condemned to execution, he shall be confined in the +State Prison one year, at the end of which the sentence shall be carried +out, unless receiving a reprieve or commutation.</p> + +<p>By law also, the criminal has the right to choose his own spiritual +adviser, and, much to my relief, I found that Pike had arranged with my +predecessor about this before he left. Still I volunteered to the doomed +man all the aid in my power, for which he appeared highly grateful.</p> + +<p>The plea of insanity had been used on the trial, or that the accused was +in a state of mind, when committing the offense, that rendered him +irresponsible for the crime alleged, which plea Pike would ever make to +me, sometimes alluding to the great injustice of his being hung. But as +Mr. Holman had undertaken to fathom that, I never pressed him with any +particular inquiry on the matter.</p> + +<p>It would seem impossible for one manifesting the spirit Pike always did +to us, to commit so horrid a crime, and probably he never would had he +been free from rum. In prison, he at all times appeared gentlemanly and +kind-hearted, helped me a number of days in repairing the library, and +seemed glad of the opportunity.</p> + +<p>When laboring with those he afterwards murdered, he was uniformly +pleasant, ready to do anything for them they needed. They parted on the +most friendly terms, the old people earnestly urging him to continue +with them still longer.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>But when Pike was under the influence of liquor, he was a very different +man, and at times a highly dangerous character. In this he was fully +responsible, for he could have let the drink alone, and did when he +chose. I saw nothing leading me to doubt his full responsibility in the +murder. But others also are responsible,—those who helped him to his +liquor and thus caused his madness. Against them, also, the blood of +those mangled forms cries loudly from the ground to a righteous God for +vengeance. The community likewise, which, by supineness and inactivity, +permitted those persons to carry on their nefarious traffic, must come +in for its share. The blame of that startling act does not all lie at +Pike's door, though he was guilty enough.</p> + +<p>When I attempted to urge upon him the importance of a full preparation +for the dread event before him, he seemed strangely inclined to put it +off and almost callous to the magnitude of his sin. He would admit that +his career had been one of desperate wickedness, but did not appear +truly moved in spirit by its real enormity, or as having genuine +repentance over the matter, a thorough breaking up of the fallow ground +of the heart. Trusting to the idea of his non-responsibility as a +shielding circumstance, he no doubt felt almost perfect confidence, till +near the last, that a pardon, or commutation, would be granted, and +ventured on that assurance. I constantly discouraged the idea, +repeatedly urging him to put no confidence in that, but earnestly to set +about a preparation for the worst. The final decision of the executive +power, not to interfere with the decision of the court, came to me, but +in such a way that I was not at liberty to announce it till officially +divulged. Still, feeling so anxious for the criminal, I went as far as +the circumstances would allow, and said to him, "From what I hear, your +case is finally decided, but not in your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> favor. And I am perfectly +satisfied that my information is reliable." But it was not official, and +the very fact of its being withheld inspired him with hope that I was +mistaken.</p> + +<p>The rulers, no doubt, did as they thought best in the matter, but it +would seem that there was an error on their part in not communicating +their finality to the criminal as soon as made. It was a grave matter to +him, and the last few days he reflected no little upon the course.</p> + +<p>In our labors with the doomed man, we had two prominent points before +us, one to fit his mind for going upon the gallows with the needed +fortitude, the other to lead him to a due preparation for appearing +before his God. During the last week, by his desire, clergymen from the +city visited him. A few of the singers from the city, also, by the +warden's invitation, occasionally called and spent a short time with +him, singing some of those devotional pieces so well fitted to his case, +which were followed by prayer and then all retired. His cell was now in +the hall. This occurred when the other prisoners were in the shop at +work, for at no other time were visitors allowed at his cell. Two or +three of his last days were spent in the hospital, which then had no +sick occupant. The strictest care and watchfulness were observed by the +officers, so that, whether in his cell or in the hospital, he could not +possibly escape if he attempted it.</p> + +<p>The day appointed for the execution was Tuesday. Monday the criminal +frankly admitted to his adviser, that he knew what he was doing that +terrible night, and was fully responsible for the deed, which +acknowledgment he signed in writing. He also dictated a letter to his +youngest brother, faithfully warning him against following his own ways +of wildness and drinking, also a note containing good ad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>vice to two +young men who had been officers in the prison, and finally an address to +be read on the scaffold. Brothers and other relatives took leave of him +Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.</p> + +<p>The fatal hour was fixed at eleven, <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> Pike was up in due season, +took a slight morning repast, dressed for the day, had devotional +exercises, and finished parting with friends at nine, that he might have +opportunity for becoming duly rested and composed in mind for that +painful occasion. At ten the other officers retired, leaving him alone +with us two. What an hour before us? I had never experienced the like +before and hope never to again. It was much like standing on the +crumbling verge of time and looking into eternity's vast abyss.</p> + +<p>We had a season of prayer, then conversation for the purpose of learning +his present feelings and convictions. He professed a hope that God had +forgiven his sins and would accept him at last; said that no doubt it +would be better for him to go then than be pardoned and return to the +world once more, for, in that case, his appetite might overpower him +again and he do other horrid deeds. Still, it was hard to die in the way +he must.</p> + +<p>Personal conversation over, we continued bringing to his mind fitting +portions of Scripture and appropriate verses from hymns and thus +occupied the moments till eleven slowly arrived.</p> + +<p>Our door opens. The sheriff with his attendants enters. We march to the +scaffold in the hall, where are gathered many reporters for the press +and other gentlemen. The address being read and prayer offered, Mr. +Holman at his right and myself at his left lead him upon the fatal drop, +and there support him while the preparation for the last is being made. +During the adjustment of the black cap and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> noose, I feel a tremor in +his arm. He is taken forward from us and placed under the beam. His legs +are bound, his arms pinioned, the sheriff reads extracts from the doings +of the court, and gives the final sentence. The spring is touched, the +drop falls, the surgeon calls for the rope to be drawn higher, as the +feet touch the floor. This done, life ends in about a quarter of an +hour.</p> + +<p>As the drop fell, Mr. Holman settled back in a chair, faint. I led him +to a window where he soon recovered, but serious illness followed, +caused by the excitement and anxiety of his labors here.</p> + +<p>Now, if men must be hung, humanity would call for the work to be +performed differently in these respects: That mortal long reading from +the court doings should be dispensed with, that is, long for the place. +It can be of no sort of use. A short formula, consisting of the last two +or three sentences, uttered by the sheriff, would be all sufficient.</p> + +<p>Then, again, that black cap should be different. Binding the limbs +consumed a few moments, and the reading, referred to, still more. But +probably after the cap was on and the noose fitted over it, the criminal +exhausted all the oxygen available to him in three or four breaths, and +was forced to suffer the process of suffocation during that occupied +time. How near death he was when the drop fell, I can not say, but he +appeared to be suffering greatly before the binding was completed. That +could all be remedied by having an orifice in the cap opposite the mouth +for breathing.</p> + +<p>Further, that sad mistake about the rope should never be allowed to +happen. He who permits himself to be appointed to such a duty, ought so +to understand his business that such an accident shall be impossible.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>Some of the papers, especially in New York, roughly criticised our +efforts to prepare Pike for his end, said it was an outrage on society +to give a wretch like him so much attention; that, in it, we exhibited a +sickly sentimentalism, appeared as though we would raise crime to a +saintship, and more in the same line. A few words only on this must +suffice.</p> + +<p>We supposed that the sentiment, "The criminal has a right to the benefit +of the clergy," really meant something; that, though this man had been +condemned to execution by his compeers for a most outrageous crime, he +yet had a right to means for preparing himself to pass the ordeal of the +scaffold with due composure, and for becoming reconciled to his God, if +that could be. We did not dream that anybody short of heathendom would +object to this. Supposing we were appointed to work for that end, we +went to the task with a sincerity of purpose. If we were not appointed +to do just the things we did, for what were we, pray?</p> + +<p>We simply followed the usual course pursued at the bedside when one is +near death, had religious conversation, prayer, singing, parting with +friends; though, in this case, we had no extreme feebleness caused by +disease to meet, but rather crime, in one of its most revolting forms, +to recognize in bringing gospel appliances, concerning which crime we +endeavored to be duly faithful.</p> + +<p>Hence, all that feverish editorial brain-work over this pretended wrong, +and that amount of printer's ink and paper thus used were simply wasted +upon, what never occurred, or that which was only a usual, honest effort +to do our duty with fidelity.</p> + +<p>But this tirade, no doubt, came through the agency of some living not +far away, who designedly put a newsmonger on the wrong scent, for the +purpose of venting their own spleen at the idea of having those around +who would treat a helpless, fallen man better than a dog.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_14" id="CHAPTER_I_14"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>14. <i>Doctrinal discourses.</i> In pursuing my labors among the prisoners, I +often met those skeptical views, before alluded to, which were sometimes +quite boldly avowed. Some of them would constantly attend the Sabbath +school, doubtless simply from the pleasure derived in puzzling their +teachers with questions. They were acute, shrewd fellows, keen in +argument, quick to see a point and turn it, hard to meet. To help these, +if possible, I decided to give a few discourses on the evidences of the +existence of a God as seen from the light of nature. Those of the +skeptical class as well as others manifested no little interest in the +subject. Soon evidences began to appear of a material softening among +them in their opposition to Bible truths. One young man said to the +warden, "When the chaplain commenced those discourses, I felt sure of +being impregnably fixed in my ideas. After hearing one, I would retire +to my cell and sit down with the purpose of figuring out the want of +conclusiveness in his arguments. But the more I figured, the more I saw +that I was in the wrong and not he; that, from what we see all about us, +there must be a God, whom I am convinced I ought to love and obey." This +man became altogether changed in his habits and entered upon a really +hopeful course. Nor was he alone among those thus yielding, who had long +been accustomed to shut their eyes against the true light.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_15" id="CHAPTER_I_15"></a>15. <i>Effect of the prayer meeting on prison order.</i> These meetings had +now continued a number of weeks with no abatement of interest, having +gained the reputation of being the best in the city. But it became +needful for us, at this time, to suspend all our chapel exercises for a +while, to give place to the proposed enlargement of the room. Hence,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> at +the close of the last meeting previous to this vacation, the warden +said, in substance, "We have been holding these meetings several weeks. +At first I thought them wholly impracticable in the place, but am truly +glad to find I was so greatly mistaken. As an act of simple justice, I +feel that I ought to bear testimony, before you all, to the influence +they have exerted on the morals of the inmates. Since they commenced, we +have not had a single case for discipline in this institution, a fact +without precedent in the past, so far as my knowledge extends, for so +long a time. And I most devoutly hope that this state of things will +continue and the meetings grow more and more powerful in their influence +for good."</p> + +<p>Such a result of our efforts was in advance of what I had dared hope +for. Though fully convinced that the influence must be in that +direction, I had not realized so clearly that we were setting in +operation what would prove so effective an aid to order in the prison.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_16" id="CHAPTER_I_16"></a>16. <i>The new chapel.</i> At length the chapel was completed and made a gem +of a room, as it seemed to us, in comparison with what it previously +was, having been enlarged to nearly double its former size, extending +the whole width of the building and taking in the windows on both sides, +thus giving us great improvement in air and general comfort; the +painting also was neat and cheerful. We all felt truly thankful for so +great a blessing, thankful, too, for the opportunity of meeting again to +resume our worship. As the poor fellows entered, one after the other, +and cast their eyes about upon the beauty and neatness before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> them, I +could see the joy flash over their countenances. The singing sent a new +thrill to the heart, and it seemed much easier to speak to them. +Everything appeared more hopeful for good.</p> + +<p>During the recess, I had been assiduous in visiting the prisoners, +Sabbaths and other days, and endeavoring to influence them in the right. +But now that the meetings had commenced, we could rationally look for a +greater success to our efforts.</p> + +<p>Nor did we look in vain, for soon some professed a full determination to +forsake their ways of sinning and seek to become what God required. +These indications, as is usual in the outside world, tended to give the +general moral tone, in the prison, a deeper impressiveness.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_17" id="CHAPTER_I_17"></a>17. <i>Prison repairs and mistakes.</i> Previous to the enlarging of the +chapel, general repairs and important alterations had been made in the +south wing, consisting of a new French roof, a great improvement in +appearance and utility, new cells for the female prisoners, and other +rooms fitted for the officers and general prison use. The mechanics +worked most diligently, and the money appropriated by the State was, no +doubt, most economically laid out. The agent, one of the council, +evidently felt no little satisfaction in having it said that he could +accomplish so large amount of work with so little money.</p> + +<p>But either he, or some one else, made at least two grave mistakes. One +was in locating the cells for the females, which are in the third story, +requiring the occupants, in going to and from their meals, and attending +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> much of their work, to pass over two, and sometimes three, flights +of stairs. All understanding minds know that this must prey most sadly +on female health, and that apartments for this class should be as near +the ground as can be.</p> + +<p>The other mistake was in the stairs. In the old arrangement the females +had their private stairway, where they could pass unobserved by any +except their attendants. But in the change, that private way was laid +aside and the women required to use the public stairs, subjecting them +to great inconvenience. I called the attention of the agent to this +matter, but to no effect.</p> + +<p>Another thing of trifling expense should have been attended to. The +female wash-room should be arranged so that those laboring there, in +turning out the waste water, should not be required to lift their tubs +as high as, and, in some cases, higher than their heads; and, while +washing, they should not be obliged to stand on ice so much. Blinds, +also, should have been put to those large hospital windows to prevent +almost broiling the sick in hot weather.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_18" id="CHAPTER_I_18"></a>18. <i>Profanity attacked.</i> Profanity appeared to be a common evil in the +institution, not only among the convicts, but also with many of those +who were over them. A prisoner said to me one day, with no little +emotion, "Chaplain, I am in a hard case. Swearing is my besetting sin. +If I become vexed with my work, or anything else, that is my resort at +once. In the meetings, I hear preaching, prayer and singing, under the +influence of which, I feel a strong impulse to leave my sinful ways, and +seek to become good and live an upright life. Almost resolved on this, I +go to my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> work and am there forced to hear more or less profanity. They +will swear at me, and I fall to swearing, too. Thus I am in a hard +case." The deputy said, "There is swearing enough here daily to sink the +whole concern clear down out of sight."</p> + +<p>Thus assured, it seemed important that a move specifically against that +sin be made. True, we might not reach those who most indulged in it, as +they never attended our gatherings, but we could work for the prisoners. +Hence, one evening, after speaking of the folly and sinfulness of the +habit, an appeal was made direct to the men, soliciting all who would +wholly abandon the practice to rise in their seats, to which some forty +responded. At the next meeting, on requesting those who had succeeded in +keeping their pledge to rise, the largest part signified their success. +The next day as I passed about, some told me that, the past week, they +had failed once or twice, but felt determined to struggle on and +conquer. Subsequently one and another would assure me of their full +triumph, that they had not been overtaken since that first week. How far +the reform went, I shall never know, but it was in the right direction, +such a reform as should be carried out everywhere, for no gentleman will +take God's name in vain. It is a vulgar, mean practice.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_19" id="CHAPTER_I_19"></a>19. <i>Efforts for a son, from a mother's plea.</i> During the spring of '71 +and, while our religious interest was progressing, a mother visited her +son in prison, having a temporary home with a lady friend in the city. +We will call the mother, Mrs. A., the son, B., and the friend, Mrs. C.</p> + +<p>Mrs. A., witnessing the subduing influences pervading<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> our meetings, and +feeling a strong desire that her son might be benefited thereby, +determined to do what she could in that direction. This son was a youth +who might have stood high, had he followed the right, but he had gone +deeply into crime, causing his parents and friends untold sorrows. +Still, this mother clung to him as only a mother can, hoping and praying +for his rescue from his downward course.</p> + +<p>The two families, here represented, had previously lived in near +proximity and in happy union, when B. was an innocent youth, just +emerging from childhood, a mother's pride and a father's hope. +Considering this circumstance, and knowing that Mrs. C. had a class in +the prison Sabbath school, and was an intelligent Christian worker, of +good standing in the community, Mrs. A. conceived the idea that she +perhaps might now essentially help her son, and solicited her to make +the attempt. She replied, "I have no objection to attempting what I can +to reclaim your son, with the warden's assent." This assent obtained, +the two met in his presence. For a time B. appeared averse to talking +directly of his convictions concerning the soul's interest. But she at +length secured his confidence, thus leading him to speak of his feelings +and desires to reform more freely, perhaps, than he had to the chaplain +or warden. She referred to the past, what he once was, what his parents +had done for him, what he might have been; to his fall, what he had +lost, his present condition, his mother's agonized feelings in his +behalf. The recital cut him keenly. Like Peter of old, he wept bitterly. +She then pointed him to the Saviour as the only means of hope and +relief. Thus she met him a few times and to good effect. He had been +really interested in his religious welfare for a long time previous. But +these efforts helped him greatly to decide fully to follow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> his +convictions of duty. He became more alive to his true condition, +perhaps, than ever before, would mourn over the heinousness of his sins, +and evidently appeared to be drinking the bitter cup of repentance. He +would be at times in real agony of mind at the view of himself.</p> + +<p>While in this state, the warden invited those especially interested in +the subject of religion to meet in the chapel, from twelve to twenty in +number, for an inquiry meeting. We conversed with them severally and +then proposed a season of prayer in which each should engage, which they +did, B. among the rest, after which he appeared more calm, as if he had +obtained a measure of relief, though he did not feel satisfied that he +had really experienced a change of heart, but seemed decided about +pursuing the right.</p> + +<p>We encouraged him to press on as he had begun, and to take part in our +meetings, to the latter of which he replied, "No, I will not attempt +that. Should I, they will say, 'I am playing good with the hope of +getting out.' That I won't do. I despise hypocrisy, however bad I may be +in other things." Thus he took his stand, still interested in daily +reading God's word, prayer, Sabbath school, and the general religious +exercises. Other prisoners noted the change in him and would say, "He +has been converted." But he was called to meet sore trials in the +prison, trials hard to bear, of which we will speak hereafter.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_20" id="CHAPTER_I_20"></a>20. <i>Warden's efforts for a young man.</i> This young man, here called E., +from the middle walks of English society, parents well to do, with a +good trade, superior mental powers, commanding high wages, came to this +country<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> to seek his fortune, fell into bad company, bad habits, and +finally the State Prison. The warden became deeply interested in him, +found that he was anxious about his religious state, and seeing the +success of Mrs. C.'s labors invited Mrs. D. F., another prison Sabbath +school teacher, resembling Mrs. C. in efficiency, character and +standing, to make an effort with him for his good. She assented, and met +him in the presence of the warden. She first took measures to satisfy +herself that he was sincere and truthful with her, and proposed numerous +questions about his home affairs, his history, &c. He answered her +inquiries with apparent frankness, said that he was then under an alias, +not wishing by his wrongs to disgrace his friends or real name, +purported to give his true name, which she was not to reveal, the name +of his minister and thus on. Mrs. D. F. had been acquainted with this +minister, wrote to him, as she thought best, and in due time received an +answer conclusively showing that E. had been truthful in his personal +statements. She then conversed with him concerning his religious +interests with about the same results as in the former case, except that +he did not give so clear an evidence of a thorough work as did B.</p> + +<p style="margin-top: 2em;">The warden was particular to have the prison visits of these ladies in +his presence, and sometimes that of the chaplain, too, not only that +there should be no deviation from the rules of strict order, but also as +a safeguard against evil reports. He well knew that there were +ill-disposed persons who were ready to distort and misrepresent all his +efforts at reform; and had a lady been admitted to private interviews +with a prisoner, it would have given them just such stock to work with +as would have delighted them.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_21" id="CHAPTER_I_21"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>21. <i>Experience with noble appearing heads in prison.</i></p> + +<p>Facts have shown that, in meeting an assembly, whether in prison or out, +we can not always judge correctly in regard to the mental caliber of +those composing it by the view of their heads. The apparent superior +development may be deceptive, the work of disease. Among the "noble +appearing heads" alluded to on a previous page, a part were of that +class, or at least contained diseased minds. We will look at two cases, +using substituted letters for the names, as previously.</p> + +<p>H. is of good form, head finely proportioned, forehead high, eyes +bright, all indicating, at a little distance, that he might possess no +small share of intellect. Occasionally he will make pertinent, well +timed remarks, but is greatly wanting in mental ability. I have been +informed that his mother was intemperate, and had the delirium tremens +just previous to his birth. He, also, years before, had at times +appeared as though Satan himself possessed him, and was evidently +insane, which, passing off, would leave him all right for a season. He +has some remembrance of learning to read a little, can count almost one +hundred, but has no power to combine numbers otherwise, at least none +that I could find after persistent labor in drilling him almost daily +for some four weeks on the same figures; thus, in addition table 8 and +1, 8 and 2, &c., ending where we commenced. Ask him, "How many are 8 and +2?" and he would as quickly answer, "11," or "9," as anything. Still he +appeared earnest to learn, and was about twenty-four years old. He would +detain me with him as long as possible to help him catch the idea, and +would often say, "When I go out, I mean to find a good place where I can +go to school, for I intend to obtain a good education." At times<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> he +would appear very religious, and talk and pray in our meetings; but, +should anything irritate him, he perhaps would fly into a rage beyond +all self-control, in which, if he could, he would kill a man as quickly +as he would a fly. Still, an officer of the needed prudence and skill, +by studying his infirmity and managing with due discretion, would have +but little trouble with him, and he would readily earn his living. He +would be an unsafe man to go at large, as dangerous, if fired with +anger, as any raving maniac. He should ever be under firm control +somewhere, with proper treatment and labor.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult for us to determine how far moral responsibility +can be affirmed of this man. God alone can decide that.</p> + +<p>J. was another fine looking man of some twenty-eight years, gentlemanly +appearing, with a good education, kindly disposed, usually of good +habits, honest, so far as known, except in two cases, and those in much +the same way. He would hire a team for a ride, go to a hotel and put up, +exchange or sell the horse, or harness, or carriage, or all together, +wander about awhile, and then return home for his father to help settle +the matter, making no effort to escape arrest. The first time he was +arrested, but not convicted, as neighbors pleaded in his behalf. The +second time he was sent to prison. On this trial neighbors urged the +father to put in the plea of insanity, but he refused, as so many were +resorting to that. Still, all said that he had the best of reasons, as +his own brother, or the young man's uncle died in an insane asylum, and +those exceptional acts of his must have been performed through an insane +impulse. Receiving a pardon previous to the close of his sentence, he +went into good employment, worked steadily about a year, and took the +same step again, when the court put him under guardian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>ship, instead of +sending him to prison, which was no doubt the most judicious course; for +if kept from that horse hiring, he will doubtless be all right, as he +has never manifested any inclination to wrong except in that particular +point, and that only when his mind was evidently unhinged.</p> + +<p>There were others who exhibited each his peculiarity. Some of these, +could we look within their mental structure and there take a just +survey, would perhaps be found possessed of such a native taint, or +bias, or disorder, that their wrong doings, for which they were in +prison, would be regarded in the light of misfortunes rather than +crimes.</p> + +<p>This subject of hereditary mental taint or disorder, in connection with +wrong doing, opens to the phrenologist a wide and important field for +investigation. But when he is forced to the conclusion that the one has +acted from a disordered impulse of mind, uncontrollable, and he +therefore not responsible for his acts, it can make no difference with +the fact that the wrong doer must be restrained and put where he can not +trespass upon the rights of others. It will rather lead to the questions +of where he shall be confined, how employed, after what manner treated, +and in what light regarded; perhaps showing clearly the need of +important modifications in our present system of prison management.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_22" id="CHAPTER_I_22"></a>22. <i>The Warden admits presents to prisoners from friends outside.</i> He +would permit friends outside to send soothing dainties to the sick, or +packages of fruit or home comforts to the well; or florists of the city +to send bouquets to stand upon the speaker's desk on the Sabbath, for +the prisoners to admire, and each received a flower or sprig to carry to +his cell as a memento of innocence and purity, and a stimulus to love +the Author of such beauty. It was really<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> gratifying to see what cheer +to the fallen these remembrances from the outside world would bring. All +packages thus sent to prisoners were most carefully examined by +officers, that nothing wrong should pass.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_23" id="CHAPTER_I_23"></a>23. <i>Warden decides to resign.</i> He had not found his place a bed of +roses. Certainly it possessed its thorns, and these, at times, largely +predominated. His efforts for bringing the prison, in all its +departments, to what it was, had cost him a great struggle, many anxious +hours of planning, and at times perplexities in executing. But his +greatest vexation came because of opposition, from certain ones without, +to what he felt assured was for the best good of the institution, and +from the misrepresentations of those opposed to all prison reform and +improvement, who think it an outrage to the State to treat a prisoner +better than a brute. He says one complained of him thus: "You give the +prisoners too good fare, and make things too comfortable for them, on +account of which they will wish to return. Whereas, the prison is a +place for punishment, requiring you to keep the inmates on poorer food, +and food so prepared that it shall be a punishment to eat it, and make +everything around them a source of discomfort, that, after leaving, they +may thereby be deterred from crime through dread of being returned."</p> + +<p>From all considerations, the warden resolved to resign at the close of +the year, yet, while remaining, to continue the usual prison rations and +efforts at reform. His wife also heartily joined in his efforts, having +from the first done much towards the excellent fare of the prisoners, +and seeing that the sick were properly cared for. Hence, on one +occasion, finding a man gradually wasting away with consumption, the +skin wearing from his emaciated limbs by the hard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> prison couch, she +sent in her own feather bed, that he might pass the remainder of his +days in what comfort he could.</p> + +<p>But what shall we think of the assertion that "the food should be so +prepared that it shall be a punishment to the men to eat it?" Can it be +possible, that one in New Hampshire, at this late day, uttered a +sentiment like that? So the warden most positively asserts. To say +nothing of its inhumanity, common worldly policy would repudiate such an +idea. Of food thus prepared one at first would eat as little as possible +to live, his powers for labor therefore depart, his appetite gradually +fails, and he goes down to death.</p> + +<p>All who use horses or oxen, except the worst of men, would scout such a +practice. They say, "To have teams work well, feed well." So it must be +with men, whether in prison or elsewhere. Power for muscular labor can +be furnished only by generous food.</p> + +<p>Then the fear that good prison fare would induce the prisoners to return +purposely on recommitments, must have been expressed without due +consideration, or being taught by prison facts. Statistics show that, +where the prison is the most cruelly managed and the inmates are kept on +the poorest fare, the greatest number return on second or third +sentences. Then as to our own prison, the very year this complaint was +made, more pardons were granted, I think, than had ever been before in +one year since the founding of the institution. And most surely none +refused to accept of the offer and depart. Besides, nearly all who had +friends, except those soon to go out by commutation, were constantly +importuning them to intercede for their pardon, while those who had +none, were persistent in their pleadings with the warden, chaplain and +other prison officers to help them in efforts for the desired boon. Why +this, if good fare would be an inducement to return? Would the utterer +of that sen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>timent have sanctioned the idea of leaving the prison doors +all unlocked and unbolted for one night? What a skedaddling there would +have been, old or young, sick or well, the infirm and decrepit, hobbling +off as best they could, leaving their good fare behind and their cells +"to let."</p> + +<p>What an idea! The good prison living, which at best can not be made +equal to the comforts in our most common families outside, lead men to +desire to be locked up in those gloomy cells for its sake and subjected +to the general prison regime! That man may fear it who will.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_24" id="CHAPTER_I_24"></a>24. <i>Prisoners' anxiety at the rumored resignation.</i> This rumor soon +spread through the prison, not however to bring joy, but sorrow. I had +not imagined that the prospect would cause the prisoners so much +anxiety. Probably the slave of former days on the auction block, about +to be struck off to a new owner, and all uncertain as to his future +fate, would experience feelings allied to theirs. Their first anxiety +seemed to be about their educational and religious privileges, lest +these might be cut off or largely curtailed. Said one, "I have served on +board of a whaleman and been accustomed to the most rigid discipline +found there. I fear nothing in the line of strictness of rules, but can +not bear the idea of being deprived of our school and meeting +opportunities. I would do almost anything for the sake of enjoying +these." This was the feeling.</p> + +<p>Then, they were deeply anxious about the character of the man to be put +over them, whether he would be humane, or the reverse. And no wonder, +when we consider how completely they are left to his control. Probably +no other state officer is so irresponsible as the warden of our state +prison,—that is, in a position where those under him are so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> completely +at his mercy, and where he can exercise real cruelty, if disposed, and +cover it up with a fair outside show. None but a man of humane +instincts, one especially qualified for the post, should be put in that +position.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_25" id="CHAPTER_I_25"></a>25. <i>Governor and Council memorialized by the prison S. S. teachers and +chaplain.</i> Sustaining the relation we did to the prison, we thought it +appropriate for us to set forth our views and desires to the Governor +and Council touching the appointment of the warden; not respecting who +should be appointed, but the principles to be secured. Hence, by a +committee, we drew up a paper to be laid before them, giving account of +the religious and educational privileges we had been laboring to secure +to the inmates for the purpose of throwing around them all the +influences possible for securing good order in the prison, and a +preparation, on their part, for going out reformed, and duly prepared to +act the part of good citizens, and also soliciting their honorable body, +that they would so recognize these arrangements and labors of ours, in +their contemplated appointment, that they should not be curtailed, but +permitted to go on, gathering around them such improved facilities as +might be devised from time to time, thus securing the best discipline in +the prison and the highest ends of imprisoning.</p> + +<p>We were treated on the occasions with due respect, and permitted to +speak freely on the points as we judged best. Some of the gentlemen +responded in most commendatory terms at what we had been doing, +regarding the influence as highly salutary in regard to order and +general good in the prison.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_26" id="CHAPTER_I_26"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>26. <i>Prison funerals.</i> The methods of procedure at the interment of the +prisoners had been various, at times not very complimentary to a +professedly Christian people. But more recently the custom had obtained +of having prayer and remarks appropriate to the occasion, the men being +arranged in the prison yard, after which they were to retire to their +work. In this way we conducted our first funeral after my entrance. At +the next, we observed this form: Had all things ready when the men were +had eaten, say at twenty-five minutes past twelve, and then took them to +the chapel for the usual prayer and remarks, which ended, we conducted +them in file through the reception-room for leave-taking of their +lifeless comrade, the body being there laid out with some little taste, +and then they passed on to the shop. This method is chaste and +appropriate, hinders nothing about the shop labor, and manifests due +respect for the occasion.</p> + +<p>The matter of funerals has ever been held as of great importance by all +civilized nations. Nor is it any the less important to a well conducted +prison than elsewhere. Proper funeral observances will tend to the good +of the prisoners as well as to that of others, and help impress upon +them the idea of their own mortal career and accountability. How much +more like men they will cause the inmates to feel than would putting the +body in a rough box and hauling it off the back way, in a cart, like a +dead dog.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_27" id="CHAPTER_I_27"></a>27. <i>Educational and S. school summing up.</i> The year closed upon our +educational efforts with a good measure of success, though of necessity +limited in comparison with what ought to be accomplished by a like +number in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> our public schools outside. For, it will be borne in mind, +that all our pupils had to perform their daily tasks at manual labor +from early morn till night; that their cells are not the most +advantageous rooms for study; that what they obtained they had to gain +in these pent up places, in the odds and ends of their time, as best +they could. Then, again, we could have our school only when the guards +could be spared from their common prison duties. Still, with all the +drawbacks, a number of the inmates made commendable proficiency. They +did what they could. They had become inspired with the idea of putting +themselves earnestly to the task of cultivating their intellects and +hearts, so far as they could, and thus be prepared, on leaving prison, +for common business. Some had really waked up to what they had lost by +their sinful courses, and now appeared determined to do their best, in +the future, at making amends. Thus spurred on, they were diligent. And +it was truly a pleasure to be permitted to help forward these minds, +arousing, as they were, to a higher and better life. Sordid indeed must +be that heart which would not fire up with energy for encouraging such +to go on.</p> + +<p>Some forty of the young were among those who were striving in this +direction, a very few others of that class not possessing sufficient +mental capacity for learning. Then others had obtained a good education +previously, and chose to spend their time in reading from the library, +except that some would wish a better knowledge of arithmetic, and +perhaps other branches, when about to close their term.</p> + +<p>We had been favored with a few interesting lectures from outside +gentlemen, with three readings by lady elocutionists, and a number of +drill exercises in singing. A gentleman also gave us a number of lessons +in penmanship.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>We had repaired the books of the library, added nearly two hundred +volumes, obtained a new catalogue, two large blackboards for drill +exercises in arithmetic, &c., a set of charts on penmanship, a set also +of outline maps in geography, purchasing likewise such books or material +as appeared needful to the school, expending in all $260.45, being +allowed to use in this way the money gathered from the admission fees of +visitors, all of which we did not use.</p> + +<p>We endeavored to do what we could towards beginning what we confidently +hoped would soon become an institution duly established by the State +with all needed provision for security. The Sabbath school continued +with unabated interest from the first, numbers varying but little, +seldom falling below eighty, average, eighty-six.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_28" id="CHAPTER_I_28"></a>28. <i>Religious success.</i> From my first day at the prison, the religious +state had been encouraging, nothing to mar the interest transpiring. +True, there had been no revival at any time, but a steady, healthful +drawing in the right direction, that from which the most is ever to be +hoped. A goodly number had, at different times, become professedly fixed +in the determination to a thorough reform, while the others had, to +appearance, largely lost their prejudice against religious truth; and +entered more freely into conversation upon those subjects, many +admitting the justness of their claims. And, taking all things together, +our prospects had never appeared better than at the end of the year, +indicating that, should our rulers possess wisdom enough to select the +right man for warden, still more cheering results might be anticipated +from subsequent efforts.</p> + +<p>But we could not presume to judge correctly as to how much of this +profession was well founded. That we had to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> leave for God to take care +of. We had one important certainty, however, connected with this +matter,—the certainty that all true good is found with just such +surroundings as we had at the prison, the love of prayer, interest in +God's Word, delight in attending meetings, desire for mental culture and +a professed seeking for holiness; but not with the contrary, such as +swearing, contentions, hatred of God's truth, and the like.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_29" id="CHAPTER_I_29"></a>29. <i>Fourth of July at the prison.</i> The Fourth came with no new warden +appointment. Therefore, the incumbent determined that he would celebrate +this at the prison as his own yearnings prompted, and as it would be +observed at some other prisons. Hence, at early morn, he announced to +the men that he was about to give them a real Fourth, causing their +hearts to leap for joy.</p> + +<p>At 9 o'clock they met in the chapel for the reading of the Declaration +of Independence, singing, &c., after which they marched into the prison +yard, where were tables beautified by floral decorations and spread by +fair hands, with picnic dainties, lemonade being prepared expressly for +the prisoners. The blessing asked, the men having done ample justice to +the good cheer, and the tables having been removed, speaking by a number +of distinguished gentlemen from various towns followed. This ended and +prayer offered, the sports followed as various as the different tastes +could devise. Nothing rude, boisterous, insubordinate, or unkind +appeared from any. One standing outside the walls would not have +supposed, from anything heard, that a real, live Fourth was being so +greatly enjoyed within. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> probably the pleasures of the day were +never more keenly felt anywhere, in prison or out. One and another would +say, "This is the happiest day of my life." A somewhat large delegation +of ladies and gentlemen from various parts of the State was present, who +seemed delighted with the occasion. The female prisoners partook of +their picnic dainties in their own room, but were permitted, with their +attendants, to witness the yard scenes from the chapel windows. +Everything passed off satisfactorily. The speaking was excellent, just +fitted to the occasion, showing the need of laws and prisons, that those +present were here for crimes, yet that they could reform, for which they +should strive, that numerous willing hands were reached out for their +encouragement and aid.</p> + +<p>The time at length came for separating, when each man went to his cell +with a cheer of heart which he had never carried there before. And this +cheer long pervaded their minds, leading them to obey with greater +alacrity. Nor did I hear of a case of a contrary character. They would +afterwards often refer to the occasion as that <i>happy day</i>.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_30" id="CHAPTER_I_30"></a>30. <i>The true principles of imprisoning and prison-managing on the idea +of reform in the convict.</i> For the sake of brevity these principles are +here set forth mainly by questions and answers.</p> + +<p>What is the object of imprisoning?</p> + +<p>This object is fourfold:</p> + +<p>1. To prevent the criminal from injuring the public.</p> + +<p>2. To deter from committing crime.</p> + +<p>3. To punish the wrong doer.</p> + +<p>4. To reform the erring.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>On the first two of these two points there is no dispute, while some +will not admit the third, and others proscribe the fourth. Let us, +however, admit the four.</p> + +<p>Who has the right to imprison and assign the terms and conditions to the +imprisoned?</p> + +<p>The State alone, or society organized in a body politic, has this right, +and that is to be exercised by due process of law, in which exercise she +is, first, in her legislative capacity, to point out clearly, by her +enactments, for what a man shall be imprisoned, specify the terms of the +imprisoning and the conditions to which the imprisoned shall be +subjected; second, in her judicial capacity, assign the wrong doer his +merited doom; and, third, in her executive capacity, to carry out in him +the decisions she has made, no individual having a right to interfere +with this in any way, except as specially authorized by State +enactments.</p> + +<p>Hence, the criminal, when standing at the bar and hearing the sentence +of the judge, can understand exactly what lawfully and justly awaits +him, provided that he demean himself uprightly in his new condition.</p> + +<p>Suppose the sentence, in a given case, is this: "You are to be confined +at hard labor in our State Prison for five years." In this all that can +lawfully be inflicted upon the convict is involved. So say the judges +themselves. Hence, should any man, or party of men, bring upon him +additional infliction during that time, the imprisoned would, just so +far, become the sufferer of a wrong, and those making that infliction +would be the wrong doers. Let us, then, analyze this sentence and thus +ascertain its elements.</p> + +<p>Being confined in prison for the term, all admit, involves the idea that +he is to enter those walls and not be permitted to pass out till his +time is ended.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>As the term, "hard labor," is not defined, it must be determined by the +common custom of workmen at the same or similar business outside. So say +the judges again. To illustrate: if ten hours constitute a day's work +with these, so with the prisoners,—not twelve or fifteen. Again, if, in +bedstead making, turning one hundred posts, in the one case, is required +for a day, so in the other, not one hundred and fifty or two hundred. +This laboring day after day, during the specified number of years, +constitutes the "hard labor" in the meaning of the court.</p> + +<p>The law assigns no further punishment to the imprisoned, if duly +submissive to wholesome prison rules. But, should he be stubborn, +refusing to perform his task, or obey the regulations generally, or +should he rise in rebellion, of necessity discretion must be left with +the officers to use such means, even to taking life, as shall be +essential in bringing the delinquent to subordination. These means, +however, may be limited by law, as they are to a great degree in our +State, and are ever to be used as humanity dictates.</p> + +<p>What rights does the State take from the criminal in imprisoning?</p> + +<p>She takes from him the right to live and act outside of prison walls, to +be a master to himself inside, and to receive his earnings as his own. +These constitute the sum total. As he had used his liberty and the +mastery of himself to the public damage, she justly steps in, deprives +him of the one and takes upon herself the other, thereby assuming the +guardianship over him during the specified time. She takes his earnings +as a compensation, so far as they will go, for his damage and expense to +community, and as an important element in his punishment. She becomes +his guar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>dian for the purpose of so educating him that, on going out, he +shall live an upright, harmless life.</p> + +<p>What rights remain to the imprisoned?</p> + +<p>There is a wide range, a long list of these, which the State does not +pretend to cut off or interfere with, such as the right to suitable +food, clothing, lodging, ventilation, drainage, care in sickness or +infirmity: in a word, to what will tend to corporeal vigor; the right to +means for mental, moral and religious culture, or what will tend to the +development in him of true manhood. If this is not so, which right is +cut off or curtailed? and where is the law that does it?</p> + +<p>What duties does the State take upon herself in thus imprisoning?</p> + +<p>These are of two classes, one relating particularly to herself, and the +other to the imprisoned.</p> + +<p>Duty to herself is done, 1st, in protecting society from the crimes of +the imprisoned, which she does by imprisoning; 2nd, in keeping the +criminal diligently at work, thereby obtaining pecuniary compensation, +so far as can be, for her trouble and expense on his account; 3d, in +using all feasible efforts for rubbing off the rust of sin, washing away +the corruption of iniquity, found in those taken in charge, and making +of them true men,—good, industrious, honest, upright citizens.</p> + +<p>The latter part is of the highest moment, far exceeding all +considerations of mere dollars and cents, drawing as much real manhood +as possible from the material put in her hands. If she takes one who is +dangerous to society, and works in him an entire reform, she +accomplishes a work in comparison with which gold and silver will weigh +but little.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> Making men is the high mission of the prison, and the State +can not be regarded as having performed anything like her whole duty, +till she has used every feasible means to this great end.</p> + +<p>The duty of the State to the prisoner is performed by securing to him +what he needs in his corporeal, mental, moral and religious departments.</p> + +<p>If she withholds in any of these, so far she becomes delinquent towards +the imprisoned, a violator of his rights just as really as he had been a +violator of others' rights when in his wild career of sinning.</p> + +<p>More than this. In such withholding she becomes chargeable with real +cruelty. For she has put the man in a state where he can not supply his +own needs, and, if she neglects them, he must suffer. This is surely a +grave matter, one which should be looked to with the utmost care;—a +place where the State can afford to be highly generous rather than +expose herself to a suspicion of such a wrong.</p> + +<p>What are the proper means of reform?</p> + +<p>Among these will be found, the State guardianship, the labor system, +strict discipline, kind treatment, stimulating hope, mental, moral and +religious culture.</p> + +<p>The State guardianship will tend to form in the convict the habit of +duly regarding the rights of others and of looking up, with respect, to +wise and beneficent direction; the labor system, that of uniform +industry, of profitably employing the time instead of in idle +indulgencies; strict discipline, that of cheerful submission to +wholesome rules, regardful of the principles of right. Kind treatment +will tend to inspire the recipients with confidence in the sincerity of +the reform efforts used, trust in the proffered friendship,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> and an +assurance of success in struggles for good. Stimulating hope will rouse +the better nature to action and secure confidence in overseers. +Cultivating the intellect will prepare one intelligently to conduct +himself in the affairs of life, and open to him sources of satisfaction +far above those of his former life. Moral culture will arouse +controlling ideas of the bounds of human rights, and the importance of +observing them. The religious cultivation, having been made through deep +conviction of sin, resulting in a hatred to wrong and a love for good, +will lay a broad and deep foundation for a life of right.</p> + +<p>Let these means be honestly and efficiently used, and they will most +powerfully influence to ways of goodness. None of them can be spared. +Each is a link in the chain which will be mighty to elevate the fallen. +And if one can not be reformed by them, it is proof positive that he +ought not to be at large.</p> + +<p>What kind of prison officers are essential?</p> + +<p>They should be of good moral character, ever setting proper examples +before the prisoners, humanely disposed, capable of complete +self-control, alive to efforts for reforming the inmates. Those more +especially charged with the administration of affairs will need, in +addition, to be good disciplinarians, studying the peculiarities of each +and endeavoring to heal the weaknesses of mind.</p> + +<p>The warden should possess great breadth of mind and force of character; +be capable of bringing to his work large heart power; patient, yet +decided; abounding with humane instincts, yet capable of using sterner +means when essential; ever keeping wisdom at the helm, using true +discretion, and be controlled by a strong desire for the highest good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +of all. He will be intent on studying how to address reform means to +each with a view to the greatest success. At the same time he should +look well to the true pecuniary interests of the institution.</p> + +<p>The chaplain should be truly a man of God, enabled to bring large +mental, moral and religious force to his duties, and alive, heart and +soul, to the great work of raising up those under his care and +presenting them to the world redeemed and saved.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_31" id="CHAPTER_I_31"></a>31. <i>The commutation system.</i> This is a system established by +legislative enactment a few years since; on condition of good behavior +and a faithful performance of duty in one, to grant him a specified +shortening in his term of sentence, and complete restoration to +citizenship.</p> + +<p>It was really interesting to witness the effect of this provision on the +convicts, stimulating as it did their hope, and leading them to do the +best they could to obtain this much coveted boon. The case of one will +illustrate this feeling. He had been in the solitary, but did not seem +to mind his sufferings there in the least. His great anxiety was whether +he should lose his commutation. He suffered no little in mind in this +respect. Indeed, every day gave us a clear exhibition of the influence +this system had over the inmates' minds for good, helping the officers +greatly in keeping order in their efforts at reform.</p> + +<p>Now, if hope could be thus stimulated, and that to such great advantage, +by this simple provision, what might not be accomplished by following +more largely the same line of policy, that is, the hope-stimulating +line?</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_I_32" id="CHAPTER_I_32"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>32. <i>Chaplain's proposed attempt at tobacco reform.</i></p> + +<p>The chaplain made this proposition to the governor and council: "Put the +prisoners on their option as to tobacco using with the condition that +any who will disuse it, receive, once a month, or quarter, as the case +may be, the amount thus saved in money, to be kept funded in the bank +for him to receive, on certain conditions as to time, &c., after his +release."</p> + +<p>This proposition was made with at least four prominent objects in view. +The first was to convert as many as could be from tobacco using; the +second, to give an additional stimulus to hope among the prisoners; the +third, to create an interest in the men in looking after money matters, +a care for small items; and, fourth, to help them form the habit of +saving and laying up.</p> + +<p>This privilege was, of course, to be granted on condition of good +behavior, and therefore as effective as could be toward prison order.</p> + +<p>The proposer conceived that here was an element of great power for good +to the prison and State. This forming a habit, in the former careless +one, of looking particularly into the smallest items of money, with +carefully saving and laying up, might work an entire revolution in more +than one, leading them to habits of honest industry and thrift, an +immense gain to the individual and the community.</p> + +<p>But the rulers did not see fit to heed the proposal. If they had, no +doubt quite a large number of the prisoners would have adopted the +plan.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<h1>THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY</h1> + +<h2><a name="PART_II" id="PART_II"></a>PART II.</h2> + +<h3>Under the Punitive and Money-making System.</h3> + + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_1" id="CHAPTER_II_1"></a>1. <i>Warden chosen, and new arrangements for the chaplain.</i> Some weeks of +the new year had passed, when the warden's place was filled by the +choice of J. C. Pillsbury, of Concord. Report said that the delay had +been by reason of a division of sentiment on the case in the council +chamber.</p> + +<p>I directly waited on the new incumbent, at his office, to arrange for my +duties. He seemed to feel that he had been put there for correcting +important abuses that had grown up in the prison management, in what +particular department I did not learn. But he laid out my work as +follows:</p> + +<p>"Chaplain, we will have the meetings held in the chapel as heretofore; +that is, the males assemble Sabbath mornings at nine and enjoy the same +exercises as usual, none else to be admitted except at my special +invitation; Sabbath school<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> continue Sabbath afternoons, and I will +select such teachers as I think best. Wednesday evening prayer meetings +to continue, I inviting in some of the religious men of the city to help +carry them on, and not a prisoner be allowed to open his head in them. +These fellows are here to be punished. They must not be called men, but +criminals, for such they are."</p> + +<p>Such in substance was my programme, on which this colloquy followed +between myself and warden:</p> + +<p>"Warden, you did not speak of admitting the female prisoners to the +Sabbath worship in the chapel."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't purpose to admit any females to that service."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">1</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I understood his objection to be, that the sight of a woman +is demoralizing to a prisoner.</p></div> + +<p>"But we can have a screen so arranged, that the women can not be seen by +the men, though assembled as formerly, and I will be at the labor and +expense of fitting it."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't have a woman in the chapel."</p> + +<p>"But do not the rules require the warden to assemble the females as well +as males in the chapel Sabbath mornings for worship?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I call the women's work-room their chapel."</p> + +<p>"But, if I am to hold a service with the women in their work-room after +the chapel service, it will double my labors, and then not be as +interesting and useful to them as if hearing the discourse with the +speaker fresh and unfatigued."</p> + +<p>"I don't ask you to hold a second service with the women, for giving +them a sermon. Only go into their room any time in the week, some +evening if more convenient, and offer prayer, and that will be all +sufficient."</p> + +<p>"How about commencing the school in the chapel?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>"Oh, I can't have anything to do with that, we are so tired, when night +comes, with our other duties."</p> + +<p>Thus matters were before me. What a cutting off! The question would be, +"Is this cutting off a part of the proposed correction of prison +abuses?" No secular school, no religious instruction of note to the +female prisoners, and the screws put upon our prayer meeting so tightly +as to render them of but little account to the prisoners.</p> + +<p>As to the latter, I felt that, could the prisoners enjoy the privilege +of taking part in them as previously, having only the warden, guards and +myself present, it would be preferable to the new plan. This I proposed, +to which the warden finally assented, and that from the fact, as I +supposed, that it would rid him of so much outside attendance. This then +was gained, though the other points remained immovably fixed.</p> + +<p>I understood the warden to remark, "It is of no use for the chaplain to +preach and labor with a hope of reforming these prisoners, for they +can't be reformed." Then this expression, as of his saying, was told +me,—"I will break up that Methodist camp meeting at the prison." What +did the assertion mean? Was it a slur on our previous religious efforts? +Or was it indicative of a shortening of our religious privileges? We +had, at no time, any rush at our meetings, but few being admitted for +want of room. A small number had attended and helped in our prayer +meetings, more in the Sabbath school. All denominations were alike +interested in the matter. Indeed, we had no denomination about it.</p> + +<p>I brought the matter of the school and that of the females assembling in +the chapel for worship to the notice of the governor, but the warden +prevailed.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_2" id="CHAPTER_II_2"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>2. <i>Chaplain almost resolved to resign, but decides to continue and +arrange his work.</i> Thus things put on so forbidding an aspect in every +way, that it did not seem that I could accomplish any further good at +the prison. True, I could draw my salary with almost nothing to do, the +name go out that the institution had a chaplain, but being expected to +drift on with the current, whichever way it might set, and at the end +make up a glowing report of the prison doings and success, no matter +what the facts might be. But my feelings rebelled at such an idea, and I +thought, for a time, that I must resign, and almost resolved upon the +step. Then the question would arise, Is it right to leave those who have +appeared so earnest to improve and reform? Something said, "No." +Friends, too, learning my feelings on the subject, said decidedly that I +must remain at the post.</p> + +<p>I was in a hard place. There were the sentiments as uttered above, then +the general spirit manifested, speaking louder than words, that "reform +moves are all interlopers in prison, having no sort of business here." +After looking the ground carefully over in my mind and thinking of all +the connections, I saw that, by a greatly increased amount of labor, I +could furnish the prisoners with a partial substitute for the chapel +school. I had a right to visit them in the privacy of their cells, from +morn till the hour for retiring in the evening. I could therefore hear +their recitations there separately. No one could justly complain of +this. Hence, I decided to remain, and laid out my work thus:—Sabbath, +usual service with the men from nine to ten, and services in the women's +work-room till eleven; then in the hospital with Jones, the murderer, +and others as their cases allow, till twelve; Sabbath school services in +the afternoon, besides visiting cells as much as possible; on other +days, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> spend noon and evenings visiting the cells in turn, hearing +recitations and imparting instruction in the common school branches; +besides changing the books Saturdays, as already, to change them at any +other time when called for.</p> + +<p>Thus I voluntarily undertook three times as much real hard work for the +prisoners as my duty had previously demanded. The new order seemed to +render it imperative, for I could do nothing in the educational line +without it.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_3" id="CHAPTER_II_3"></a>3. <i>Cells cleared of trinket-making and tracts.</i> The former warden was +accustomed to distribute tracts among the prisoners. He also, by the +assent of the government over him, had allowed the men, who desired it, +to employ their otherwise idle moments by making small trinkets, as hair +chains, paper folders, tooth-picks and small fancy boxes in imitation of +what was done in certain other prisons, thereby, as was supposed, +securing greater contentment and better order among the men. The new +warden condemned all this as a great violation of good prison order. The +candles, also, were condemned, and everything of the kind, with all the +writing material or waste paper found in the cells, was removed, the +spoils carefully measured, and the number of bushels sent the rounds of +the papers as an evidence of the former abuses in this prison and of his +labors to correct them.</p> + +<p>I asked if the prisoners did not need to have the waste paper, at least, +remain. "Oh," said he, "they will look out for that themselves." I could +not then see how, but subsequently learned, much to the cost of the +State.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_4" id="CHAPTER_II_4"></a>4. <i>Necessity for the chaplain's undertaking what he did.</i> This +necessity arose, not simply from the demands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> of the inmates for +educational and reformatory means, but also from considerations of good +prison order. True, the warden had the vanity to think he could control +the men in whatever way he might undertake. The show of his cane would +be sufficient for any emergency. But there was human nature in the +prison as well as out, and, from the circumstances, it would be strange +if it did not show itself. By taking away the prisoners' educational +privileges, and the various articles referred to, much idle time would +be left. How would this be employed? These men would naturally feel +angry at being deprived of what they had enjoyed so long, and prized. +This now unemployed time would give them ample opportunity for studying +means of revenge, and some would no doubt turn their acumen in that +direction. If a prisoner had any smartness, he would feel, from the +circumstances, almost impelled to give vent to mischief, and thereby +make as much trouble as possible.</p> + +<p>But, could I step in, and, by dint of effort, keep those minds agreeably +occupied, I should do so much towards helping the warden to the desired +subordination and order. No previous time in my prison experience seemed +to demand so great efforts in that direction as now. Hence, duty +appeared calling me to step forward, as I did.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_5" id="CHAPTER_II_5"></a>5. <i>New phase at the prison, and the chaplain's efforts.</i> The first +Sabbath morning came for chapel worship under the new order, and a +sadder appearing company I never met, their countenances being +expressive of anxiety and gloom commingled. The singing dragged, the +instrument standing voiceless, as the one who had usually made it speak, +was of the sex here proscribed, and the warden had not found another to +take her place. It was hard preaching, for these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> once earnest hearers +seemed to have hearts too full for hearing. But I endeavored to give +words of hope, and to direct their minds to a heavenly Father who will +ever carry his trusting children through the scenes they are called to +pass. Of course I could make no allusion to present circumstances, or +appear to recognize any change in the surroundings; but somehow I could +not call the hearers "criminals." I pursued the usual course, addressing +them as <i>men</i>, or <i>friends</i>, or perhaps <i>brothers</i>, for I was +occasionally guilty of all that; but the word "criminal" never hung on +my lips when addressing the inmates on subjects of improvement. In my +view, such a course would have been like attempting to light a fire by +applying the match with one hand and dashing on water with the other.</p> + +<p>At the close of our services, as the warden, in his peculiar way, was +giving some of his orders, I could see the crimson flush on more than +one cheek, indicative of the feelings stirred within, the character of +which I could only conjecture. One of his assertions was, as I +understood it, thus: "I am warden here now. The days of bouquets and +flowers are played out here," and more in the same vein.</p> + +<p>In the women's room the countenances were not so anxious. They rather +liked this part of the change, for it would free them from the task of +preparing, Sabbath mornings, to appear in public. Still, anxiety was not +entirely wanting. Sabbath school was this day omitted, as the warden had +not obtained his corps of teachers.</p> + +<p>On going my rounds for private counsel to the men in their cells, I +found, in most cases, gloom and discouragement, they having generally +heard of the warden's disbelief in their reform. It was really wonderful +to witness the change a few days had wrought in the moral aspect of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +prison. A frost in June would not make a greater change on the face of +nature. I could but ask myself, "Why are things thus?" "At what are our +rulers aiming?"</p> + +<p>I went to each with all the cheer I could, exhorting them not to indulge +in these downcast feelings, but to look upward with hope, and gave them +the assurance that their educational privileges, as well as religious, +would be continued, only with some change in their application, and +pointed out in brief the manner, saying that each could advance in study +as rapidly as in his power.</p> + +<p>If any referred to their cell amusements being taken away, I met them +with the remark,—"Don't trouble about that. You shall be furnished with +all the books you can read and study, and I will hear your recitations. +In this way, your time can be pleasantly and profitably occupied, +perhaps making you the gainers." A few of these former trinket workers +became more interested in their studies, but the most could not, by +reason of their sight, thus being left to endure their privation as best +they could.</p> + +<p>When one would refer to his discouragement on account of the warden's +disbelief in reform, I would meet him thus, "You are to look only to +yourself and your God in this matter. What a fellow mortal believes or +disbelieves concerning you is of no account. You have the power to go on +in the right and be a good man. I know you have, and others who are good +and true, men upon whose views we can all rely, also know it. What +matter if the warden does think as you suppose? It is only his opinion. +He wishes you to do well, and will be glad if you succeed in the right. +But, should you turn back, it will confirm his views that you can not +reform. You will meet with harder things than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> this in life, yet must +not think of yielding the struggle, let what will arise."</p> + +<p>These efforts tended materially to lift the cloud from the prisoners' +minds, and give them more hope. It really gladdened the hearts of many +to learn that the privileges, which they had come to love so well and +esteem so highly, were still to be theirs.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_6" id="CHAPTER_II_6"></a>6. <i>S. school commences.</i> The next Sabbath the S. S. was resumed. Nearly +the usual number were present. A few Christian gentlemen from the city +were teachers, a sufficient number to guard each prisoner and see that +nothing contraband passed. These were good men, some having long been +laborers in the school. On the whole, things appeared more encouraging +than on the Sabbath previous. That frosty appearance had in a measure +departed, though it was by no means wholly gone.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_7" id="CHAPTER_II_7"></a>7. <i>The warden's views considered.</i> The idea that "prisoners can not be +reformed" is contrary to Scripture, history, and experience. The former +gives the assurance that the vilest, the chief of sinners, those whose +sins are as scarlet or crimson, may be saved. Then history deals in +facts where such have been radically reformed, and have become good men. +Some who were once in prison are now upright, industrious citizens. +Hence, the assertion shows lack of confidence in Scripture assurances +and historical knowledge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>But one asks, "Do you think it possible to reform all, or a large +proportion of prisoners?" We can assume it of those here as of the world +in general. Whether out of or in prison, we are to sow the seed, and +some will germinate. We must work, use all right appliances, and leave +the event with God, not knowing "which shall prosper, this or that."</p> + +<p>Again, the objection comes: "Prisoners will be often hypocritical, +profess goodness from sinister motives, pretending to have reformed for +a time, and then become as bad as ever."</p> + +<p>Admit all this. But are not just such traits found in the world all +about us? Where are there more wicked wretches than some outside the +prison, who have "put on the livery of heaven to serve the devil in?" +What meaner men inhabit God's earth than some who have succeeded in +working themselves into the church, and can boast of coming to the +communion regularly? How many profess and fall away on every hand, yes, +sink deeper in corruption than before! The fact is, this pretended +argument to the disadvantage of the prisoner is all a sham.</p> + +<p>The prison, if rightly conducted, possesses certain means of reform, +which can not be had outside. To illustrate: Here is a young man, who +has never entered a school-house, or a place of worship, but has spent +his time with vicious companions and in vicious habits. He falls into +prison, where his home is a cell and silence his constant companion. +Here he is removed from his former surroundings and opportunities for +sinful indulgence. The loneliness and tedium of his condition soon +become unendurable. He must, in some way, have relief. But no means lie +within his reach except those connected with reform appliances. To these +he is forced, by the pressure of his nature, to resort, sim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>ply for +self-gratification, which he can find in hearing the human voice and in +the connected exercises. He hears truth which he had never heard before, +but which is permitted to fall on his mind with its full weight. He is +thus led to reflect, repents of his sins, and becomes really a reformed +man, a brand plucked from the burning.</p> + +<p>The tendency of things, then, in a properly conducted prison, <i>is</i> +reformatory. Therefore, let ours be managed on that principle, and all +in our State, worthy of such a place, be there assigned for the +requisite time, and, no doubt, one good, devoted, wide-awake man could +do them more good than they now receive from all the religious means and +labors outside put together.</p> + +<p>"The sight of a woman is demoralizing to a prisoner." The reader will +readily understand in what respect. If this be true, what a demoralized +class must be our grown up, unmarried sons, our bachelors and widowers, +with women constantly in sight. Then how wickedly does the warden +himself proceed in taking certain of his men among the women to work; +and in permitting women and girls dressed up in their finery to +perambulate freely about the shops and buildings in sight of the men.</p> + +<p>"But," it is answered, "the men are not allowed to look at visitors." +True, but not being allowed is one thing, and not looking is quite +another. If any man can make himself believe that, when a woman is +conducted right into the presence of a prisoner, he will not obtain a +sight of her, he possesses more credulity than falls to the common lot +of men. The fact is, visitors about the shops are seen by the prisoners +and thought of and talked about by them, no matter who pretends to the +contrary. Every one knows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> this, who knows anything of a prison, let him +say what he will. Then why select one spot, the chapel on the Sabbath, +as a place where the sight of a woman is to be branded as a most +polluting sin, and no objection raised to her being seen elsewhere +almost daily and hourly? Consistency is a jewel.</p> + +<p>If the sight of a woman is so demoralizing to a man confined in prison, +how demoralized must he speedily become on leaving and meeting them +everywhere! And what sinners prison managers in numerous other States +have become through admitting women to moral labors in their +institutions! What egregious sinning on the part of that State which +employs a woman as chaplain of its prison, and she permitted to go +freely from cell to cell in her ministrations of mercy!</p> + +<p>In the army, in hospitals, or whatever place men are found needy and +dependent, true women are freely admitted as ministering angels, with no +thought of demoralization. Yes, the world lauds the heroism and devotion +of many of these in poetry and song.</p> + +<p>So far as I could learn, the influence of the women in the chapel did +not produce the effect alleged. I inquired of some on this point, at the +time of their leaving, and solicited the real truth. Take the answer of +an intelligent young man, one whom I have no doubt is sincere and +reliable,—"The influence on my feelings were not in a wrong direction, +but wholly to the contrary. I should have been ashamed of myself at +indulging an impure thought towards that lady under whose care I was so +long in the Sabbath school. I rather felt humbled and filled with +gratitude, that she should condescend to take me, a poor, wicked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +prisoner, not able to read or write, and labor so patiently and +persistently to help me to what I now am, redeemed, I trust, and made a +different man, largely through her labors. They were her words of hope +and assurance which first stimulated me with the idea of an earnest +effort to rise from what I was."</p> + +<p>The fact is, some men have their passions and will think, whether seeing +any of the other sex or not; and more or less are inclined to deeds of +wrong. But, in the opinion of our best minds, the true course to pursue +is, to admit judicious ladies, those of character and influence, to help +in labors of reform.</p> + +<p>"Motives of safety required the cell clearing." This was the pretended +reason, but could not have been the real one, according to the warden's +own words. One day, in passing along the cells with company, he +remarked, "Gentlemen, vigilance, vigilance, is the only safety here! +Lock me in one of those cells, and I would walk out in half an hour. +There is no safety in this prison but in the watchfulness of the guard." +This being true, the small articles which the warden found in the cells +could make no difference in regard to safety, therefore, their removal +must have been from other motives.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_8" id="CHAPTER_II_8"></a>8. <i>Chaplain's restrictions.</i> These were not given at once and in +detail, but were learned by experience. One afternoon, the prisoners +being in the shop, I took the key, as sometimes before, when needful, to +enter the chapel by the south door, where there could have been no +possible danger had the men been passing to their cells; having gone a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +few steps, I heard the voice of the warden calling out, +sternly,—"Chaplain, here, what are you doing with that key?" I informed +him, and received the reply, "Bring that key right back. You must not +touch a key." Quietly obeying, I returned the article and never touched +it again, thinking, "If he will speak out to me as an irritated father +to a vexatious boy, what can be expected for the prisoners?" He had a +perfect right to require me not to use the key, and I had a right to a +gentlemanly treatment. I uttered not a word, though I could not help +thinking. Afterwards when needing to enter the chapel, I must ask a +guard, perhaps a mere boy, to go and unlock and lock the door for me, +which seemed really ludicrous. Shortly after, I heard the warden +speaking of his enormous burden in the line of watchfulness,—"I have to +watch not only the prisoners to keep them right, but also the workmen, +overseers, guards, steward, physician and chaplain."</p> + +<p>At another time I asked him to change the position of a class in the +Sabbath school to accommodate the singing, and received an answer not so +insolent in tone as before, but, with the connected circumstances, +equally clear for me to understand that I must propose no move, make no +suggestion whatever about the school, leaving everything in that line to +him. I could open and close the school and hear also those not otherwise +provided for.</p> + +<p>Again, finding a man in his cell with no lesson, he having broken his +glasses, I passed them to the deputy to be repaired. Days passed, and no +glasses were returned. Meeting the warden, I alluded to the matter. He +replied, "Chaplain, I would have you know that when a man needs +anything, he must speak of it to the deputy or to me. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> have no +business with these things." To my inquiry, "Am I to understand that +now, after speaking to you about the glasses, and putting them in the +deputy's hands, the man must speak to one of you himself, before they +can be returned?" he answered, "Certainly." Hence, on my next round, I +said to the owner, "Please speak to the warden or deputy about your +glasses, and they will return them, probably, all right," not giving him +the least hint as to how matters really stood, though I could but think, +"Here is red-tapeism with a vengeance; not permitted to speak of +anything in my own department." Waiting for a time, and thinking that +neither law nor gospel would object to my lending him my own, this I +did, which he used until liberated. True, after some weeks, glasses were +brought him, in which, however, he could not see.</p> + +<p>Thus I was effectively taught my bounds, to touch nothing about the +prison but my books, to suggest no change any way, and to bring nothing +to the warden, or deputy, about a prisoner, which bounds I was ever +careful to observe.</p> + +<p>There was an attendant rule to this red tapeism, as I understood it, +that bore hard on the prisoners,—that one must ask for a thing but +once. Some would ask me to help them to an article, when I would say, +"You must go with that to the deputy, or warden." They replied, "I have, +with the promise of it, but it does not come." Or, perhaps, "I ventured +to ask the second time, and received the stern reply, 'Don't you ever +mention that to me, again.'"</p> + +<p>A forlorn condition this,—the State placing her wards helplessly under +a man who is not to be reminded of a request, which had slipped his +mind, perhaps, through the multiplicity of business. Surely, such a man +should be very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> considerate and particularly careful about attending to +the needs of his dependents.</p> + +<p>The lessons taught me, the spirit manifested with all the surroundings, +gave me to understand that I must walk in everything with the utmost +circumspection or be mercilessly dealt with. True, I had ever labored to +do all things in my prison management just as I should, ever acting with +an eye single to the best prison order; but circumstances now evidently +demanded of me a double care, that my every step should not only be +right but appear right, and no shadow of grounds for complaint be any +way found.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_9" id="CHAPTER_II_9"></a>9. <i>Prisoners' Aid Association.</i> In the spring of '70, a company of +ladies and gentlemen organized under the N. H. statutes into a corporate +body by this title, to hold its annual meeting in the city of Concord, +the second Tuesday of each June, the avowed purpose being to aid the +discharged convicts by proper advice, and help them to places of labor +without delay, where they may enjoy the needed society privileges, +guardian care, and a general influence in favor of their best success, +paying for them such small bills as may be necessary for this purpose.</p> + +<p>The legislature of that season voted the Association three hundred +dollars, to aid it in its benevolent work, I being appointed agent for +that purpose.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_10" id="CHAPTER_II_10"></a>10. <i>Complaint of prison hunger.</i> Late in the summer, a man, leaving +prison, complained that the prison living was not as good as that of the +past year, the rations be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>ing poorer in quality, and less in quantity; +that, at times, he had really so suffered with hunger that he could not +sleep at night. I questioned him carefully, and he appeared honest in +his statements, still, this being the first I had heard of such +complaints, I would not form an opinion from this assertion, for he +might be telling the story to injure the warden. But he gave this +account here and there in the city, so that it was circulated widely. A +lady, as she asserts, asked the prison physician if the rations had been +reduced, and he replied that they had to some extent.</p> + +<p>The reader will understand, that while I had no right to converse with +the inmates about their food, and other like subjects, and did not while +they were there confined, yet, when they had been released and become +citizens, nothing lay in the way of my freely conversing with them on +all matters as with others.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_11" id="CHAPTER_II_11"></a>11. <i>Chaplain's object in hearing from released prisoners and others.</i> +This object was purely to learn the true working of things, and thus be +prepared to conduct myself understandingly in all my prison duties. I +had served a year under a certain system, studying with care its +workings and effects on the men, and had now entered service under one +that seemed measurably different, the operations of which, also, I ought +to comprehend. I would, therefore, listen to those who were released, +study what might come to hand in this way, from personal observation in +official intercourse, or from reading authors, and use whatever hints +were gained, to the best advantage.</p> + +<p>But one says, "Those fellows from prison will lie." Grant that. Grant +that here are twenty of the greatest liars in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> State about to leave +prison in course. But they have no opportunity, while there, for mutual +conversation and planning a particular story to tell on leaving; nor do +they even know of having an opportunity, outside, to talk with me or any +particular one. They severally leave their confinement, each giving +account of his experience, which I put down. On looking these carefully +over, a line of substantial agreement is found running through the +whole. We cut off whatever, in any, seems essentially deviating. But +every judge in the land will admit that that general line contains the +truth.</p> + +<p>This illustrates my course of procedure, and my grounds for believing +prisoners. Then, again, where one voluntarily, without my alluding to +the matter, gave me an account of a subject, part of which I knew to be +correct, I had every reason to believe the remainder was correct, also.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_12" id="CHAPTER_II_12"></a>12. <i>B. and E.'s request, and the connected abuse.</i> These men, before +spoken of, had become much interested in the moral and religious +instruction given by those lady friends, Mrs. E. and D., to whom they +had been introduced in the manner already pointed out. Request was +extended to the warden that they might have the privilege of +corresponding, but he peremptorily refused; why, none could conceive, +though some would contend that the reason must be found in the +vindictive, for the correspondence was to go through the usual channel +and be open to his own inspection, that, had anything objectionable +appeared, he could have suppressed it, or stopped the whole +correspondence. Those ladies were capable of writing excellent letters, +letters by which any right-minded man would be benefited,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> the warden +himself being judge. I have no doubt that should he meet some of their +productions, unaware of their authorship, he would pronounce them of a +superior character, and say that "the more of such writings the +prisoners can have to read, the better." The men did not ask for a +personal interview with those ladies, but simply their words; words +which would stimulate them to higher aims, and enable them the better to +endure the trials of prison life. The warden possessed the right, if he +chose to exercise it, to interdict this correspondence wholly. But I +protest that he had no right to defame those ladies, villify their +character, and speak of them to those men, and to prison visitors from +whatever part of the country, as "those mean women," "those base women," +"those low women."</p> + +<p>As before stated, they were ladies with the best of characters,—earnest +Christian workers, invited to the interviews by the mother and warden, +and always having them in the presence of the latter. These visits were +for a most praiseworthy purpose. If it is ever right for a high-minded, +upright, Christian lady to call on the fallen for the purpose of helping +them rise from their degraded state, those ladies are to be commended +for the efforts they made in behalf of those prisoners.</p> + +<p>But these men were forced to suffer no little abuse in relation to those +visits,—not by fellow prisoners, understand. They were taunted in the +most vulgar, low, indecent language. One day it went so far with one, +that he became aroused beyond endurance, and replied, "You know that is +a —— —— lie," filling the blanks with two most profane words as +qualifying "lie." On my next round he told me his trouble, what he had +said, how he was being assailed, and that he probably must relinquish +all idea of being any better. I replied, "Don't you understand what all +this is for? It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> the work of Satan, for your destruction. They would +excite you to anger and turn you to your old life of profanity and +wickedness; if possible, sink you as low as ever. You have but one +course to pursue, and that is, to pay no attention to them. Let them say +what they may, give it no more notice than the idle wind. Be sure and +not suffer yourself to become irritated, or say a word in return, and +they will probably leave you. But if not, endure it patiently, and pray +God to forgive what you have done amiss and keep you in the future." In +following this course, he succeeded better.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_13" id="CHAPTER_II_13"></a>13. <i>Alleged prison conspiracy.</i> The next one who left made no complaint +of the living, he had been sick and received all the food he desired, +but he asserted that trouble was brewing at the prison; that they were +planning to kill the warden. I made light of the idea as something of +his own conjuring up, that the prisoners would not undertake such a +matter. Finally he said, "Mark my words, Chaplain, there will be blood +shed over there within a month." This man was a singular genius, and I +thought he might wish to start such a story to nettle the warden. +Besides, they were as vigilant as possible at the prison, and the +inmates would find them alert, should they attempt to rise. From all +considerations, I thought it not worth while to speak of the case to +any. Still, it would do no harm to prepare and deliver a discourse from +the text, "Vengeance is mine and I will repay, saith the Lord," +designing to show the impolicy of attempting to take vengeance into +one's own hands, and that vengeance should be left for God to +repay.—The discourse was given, and things passed on as usual, no +signs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> of an outbreak appearing, and I finally gave the matter up as one +of the man's imaginings.</p> + +<p>But, the next spring, one of the prisoners, when leaving, alluded to a +combination of a number, the year previous, and said considerable +preparation for the work had been made, but after hearing that Sabbath's +discourse, so many abandoned the project that the leaders had to +relinquish their effort. This was repeated in substance by another. +Hence, after all, it appeared that what the first man said may have been +true, and that, possibly, my poor labors may have been of service to the +warden, perhaps saved his life. Certainly, I did what I could.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_14" id="CHAPTER_II_14"></a>14. <i>National Prison Reform Congress.</i> In October this body assembled +for deliberation at Cincinnati, O., it being the first gathering of the +kind. Delegates were present from a large number of the United States, +also from the British Provinces and South America, but I was the only +one from New Hampshire. The great, central ideas pervading the body were +the finding of the best method of prison management and how to introduce +this to general and uniform use. All the subjects so earnestly grappled +there, would hinge around these. The field was somewhat widely examined +and much discussion awakened,—discussion earnest, though courteous. The +religious element largely predominated, and great harmony prevailed. +True, an atheist attempted to throw in a firebrand by making a cat's paw +of the Jew, but wholly failed, not exciting a single remark in reply. A +U. S. judge was present, several State judges, a number of governors and +ex-governors, lawyers, clergymen, philanthropists in private life and +prison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> officials, showing that the move had taken strong hold of that +class, especially, which will push it forward.</p> + +<p>Those prison officers present who had ever persisted in the knock-down +argument of former generations, were moved forward many years. I thought +of N. H., and wished that some of her fossils could have been present +and become vitalized. What a blessing it would be to the State!</p> + +<p>The points considered and settled, so far as that body could settle +them, were drawn up in thirty-seven articles for general distribution. +One set forth reform as the paramount object of imprisoning, another, +that kindness and humane treatment should prevail in all prison +management. But the reader would be well repaid by sending for the +"Transactions" of the body, a work of some seven hundred pages, and +carefully perusing it. It will cost three dollars, and is to be had of +Rev. E. C. Wines, D. D., No. 48 Bible House, N. Y.</p> + +<p>The convention was not only pleasant in itself, but also in its +surroundings. The city extended it a welcome through an excellent +address by the Mayor, inviting the body to a dinner and visit to its +public institutions and places of interest, and furnishing coaches to +convey the members. It also provided a convenient hall for the sittings. +A number of the city societies also invited us to their gatherings.</p> + +<p>This Congress arranged for its perpetuity by becoming an incorporate +body in some State and holding its sessions biennially. This has been +consummated by obtaining a charter in the State, of New York, +Ex-Governor Seymour being President, and Rev. E. C. Wines, Cor. +Secretary. It also took incipient steps for an international congress to +be held in London, England, choosing Dr. Wines also as Commissioner to +carry the proposal into effect.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_15" id="CHAPTER_II_15"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>15. <i>Money-making and punishing, the paramount objects in our prison +management.</i> For a time, I had been at a loss about the real objects of +the present manner of conducting prison affairs, but it had become +evident that money-making and punishing were those objects. To the +former the prison agent and warden seemed bending their united energies +as best they could. They would make a better exhibit of gains than ever +before, a great compliment to the one as a financier and to the other as +a prison manager. To this end, they would bend their efforts in +purchasing and disbursing, having, to appearance, left all moral +considerations out of the question. I was informed that the warden said, +"I will clear five thousand for the State this year, if I have to use up +every man in doing it."</p> + +<p>Then punishment was to go hand and hand with this gain making, as the +warden was reported as saying to the prisoners, "I mean to use you so +that you will not wish to come back," meaning, of course, usage beyond +what the law and courts contemplate.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_16" id="CHAPTER_II_16"></a>16. <i>Waste paper in the cells.</i> The warden's clearing the cells of this +has been spoken of and a connected point, I could not comprehend. In the +course of months, all became clear. The fly leaves of the library books, +and some of the other leaves, were gone, which told the story.</p> + +<p>Had it been the season previous, I should have detected the matter +sooner and stopped it, but now I could not. Then, when the general +repairs were made to the library, I found that many of the books had +been lost, to avoid which, in the future, I adopted a new method here, +of charging every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> book let out and crediting its return. But this +required no little increase of labor, in consideration of which, the +former warden furnished me an assistant in the book charging and book +inspection. On two Saturdays after the new warden came in, I asked for +the usual assistance, but, from what passed, I found it best to ask no +more for aid, and decided to do the work myself as best I could, +continuing the account keeping, however, though with no possibility of +the former inspection.</p> + +<p>I supposed the warden desired me to curtail the book changing, for, +passing the table one day, loaded with books ready for the hall, he +said, "Why, chaplain, the men don't need all those books." My reply was, +"They called for them all." "Well," said he, "they can not read them;" +meaning, as I took it, that I should not furnish so many. But I was +particular to give out all called for, a more generous supply, it is +true, than formerly, for the purpose of keeping the men engaged and +quiet under his peculiar management.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_17" id="CHAPTER_II_17"></a>17. <i>Defective beds and bedding.</i> Those iron cross bars to the bedsteads +cut the straw, hence the former warden made it a point to refill the +beds once a quarter, but the latter filled them perhaps once in six +months. Indeed, some would be neglected till nothing could be found in +the bed-tick but a mass of chaff-like substance to which the straw had +been reduced, thus leaving the occupant with little besides the bare +slats on which to sleep. Men would at times complain that, from that +cause, they could obtain but little rest at night, and were in the +morning so sore and stiff that, for a time, it would be difficult for +them to move.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>During the fall they did not attend to the needed general mending and +refitting of the old comfortables and bedspreads, though some were +ragged and filthy, or worn so thin as to be but little better than so +many strainers. The cells on the lower floor were exceptions. But few of +these were used. All the beds were kept well filled; having good +spreads, sheets and pillow cases. They made a few comfortables for these +unused beds, and indeed all these cells were kept in good order, nicely +dusted, &c., and the doors were set open by day for visitors to admire. +Hence, I would hear them crying out, "How nice you keep things here! +What comfortable beds! How neat!" I would think within,—not aloud, for +that would not do,—"O that you could look into those higher up. You +might cry out, 'Pig's nests!'" These new comfortables were made only +two-thirds the usual width, answering well for an unused bed. Still I +did occasionally see one on a bed in use.</p> + +<p>As I was informed, a gentleman from outside had a view of those upper +cells, the warden saying, in excuse for their condition, that he put the +more slovenly in them, those who would not keep their cells in order. +But the real truth of that matter is, some of the neatest men occupied +those higher cells intermingled with those not so neat, the men being +located as to their cells according to their position at work in the +shop.</p> + +<p>The sheets were so scarce as not to afford a full change for washing, +requiring some to use dirty sheets, for a time, from another's bed, +though less dirty than their own.</p> + +<p>The former warden had been aiming to have, so far as could be, two suits +to a man, a common, every day suit, and one better for Sabbaths, &c., it +being thought that this would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> tend to refine and elevate the prisoners. +Hence, he left them with a generous supply, well fitted up. But it would +need more or less renewing and refitting in the fall, which it did not +receive, but was made to answer by patching. Hence, patched and ragged +clothes would be of no uncommon occurrence, as all became thin from long +wear, the under-clothing, especially, much needing repairs and renewing.</p> + +<p>The main seamstress left the next April, and told me that after this +warden came in, up to that time, they had made one new suit and one +other jacket, the new suit for the Newmarket murderer, who was too large +for any they had on hand.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_18" id="CHAPTER_II_18"></a>18. <i>Cracked wheat dinner.</i> In the fall, there was much complaint among +the prisoners that their Monday dinner, which they formerly prized as +the best in the week, had been changed to a dish that few liked and many +could not eat. It was boiled cracked wheat with a little meat chopped +in, no sauce or other relish upon it. I mentioned the case to the +doctor, who said, "They purchased a quantity of potatoes, half a peck of +which I took to my house and cooked, finding only one or two, among the +whole, fit to put into the human stomach. Hence, I looked over my army +dietary, found the cracked wheat answered a good purpose, and proposed +it here." The potatoes were watery.</p> + +<p>My attention had now been so loudly called to the prison living by the +complaints of those liberated, that I determined to observe for myself, +so far as opportunity might of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>fer, keeping my own counsel in this as in +all other matters, that I might be the better prepared to judge of the +truthfulness of their stories. Notwithstanding the cracked wheat, those +potatoes were set before them. If not at this meal, they were at others, +but largely returned untouched. The substituted dish would also be +regularly returned by a large number. But why purchase these potatoes +"not fit to be put into the human stomach"? True, many such were in the +market, but there were good ones, too, though costing more money. +Families in the city found no difficulty about obtaining a good article. +These, of course, came at a low figure, favoring here, as did everything +else, this money-making idea.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_19" id="CHAPTER_II_19"></a>19. <i>Bad fish, &c.</i> In the fall, the agent informed me, he had made for +the state what he considered a great bargain, in the purchase of between +one and two tons of fish. He said, "I found this in the hands of a man +who had attempted to prepare it after a certain patent, but had, some +way, missed his point and could not sell it. Had he succeeded, it would +have brought thirteen cents a pound. He offered it to me for three. I +took some to the prison, and they said that they could use it, hence, I +purchased the whole." He further remarked, that the article was covered +with a reddish mold. This, I was informed, is a sign of decay in fish. +He also alluded to the great reduction in price he obtained on his +prison supply of molasses.—It should be understood that this is used at +all times in prison, on bread, as a substitute for butter.</p> + +<p>After this, those leaving prison had these additional grounds for +complaint. They complained, also, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> the tobacco was very bad in +quality and scant in quantity, the very cheapest article. One said that +the scent of the fish carried into his cell at noon, would not be gone +on his return at night. A woman, a waiter on the prison family table at +the time of the purchase of the fish, informed me of its ordeal there. +Nothing having been said to call her attention that way, but of her own +accord, she said, "They bought a lot of bad fish at the prison, and the +warden would have some prepared for the family table. He ate of it +himself, pronounced it good, and wished the deputy, guards and overseers +to eat of it also; but they would not, though he offered one a dollar, +if he would." Now, as this woman's story was true as to the purchasing +of the article and its quality, we have every reason to suppose it true +in other respects. One said of the cracked wheat, that he could not +force it down; it would made him sick; that others about him were +similarly effected in their attempts to eat of the article.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_20" id="CHAPTER_II_20"></a>20. <i>Prison suffering from cold during the winter of '70 & '71.</i> From +the character of the food and clothing, the one not fitted to generate +the needed supply of warmth within, nor the other to give the requisite +protection without, the men, to pass the rigors of winter, especially +such as that of '70 and '71, without suffering, would need an unusually +generous supply of artificial heat in the hall and shop. But instead of +that, they were forced to experience the biting reality of a cutting off +here, too, the place being too important for money-saving not to be +used. True, it would cost something, but the custom had been to keep +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> hall comfortable through cold weather. Early in the morning they +would let the steam into the shop and have that warm when the men were +ready to commence their work, and keep it so during the day. But a +different policy had now been adopted.</p> + +<p>The present fall had nearly passed and no steam had been admitted into +these apartments at all, the cook-room and reception-room drawing from +the waste steam and engine boilers. People outside had long been using +fires constantly and freely. At length, a remark of the warden to +company, revealed the theory he was pretending then to act upon. The +temperature, at the time, was low in the hall, and some excuse evidently +appeared to be needful. The remark was this: "I have not let the heat +into this hall yet, for I think it best to do with that as people ought +to do with regard to under-clothing, keep it off as late as possible in +the fall, and it will do them more good in winter. And, besides, these +stones were so heated up last summer, that they have not become fully +cooled yet." "What a happy thing for the men, when shivering here, as +they do with the cold, could they find some of that stored up heat," +thought I. But they could not, and hence were called to experience a +severe foretaste of what lay before them in still colder weather.</p> + +<p>But at length the hall boiler was set to work, bringing warmth and +gladness to the men. And how cheerful and thankful they appeared! It was +really a comfort to witness their relief, as I went about my labors. +This, however, was only for a few days, for a great drain was being made +upon the wood-pile, incurring too large a draft upon the prison gains to +be endured. The boiler was stopped, to be run no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> more for the winter, +dependence for heat here, in the future, to be had upon the steam, waste +or otherwise, from the shop boilers, and even that but sparingly.</p> + +<p>The custom adopted was to let the steam into the hall pipes just before +the men were to enter from work, could it be spared from the cook room, +sometimes perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, and then turned off early in +the evening. That, of course, could do but little good, and hence a +really keen atmosphere would at times be felt in the hall, causing much +suffering there. How great the contrast to that of the office, which was +so warm that the occupants would be at work with coats off; or the +reception room, where I would perspire in labor upon my books, and enter +the hall to find it much like going directly out of doors. Twice I thus +took severe colds, after which I usually wore an overcoat to this +apartment during the severe weather.</p> + +<p>When those keen nights came on, some of the men would beg of me most +pitiably for more bed-clothing, asserting that they were suffering +alive, it sometimes seeming as though they must perish. I could only +direct them to the warden or deputy for this. One said, "I have asked +the warden, who replied, 'You have more clothes on your bed now than you +ever had at home,' and passed on." This man had one of those +strainer-like spreads and another somewhat thicker, doing well enough +for early fall, but not a suitable protection in such weather. Another +said, "Suffering so with cold that sleep is out of the question, I +arise, dress, wrap about me what bedding I have, and walk my cell for +the night, in that way keeping as much as possible from suffering."</p> + +<p>The first evening after hearing these earnest pleadings, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> met the +steward and asked if he could not furnish these men with more clothing, +with the answer, "The fact is, these fellows are down on the warden and +determined to keep asking for something." To which I replied, "They very +much need more clothing, and must greatly suffer without it." He +answered, "Oh, our soldiers in the army suffered a great deal more than +these fellows do, and you thought nothing of that. The fact is, you have +too much feeling for these men." I left, with the remark, "I think we +ought to have some humanity about us."</p> + +<p>Thus was the attempt made to plaster over this outrageous cruelty by +alluding to events which could not, in the very nature of things, be +avoided. I say outrageous, for there was bedding enough on those unused +beds, such as it was, to have done something towards relieving this +suffering, but they would not permit them to have that. Then New +Hampshire possessed wood and water enough to keep that room comfortable. +If the boiler needed repairs, workmen for doing that were at hand; or, +if it needed renewing, that could have been easily accomplished. Or they +might have set large coal stoves at work.</p> + +<p>But all did not thus lack for bedding. Some, by oversight or favoritism, +had a surplus, using comfortables as a substitute for straw. A man thus +supplied sent one of his extra number to the relief of another, as this +sufferer subsequently informed me.</p> + +<p>On those cold Sabbaths, the men would wrap their bed clothing about +them, sit reclining on their beds, and read. The warden would not allow +the shop to be warmed at all. Those cold mornings and those cold days it +was excessively severe. The overseers had to bundle up with extra +clothing to prevent suffering. One day the men had become too much +benumbed to work and the foreman stopped the ma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>chinery, let the steam +into the shop, thawed them out, and then went on again.</p> + +<p>Having heard the warden say that the water in their reservoir was low, +causing him fears of its failing, and meeting the governor, to his +inquiry about our prison affairs, I alluded to the coldness there and +the warden's remark, and received the reply, "Why, it won't do to let +the men suffer with the cold. If need be, he must haul water from the +river," and he sent the warden a letter to that import. But no water was +hauled, and no amelioration had from the cold till, at length, when the +severest weather had nearly passed, one of the council visited the +prison and ordered a coal stove to be placed in a part of the hall, +which gave a measure of alleviation. Still the men continued to suffer +more or less till the change of weather brought the desired relief. They +will ever look back to that as a suffering winter.</p> + +<p>The women probably suffered less from the cold than the men. Still, they +were put on short allowance and were obliged to carry their wood up +those two flights of stairs, taking it from quite a distance out of +doors, some of it being very large. One of those cold Sabbaths, entering +their room for meeting, I found it so cold as to endanger my health, +and, not then knowing the restrictions, I attempted to kindle the fire, +but found only a few coals in the stove and one large stick in the box, +which I placed with the coals, but with little effect. We had short +exercises, and I left them to endure this temperature as best they +could.</p> + +<p>The women would watch the warden and steal a little extra, when he +stepped out of sight, thus occasionally enjoying the genial warmth; if +detected, however, to receive a gratuitous lecture. Finding, at length, +that this extra labor was preying sadly upon their health, and having +repeatedly importuned the warden for relief in vain, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> turned to his +wife, who informed him of the real effects being produced, with the +assurance that the continuance of this drudgery would shortly bring the +sufferers upon beds of sickness, requiring him to hire outside help, to +care for them and perform the tasks in which they had failed. This +gained the victory, but not till great injury had been done to the +victims, the strongest, on whom the burden of carrying the largest had +fallen, having thus laid the foundation for weeks of severe sickness and +leaving prison an invalid, though previously a robust, healthy woman.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_21" id="CHAPTER_II_21"></a>21. <i>Lighting the hall.</i> The candles having been banished from the +cells, the gas was set at work when evening arrived. But at length the +men began to complain of the great strain upon their eyes, and finally +of failing sight. Advising them to lay aside reading and study till +relief could be had, I reported the matter to the doctor, and, I think, +to the governor. Not seeing any remedial move, however, I resorted to +the dollar and cent consideration, and, on investigating, found that, +while they were paying $50 per month for that poor light, I could light +the cells with candles, three a week to a cell, probably for fourteen +dollars. I offered to obligate myself to do it for twenty, and receive +only the actual cost whatever it might be below; also to see that no +additional trouble came from the melting of the tallow. This argument +prevailed, and the warden was ordered to furnish the candles, though he +allowed only two a week to a cell. Some of the men were amused and some +provoked at the manner of his announcing the change: "I have concluded +to furnish you with candles, for your good, and hope you will use them +as such;" for, it seems,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> they knew by what means the relief had come, +though how I never understood.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_22" id="CHAPTER_II_22"></a>22. <i>The aid of the Association to released prisoners, and warden's +course.</i> The Association proved itself as advantageous to the discharged +prisoners as the most ardent laborer for its establishment had hoped. An +unusually large number left prison the present year, forty-two. In warm +weather many would not require pecuniary aid, while others would. Thus, +one required cooper's tools to the amount of six and one-half dollars; +another, a railroad pass to Ohio, for twelve dollars; a third, a pass to +Wisconsin, at thirty-one dollars; a fourth, carpenter's tools at six +dollars; then smaller sums, here and there.</p> + +<p>The Wisconsin man left prison sick, and must have been a public charge +here, while his friends would give him a home, if with them, though +unable to pay his fare thither.</p> + +<p>The Association had not arranged for furnishing the men with clothing, +supposing the State would properly attend to that, as previously, +through her warden. But as the winter now approached, the society found +itself driven to the necessity of helping in this, too, by the fact that +the present warden would furnish the men with only the same outfit as in +summer, the under-clothes they might happen to have on at the time, +added. And, in making out this summer suit, he would construe the letter +of the law in the superlative degree, which says, "A suit of cheap +clothing,"—he obtaining the cheapest, the most miserably poor. To +illustrate, a man left prison in one of those suits, and, before walking +a mile, was obliged to call and borrow sewing implements to repair them. +The day after, another left, and had worn the shirt furnished him about +one day, when,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> taking him to a shop for the purpose of trying on a +coat, I found that one sleeve of the shirt had wholly parted from the +body, and the other about half. Another man had worn his pants less than +twelve hours when they needed mending.</p> + +<p>I went to the shop-keeper and lectured him for such dealing, to which he +replied, "I have to be governed by the price the warden will pay. He +will not pay for anything better. If he would, I should furnish a better +article, and prefer that to this method."</p> + +<p>At almost every turn I was met with this money-making system. Well, this +could be endured in warm, balmy weather, though truly annoying to the +poor fellows; but in the full rigors of the winter of '70 and '71, it +was cruel, to say the least.</p> + +<p>Let us take a few specimens of this practice. In nearly the severest +weather of that winter, a man came to me from the prison to be sent +home, some two hundred miles beyond Bangor, Me. As I looked at him I was +perfectly astonished that we had a man among us who would think, for a +moment, of sending away a dependent, human being, and sickly, too, in +such a plight; a rather thin coat, vest and pants that might last him +two or three days; no collar, cravat, mittens, overcoat, or boots, but +brogans, and those not mates, one of which so pinched his foot that he +was forced to remove it shortly after coming in. His person and clothes +were filthy indeed, not having seen water for weeks. I could but +exclaim, "What a condition! The law says, 'a suit of cheap clothing +suited to the season,' and this is such a suit!"</p> + +<p>In addition to all this, as the man asserted, the warden asked him, on +passing out, "How long do you think it will be before you will contrive +to get back here again?" Was not that cool? He himself robbing the +fallen one of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> just due, a suit of comfortable clothing fitted to +the season, and turning him away under those circumstances which would +almost of necessity force him to steal to avoid perishing, and then +taunt him with such a question?</p> + +<p>As yet, our Association had not practiced clothing the men, and of +course the warden had no reason to suppose we should.</p> + +<p>Keeping my feelings under calm subjection, I went to the prison and +asked him if he did not purpose to furnish the man with boots, overcoat, +&c., to which he responded in his short, pompous way, "No; when I was +deputy here, the men were sent out in just what they happened to have on +at the time." After talking till evidently of no further avail, I +remarked, "I am a native of New Hampshire, and have some regard for the +honor of my State, and I will never disgrace it by sending a man to +Maine in such a plight as you propose. I shall fix him up." To which he +answered, "I would not carry the matter too far." Well, I did not carry +the matter too far, but took the man to the store, shivering by the way, +and purchased for him the needed articles, cheap but good,—boots $5.00, +overcoat $6.50, and so on,—and returned home with him, where he cast +off his "filthy rags," took a warm bath, donned his new under-clothes +and came out feeling like a different man, though feeble. He took a bad +cold that day by being out in his thin apparel, and passed a hard night, +leading us to fear that he would have a fever. But his anxiety helped +him the next morning, when he set off, the railroad men giving him a +free pass, thus showing that humanity was not all dead in this region.</p> + +<p>Soon another was released in a somewhat worse condition, as to clothing, +than the above, though with better health. His drawers had one leg +wholly minus, the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> coming down nearly to the knee, what pretended +to remain being in tatters.</p> + +<p>Two from western Maine were pardoned one evening and went away early the +next morning in the suit given by the warden, without my knowledge. The +severe weather must have caused them no little suffering, especially as +they must end their journey by a long walk through a deep snow, with +their brogans, and one of them was a sickly man.</p> + +<p>Another, liberated without my knowledge, started on foot for Providence, +R. I., to follow the railroad track. Learning the fact in a few moments, +I hastened after him, but to no avail. I heard that his outfit was +similar to those above described. I should have clothed him comfortably +and furnished a pass by rail, had I overtaken him.</p> + +<p>The warden now maintained that he had no concern with the men after +leaving prison, and usually took no pains to inform me of their +departure; hence, if I did not keep a close watch myself, more or less +would leave without my knowledge. My practice usually was to obtain a +list each month, from the deputy, of those who would leave during the +four following weeks.</p> + +<p>The reader will see that I had a good opportunity of knowing the state +of the men's under-clothing, from those thus leaving; and further, I +would find more or less mending their clothes on the Sabbath. One day a +man was at work on his pants, which had become perfectly indecent to +wear. On a week day, finding a man in bed in his cell, I inquired if he +was sick, to which he replied, "No, I am having my pants mended." +Another man brought out the shoes he had been accustomed to wear in +prison. No, he could not do that; but they came out; how, I never knew, +and he brought them to me. It would be difficult to tell which most +abounded, holes or leather. I knew they were his, for I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> had often seen +them on his feet in the prison; though they appeared much worse on a +near inspection than at a distance.</p> + +<p>An aged prisoner, whose feet were large and lame, wore his shoes sandal +fashion, tying them on with such strings as he could find. When I would +ask him how he did, he usually replied, "Oh, lame and suffering terribly +with my feet." Having nothing but his stockings to protect them from the +cold, this must have been severe in winter, though, when in the shop, +his fellow prisoners would heat bits of plank and pass to him, on which +he could stand and thus be relieved in a measure. I asked him if he +could not wear his shoes in the usual way, to which he said, "No, they +are too small. Had I very large ones I could. I have asked for such, but +they will not obtain me any." The requisite shoes must have been made +purposely for the convict, large and of very soft leather, costing, no +doubt, more than ordinary shoes. But they would have brought great +relief to an old, suffering man.</p> + +<p>But our Prison Aid Association, notwithstanding its efforts for good, +met those who opposed it. Hence, one told me that the concern was +organized for the purpose of running an opposition to the prison, all I +could say to which was, "If helping the men, as above described, be +running an opposition to the prison, it was organized for that very +purpose; otherwise, not." But the man was, no doubt, nettled that the +prisoners were looked after on leaving prison, and not permitted to go +as the warden provided.</p> + +<p>Some, again, pretended that the influence of the Association was in +favor of having the prisoners remain in and about Concord. This was the +very thing we labored against, or one of them, at least. The Agent, and +every active member, invariably used their influence in favor of their +going to other places, and especially to keep them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> away from their old +haunts and associations. I knew, however, that there were influences +used here, and among prison officers, too, to keep men in the city. +Some, for whom I had provided good places away, were tampered with and +thus influenced to remain.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_23" id="CHAPTER_II_23"></a>23. <i>Lecturing for the Prison Aid Association.</i> To widen the influence +of this body and become personally acquainted with places where we could +send our men for suitable employment and care, the idea was conceived of +giving occasional lectures, in favorable localities within the State, on +the interests in question. For this purpose, I went out four times +during the winter. Besides treating upon the objects and needs of the +Association, I alluded to some of the prison matters, such as the +proposition in the governor's then late message for the management of +the institution to be put under a permanent Board, the responsibility of +which the legislature largely shirked, by turning the whole matter into +the hands of the governor and council;—for reasons given, the very +place where it should not be;—expressed the hope that the next +legislature would do its full duty upon the matter; referred also to the +much needed repairs just made, and hoped they would be carried still +further, improving the manner of lighting the prison by having a small +gas jet at each cell, also provide a library room, &c.; but of course I +wholly avoided alluding to the internal management of matters at the +institution. My attention was called particularly to this point, +however, in one place, by the question being publicly asked by a +gentleman, "How are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> the prisoners treated there?" in reference to which +I begged the gentleman to excuse me from answering his question, as I +wished to keep the mind on other points. That was true, but it was not +the whole of the truth. The question itself was not a proper one to +answer then in that place. Could I have conscientiously said, "Well," it +would have been done in a moment and been all right, but that I could +not do, and besides, I hoped that our rulers would soon get their eyes +opened, or the next legislature put things on a proper basis and matters +pass off without having anything publicly said. Indeed, I knew but +little then of the prison workings in comparison with what I afterwards +learned.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_24" id="CHAPTER_II_24"></a>24. <i>Prison correspondence under the new rule.</i> The former warden had +solicited me to assist in the correspondence, and I would write for a +prisoner occasionally, but pass it to the warden for his examination, +till he said, "You need not pass them to me, send them yourself. You +know what to write just as well as I do." Hence, I sent a very few in +the course of a year without his examination. The reader will understand +that all letters, to and from a prisoner, must be thoroughly examined, +that nothing prohibited may pass. They are allowed to speak of personal +family matters, but nothing of general, secular affairs. The prisoner +would not be permitted, of course, to express any dissatisfaction at +prison fare or treatment.</p> + +<p>The new warden put the entire matter of correspondence into the hands of +his deputy, without asking me to do anything about it. Hence, when +subsequently solicited to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> pass a letter as before, I would answer, "I +have no right to do that, and can not. You must pass your letter to the +deputy." On one occasion, being rather hard pressed to step over the +bounds and pass a line, with the assurance it should never be known, +&c., &c., I gave the decided negative, adding, "It makes no difference +whether known or unknown, the step will be violating the prison rule and +my purpose is so to proceed that at all times and under all +circumstances, I can say with a clear conscience, I have duly observed +every rule." This ended all attempts to influence me in that direction.</p> + +<p>Still, I supposed it proper and nothing inconsistent with good prison +order, for me to speak of a prisoner's health and success to a friend +whom I met outside and to the prisoner of having met the friend and of +personal family concerns; or to encourage the prisoners to write to +their friends, if thus requested by letter; or to write to friends +myself, by request of the prisoners. I did something in this line a very +few times, perhaps not a half dozen in all.</p> + +<p>Meeting a sister of a prisoner out of the city, one day, I answered her +earnest inquiries about his health, and his reform efforts, carrying +back to him also a word about her health and a request that he write and +send to the new place to which she was about to locate.</p> + +<p>A man had a petition before the governor and council for pardon. As +agent for our Association, I inquired of him if he had friends to whom +he could go, if successful, or what arrangement he would need made for +him. He answered that he left friends in England, years before, knew not +whether then living or dead, but he would like to return to them if +living. Writing as he directed, I soon received<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> a reply stating that +some were living, and some were gone, and the earnest desire that he +return home at once to see his father alive, of which I informed him, +and on account of which his pardon was soon granted, and he left.</p> + +<p>Finding a man, who had been here a number of months, in a gloomy and +despairing state because friends had not written him since being here, +thus giving him reason to feel that they had cast him off, in which case +he could not think of living, I wrote to these friends, urging them to +what they ought to have performed before. Soon he addressed me, when +passing, with a tone of cheer unknown in him since entering prison: +"Chaplain, my folks have not cast me off. I have received a good letter +from them. They will stand by me, which makes me feel a thousand dollars +better." Nor has he learned how his friends were stirred to write.</p> + +<p>Thus, in a few cases, I acted in this direction and that for the purpose +of removing anxiety without and securing cheer and quietness within, +though making no allusions to the one about prison managing or to the +other of secular affairs.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_24_HALF" id="CHAPTER_II_24_HALF"></a>24 <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2.</span> <i>Chaplain under a system of espionage.</i> The former warden had been +accustomed to keep his eyes upon the officers, as well as upon the men, +to know that everything was moving orderly. The new incumbent took the +same course, the correct one so far as that was concerned, in order to +keep all matters in the prison perfectly straight. Nor did it lay me +under any restraint, as I wished to do right, for the place, in +everything, even though no eye<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> might be upon me. My only anxiety in the +course would be that I might so walk as to have my steps appear as they +really were. Hence, my conduct there was constantly as though under the +strictest inspection. And, of course, under these circumstances, I would +do nothing but what I supposed to be correct, even if otherwise +inclined.</p> + +<p>Thus, having passed a number of months with our new warden, a prisoner +said, one day, as I approached his cell, "Be careful, Chaplain; they are +watching you to see if they can't find some cause for turning you out." +Asking no questions, I passed on, not knowing what he meant. But it +started a new idea. "Am I under a system of especial surveillance?" I +then recollected having seen the guards frequently about where I would +be hearing lessons, though I had not noticed but that they were looking +after the men. By giving attention now, however, it was plain to see +that they were listening to what I said.</p> + +<p>At length an overseer left the prison, and, on leaving, unfolded to me +the whole matter,—that they were set by the warden to watch my actions, +note with whom I conversed, hear what was said, put it down, and report +to him. He said, "I was set evenings to watch you from the guard-room, +through the spy-hole, but never found anything to report."</p> + +<p>Learning this, I could but exclaim, "Consistency indeed! The warden can +furnish men enough for a system of espionage over me in the hall, when +toiling under such disadvantages and fatigues to help the convicts in +their efforts for knowledge, but will not spare even one to guard in the +chapel, where I could teach with comparative freedom from all these +drawbacks."</p> + +<p>Usually, in this cell instruction, we spoke very low,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> just to hear each +other and thus not disturb those in near cells, or interfere with the +rule about stillness in the apartment; but, after this discovery, when +seeing the guards hanging about, I would purposely speak loud enough for +them to hear, and also when the warden himself would be listening to my +Sabbath school instruction. And they had the privilege of hearing as +good, wholesome truths as I was capable of bringing out.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_25" id="CHAPTER_II_25"></a>25. <i>The chaplain's pacific efforts severely taxed.</i> We are beings of +want, and if locked in a cell unable to provide for ourselves, it is +wonderful to think how many things we should need to have furnished by +others, or suffer. True, we can curtail our wants to a number very much +fewer than artificial life would claim, but, when coming to the +indispensables, they are not a few. Hence, prisoners, under the kindest +treatment and well-furnished with food, clothing, warmth, and all that +nature would seem to crave, will need to call more or less frequently +for attentions, or find themselves lacking not a little. But under the +saving system of this year, calls from the cells must multiply, and, if +unheeded, give occasion for uneasiness, angry feelings and disorder. +Hence, under such circumstances, the chaplain would naturally be called +into the most active service. For, if we can not offer a man food enough +to satisfy the cravings of his appetite, the next thing is to reconcile +his mind to going without, or so engross his thoughts, that he shall not +so keenly feel the gnawings of hunger. Or, if one is cold, and we can +not bring the means of warmth, by presenting a satisfactory excuse or +interesting the intellect, we may do him essential service in helping +him calmly endure what he otherwise could not.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>Precisely on these principles I acted, and engrossed the prisoner's +attention as earnestly and interestingly as possible, always, when +practicable, taking special pains to immediately furnish the thing +called for; or to excuse, when I could; or turn one's sufferings to as +profitable a lesson as could be, to him. Hence, when the cold was +reigning almost unmitigated in the cells, for a few days, I would repeat +to one and another what I heard the warden say, that "the water was low +and he feared it would wholly fail." Among the replies, one said, "Well, +then, we must bear it the best we can, though it is hard."</p> + +<p>One day, coming to a man's cell to hear a lesson, he said, "I have no +lesson, I have been in the solitary. They did so and so to me, at which +I got mad, and would not do as they wished, and they put me in there." I +thought it likely, from the circumstances, that the impatience of an +officer and his irritating course had much, too much, to do with the +matter. But that was not for me to hint at, even. I rather said, "Well, +you say you got mad and have been in the solitary. See what you have +suffered for getting mad. How much better for you to govern your temper. +You know where you are, what you did to bring yourself here. You +understand what is required, and that refusal on your part is of no +avail. Now, why not govern yourself, no matter what they say? If you +really think they bear hard upon you, control your angry passions, and +do what they require as cheerfully and promptly as possible. Thus, you +can become accustomed here to governing yourself, that, when you go out, +you will be the better able to meet the vexations of the world. Now, +will you not try this course?" He replied, "I don't know, Chaplain, it +is a hard case." In a few days he remarked, "Chaplain; I have been +almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> constantly thinking of what you said the other day, have come to +the conclusion that your way is the best, and am resolved to attempt +putting it in practice." With most hearty congratulations on his new +resolve, I left him again. Some weeks after I received from his lips +this satisfactory report: "Well, Chaplain, I have been practicing your +method since our last conversation, and find it works like a charm. I +have but little trouble now, and am determined to keep on as I have +begun." Thus he proceeded till released. This man was naturally +irritable and easily angered. He had not previously labored to control +himself in regard to this important point; but now, when summoning all +his better powers to the task, he resolutely addressed his mind to it, +and a noble victory was his.</p> + +<p>There was another man here who also could be easily aroused, but was +perhaps still more stubborn, when angry. He, too, had been an inmate of +the solitary more or less. To him I appealed in a manner similar to the +above, and, after persistent labors, succeeded in inducing him to +earnestly try the proposed course, and with like results. But he was a +man who needed frequent encouragement to help him calmly endure the +vexations and annoyances almost constantly surrounding him. Hence, he +maintained his self-control and kept from trouble while he had one to +labor for his continuance in well-doing, but afterwards he fell into +difficulty again, and would consequently become an inmate of the +solitary. Thus I proceeded, and, by assiduous efforts, robbed this dark +abode of many hours of occupancy.</p> + +<p>There were others not rendering themselves liable to the dungeon, but +who would become filled with angry, revengeful emotions at what they +were forced to endure. I would labor to induce these to use what they +experienced as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> means of self-culture, to leave the acts of others in +the hands of God, submit calmly to what they could not avoid, do their +own duties faithfully, and in all things keep themselves strictly in the +right. Thus I was almost constantly called to speak a word here and a +word there to a pacific end, and labored untiringly in that direction.</p> + +<p>In the women's department, also, these efforts were found needed. One of +the inmates, whom we will call K., had often caused them no little +trouble. With all their efforts, she would contrive to keep almost a +constant broil among them. Hence, I decided to see what could be done, +in her case, by moral and religious efforts. Therefore, one Sabbath, +after our usual service, I remained awhile for personal conversation +with the inmates respecting their desires and feelings on the subject of +reform, purposely coming to K. last. After conversing awhile with her on +religious subjects, I came to the direct inquiry, "Now, K., will you not +turn from your former course and seek to become a true Christian?" She +looked upon me as though perfectly astonished at the question, and +answered, "Why, Chaplain, that would be of no sort of use. Here I have +been going on in my career of life these twenty years, and, should I +attempt to turn now and become good, no one would put the least +confidence in me. It is of no kind of use." I labored to assure her that +she was mistaken in this idea, that would she truly repent and turn from +evil, people would see it, and learn to confide in her the same as in +others who had reformed, also asserting that she had the power for +making of herself a most excellent, useful woman, if she would use it +aright. I referred to what she might have been, what she had lost, how +much she had suffered, the condition to which she had brought herself, +and the prospect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> still before her, if she went on. At length the tears +began to glisten in her eyes; she yielded and said, "Chaplain, I will +try." The next Sabbath I asked her how she succeeded, with the answer, +"Not much, but I am trying the best I can." Retiring from their room, I +asked the attendant how they had prospered the past week. "Oh," said +she, "first rate. We have had a perfect reformation. Everything has been +peaceful and quiet, no fretting and scolding,—a perfect change." And so +it was when I left the prison. But I learned that K., after my leaving, +became discouraged, was thrown from the track and returned to her former +habits. And no wonder, there was so great a lack of prudence and skill +in managing there, so much of a vexatious character.</p> + +<p>My position was one of difficulty, needing all the wisdom and discretion +I could command. The prisoners were looking to me for direction on the +one hand, while jealous watchfulness followed every step on the other.</p> + +<p>Thus I went on, constantly doing what I could for the best good of the +institution in whatever way practicable. No matter what course others +took concerning me or the prison, my duty was to act with fidelity and +in the fear of God, which I endeavored sacredly to do.</p> + +<p>One rule I constantly carried with me, never deviating from it on any +occasion, which rule was, not to give a word, or hint even, against any +prison officer or prison move. This seemed essential to the best being +of the prisoner. For, if really wronged, my deviation from that rule +would tend to impress him more deeply, make him feel his wrong more +keenly, and excite to greater irritability, resulting, on his part, +perhaps, in more disorderly acts, and, consequently, greater trouble. +Then, on my own part, such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> deviation must be perfect suicide, so far +as the plan might be concerned, showing the authorities conclusively +that I was unfit for the position, and giving them the most urgent +reasons for putting another in my place.</p> + +<p>A moderate share of common sense would teach one to keep very wide of +such deviation. Then it could be of no avail. If censurable things were +being done in the prison management, the rulers were the parties for one +to approach respecting them, those having the power to apply the remedy.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_26" id="CHAPTER_II_26"></a>26. <i>Death of Gideon Sylver.</i> This man had been in the army, was a good +soldier, strong and vigorous; very quiet and obedient; faithful to his +task and never complaining, but seemed intent on doing the best he could +to please those over him and thus share their good will. He was set to +carrying lumber in and out of the dry room, exposed to extremes of heat +and cold, at times perhaps having wet feet from want of proper shoes, +till, failing in health, complaining of distress about the chest, the +doctor ordered him to lighter and less exposed work, when he was set to +running a planer, said, however, to be a very hard machine to run, +though subsequently made easier by rollers attached. Here he grew no +better, but had severe attacks. One day, in his distress, he fell on his +knees, girding his arms about him and groaning repeatedly. The deputy +took him from the shop and returned him relieved. But soon he wholly +failed, was taken away for the last time and kept in his cell, part of +the time quiet and then groaning more or less intensely. To my inquiry +about the locality of his distress, he put his hand over the left lung. +Sabbath evening, Feb. 10th, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> think, his distress came on with great +severity, he, making no little ado, said, to my inquiry whether he +needed anything more, "I have a powder to take, which will no doubt +relieve me," and appeared disposed to make the best of his condition. +Meeting the steward, I asked if all was being done for the man that +could be, with the answer, "Yes, I think there is. The fact is, not much +ails him. He is nervous; thinks he is dreadful sick, and makes a great +ado." I passed on, thinking that Sylver must be a very sick man +notwithstanding these views, that, when one naturally so patient and +quiet makes such demonstrations, there must be reason for immediate +assistance. It seemed to me that the hospital was the proper place for +him, and that he ought to be there receiving suitable warmth and close +attention. But understanding that I might say no more, and meddle no +farther, I retired, feeling that the man was in a forlorn condition.</p> + +<p>The cold in the hall was not as severe now as formerly, for the weather +had become milder without, and that coal stove, before referred to, +stood not far from Sylver's cell. This helped in a measure, but came +short of the warmth needful to a sick man like him. Things passed thus, +with more or less of his moaning when I was in, till Wednesday evening, +on which, by reason of the prayer meeting, I did not visit the +apartment. Thursday noon I heard no moaning, but when the men had +retired for their work, I called to visit the sufferer and found his +cell empty, he having been carried to the hospital. I went to my dinner, +purposing to return and visit the hospital immediately after; but, being +detained, at length saw a coffin carried to the prison, and, on inquiry, +learned that Sylver was dead. He died a few minutes past twelve, when I +was known to be at work in the hall, but nothing was said to me about +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> event. How my heart sank within me, though, of the events of that +terrible Wednesday night, I then knew nothing. The facts subsequently +came to light in their revolting features. They were gathered from the +steward, overseers, guard and released prisoners, investigated with all +care, and are, no doubt, correct, as follows:</p> + +<p>Sylver grew worse Wednesday evening, groaning often. The steward came, +and, after giving him the usual attention, said, "Now, Sylver, there is +no use in your making such a fuss as this. Dry up and go to sleep." +Sylver replied, "I would, if I could; but my sufferings are so great I +can't help it;" to which the steward responded, "Yes, you can, if you +only think so. Dry up, if you don't want to go into the solitary," and +left, with the groans falling on his ears as he passed from the +apartment.</p> + +<p>At nine the night watch went to his task in the hall, and found the +inmate almost incessantly groaning, with interludes of prayer,—"Lord +have mercy on me; do help me; forgive my sins," and so on, also +suffering intensely with the cold, locked in his cell that none could +approach him in attempts at relief. The watchman's heart was stirred, +for humanity's promptings were not dead in him. He looked about for +something that might afford warmth to the agonized man, and found some +bricks, which he warmed and passed through the grating to the sufferer, +who for a time had strength to take and place them around him for +relief.</p> + +<p>The other prisoners could not sleep. Raps would be heard from one and +another for the watch to go to them and explain. Others would cry out, +"Call the deputy and have that man cared for." At about eleven, the +prisoners began to stir determinedly, when the watch called a guard and +sent for the deputy to come and care for Sylver. But he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> gave no heed to +the summons, except to send the guard back to the hall, who went to the +sick man's cell, made efforts to still him, and left. Those near said +they heard the word <i>gag</i> there used, and understood that the sufferer +was receiving threats of being gagged, in case he did not stop his +noise.</p> + +<p>As the guard retired from the hall, all hope of relief for the doomed +one came fully to an end, he being now literally left to his fate. He +would still engage in prayer,—"Lord, have mercy on my soul; Lord, why +won't they come and do something for my relief?"</p> + +<p>Had the cell door been left unlocked, the watch could have done much +more towards affording the needed warmth, and been more effective in +efforts for his relief. But that privilege would not be allowed. At +length the man became too weak and exhausted to take and use the +proffered bricks, which ended the offices of kindness the watch was +struggling to perform. Finally, the moaning grew more and more faint, +and was of such a tone as to give clear indication that death had +commenced its work. The sad hours wore slowly away. The morning finally +arrived, and the men were called to their tasks, the now feeble moans +dying upon their ears as they passed out. At length, when suiting his +convenience, the warden went to the dying man's cell. Seeing the result +of their work, he hastened for the doctor, whom he found just starting +on an imperative call. But he hurried to the prison to see the man a +moment and direct the means to be used till his return. He found him +thoroughly cold, as though dead, and ordered him to be taken at once to +the hospital, the most vigorous rubbing to be used by two men, and other +means for restoring warmth. For a time he revived somewhat, but these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +efforts, however beneficial they might have been in season, were of no +avail now, for death soon closed the scene.</p> + +<p>The brothers, summoned by a telegram, were present in a few hours. A +post-mortem examination was had, at which one asked, "What was the +matter with the man?" to which the doctor answered, "Probably some +difficulty about the heart." An invited physician responded,—"From what +I hear, I think it a clear case of congestion of the lungs;" one of the +worst cases of which, it was found to be. A consulting physician said +that the case must have been a number of days in progress.</p> + +<p>The reader must make his own comment on this whole affair.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> My +feelings were never more stirred. We were terribly shocked at Pike's +murder of the Browns, those feeble, old people. But he dispatched them +at once; neither, perhaps, experiencing a moment's sensibility of +suffering. True, the man lived a number of hours, but was probably not +sensible of pain. But Sylver, in his agonies, begging and pleading for +help, was forced to pass that terrible night carefully locked in his +cell, and no heed given to his cries. Had they ended his sufferings with +a single blow, without any threats of the dungeon or gag, he would have +been thereby saved from the piercing agonies of those slowly dragging +hours. Would not that have been compassion in comparison with what they +did? But one says, "That would have been murder." True, and what was +that treatment in reality? With due care and attention the man might +have recovered, but they so proceeded that it was absolutely impossible +for him to live. No man with a lung difficulty could survive such +treatment. The blow of an ax, severing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> his head from his body, could +have been no surer means of death.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Important facts on this matter are withheld in the +narrative above, as the possessors were unwilling, at the examination, +to divulge them publicly except under the shield of an oath.</p></div> + +<p>I know the deputy attempted to exonerate himself from blame before the +governor and council, by asserting that the guard, sent for him, failed +to do his errand correctly, and that he understood himself called to +still the noise among the men, and for this sent the guard back.</p> + +<p>Had that really been the case, why did not the guard go among the men +and endeavor to still them? Why go to Sylver's cell and expend his +efforts there? Or, admitting the deputy's statement to be true, did that +help the matter for him in the least? If summoned by the watch to quell +a rising tumult, was he, as an officer, acting the part of duty by +remaining quietly in bed and sending nothing but a guard to the work, +who could effect no more than the watch himself? All the circumstances +combined in forcing one, understanding the matter, to the conclusion +that they acted knowingly and intentionally respecting the man.</p> + +<p>Do not understand me as charging them with intentionally and +deliberately murdering their victim, for this I do not, but that he fell +a sacrifice to a system of prison management that they were intent on +establishing; a system under which the officers are to be the sole +judges of the prisoners' needs, use them as they may choose, put them in +whatever condition they may see fit, and they in turn not allowed to +utter a word, nor give the slightest expression of feeling any more than +the dumb, driven ox. If they die, "it is of no account; he is only a +prisoner," as an officer said to me, respecting another who had died.</p> + +<p>On entering the hall the evening after Sylver's cruel death, I found the +prisoners greatly excited. One exclaimed, as loud as he thought prudent, +"Murder! murder! They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> have murdered one of our number." Another +remarked, "Well, we see what the fate of any of us may be, if taken +sick." Marked anxiety was depicted upon all their countenances; and who +would wonder?</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_27" id="CHAPTER_II_27"></a>27. <i>The Sylver case excitement and hearing before the Governor and +Council.</i> The brothers were greatly aroused at what they could see and +gather about this death, felt that deep iniquity had been practiced in +connection with it, and resolved on a criminal prosecution of the +warden. But, finding, from legal counsel, that they probably could not +make a case in that line hold, they were thrown into doubt respecting +what to attempt.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the story of the affair spread in the community, carrying with +it exaggerated reports, that "Sylver was really murdered; was gagged and +left to die alone," and thus on. When passing the streets in the city, I +would be inquired of, if such were really the facts, to which I would +respond in the negative, that he died in the hospital with attendants +about him, but could explain no farther. Execrations at the prison +management were often heard.</p> + +<p>Whether true or not, I never ascertained, but report had it, that the +doctor felt called upon to demand an investigation of the affair before +the governor and council, and that the warden favored looking into the +other departments, and so a hearing was appointed to be had at the +council chamber one Friday evening, in the latter part of February, or +in early March. I was summoned to be present, but with no intimation for +what purpose. The Sylvers, when cherishing the idea of a criminal +prosecution, had looked about a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> for evidence, and had secured +the statements of an overseer at the prison, when the death occurred, +written out in the form of an affidavit and sworn to before a justice of +the peace, and also those of a released prisoner. These were in the +hands of the lawyer they had employed, or purposed to employ, to manage +for them. This lawyer appeared, but it was understood that the brothers +had become disheartened and ceased to interest themselves in looking up +evidence, preparing for a thorough investigation of the death in +question; why, we know not. None were put on oath, hence the hearing +failed of bringing out important matter, as the men having it, would not +divulge unless under oath.</p> + +<p>I was called on first to testify and asked to state about the Sylver +case, but, as before related, I then knew but little of material value. +The transactions of that Wednesday night, I had, at that time, heard +something of, but to me they were only matters of report, and among the +points requiring the efficacy of the oath to bring them out. Hence, I +could say nothing of them. I was asked some questions about the prison +living, but on points concerning which I knew but little, and then was +turned directly to my own prison management. It seemed by the +questioning that, in this summary manner, with no opportunity to prepare +for defense, I was virtually put on trial for a violation of prison +rules on two points,—the correspondence, and passing information to +prisoners,—and called on to testify against myself. But I had nothing +to cover up, had acted in all cases as I thought to be right, so frankly +stated my whole proceedings in the matters, as near as I could recollect +on the spur of the moment, and also explained my motives, excepting that +I could not, of course, allude to anything of the warden's procedure as +making my efforts especially needful to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> the best order of the prison. +No one else was called to testify on these points; but I was kept +standing during the narrations and questionings till so far exhausted +that, perhaps between ten and eleven, I had to ask the privilege of +sitting.</p> + +<p>Then I was called on to state about my lecturing for the Prison Aid +Association, whether I had alluded to the prison or not. Having become +somewhat confused in mind, for the time, I could not recollect a single +allusion I had made, and therefore answered unqualifiedly, "I have not," +not thinking to say, "I have not to my present recollection." The +Governor replied, "There must be some mistake in the matter, for I have +received two letters from places where those lectures were given, +stating differently," and he called for another witness.</p> + +<p>As to the Sylver matter, the effort was made to leave the impression on +the mind that the patient really died of a heart difficulty, though he +probably would have died of the congestion, but not so soon. No +pretense, however, was made that any unhealthy condition was found about +the heart, except in the attending physician's assertion, that, on +puncturing the pericardium; a little gas, as he thought, whizzed out, +and that he recollected of having read in two medical works, of cases +where such a gas collection had proved fatal. The physicians whom the +Sylvers employed on the post mortem, were not present, and hence no +light was gained from that source.</p> + +<p>The lawyer presented the written statements of the released prisoner, +referring to the death, the cold, food matters, &c., at the prison, but +this was summarily swept from the board by the testimony of the steward: +"There is not a word of truth in his statement." I happened to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> know +personally, then, that some of the points in that statement were true, +and what I did not know myself agreed exactly with the general testimony +of the men leaving prison. But I was not referred to on the point and +thus that testimony was useless. The affidavit from the overseer, I +think, was not presented.</p> + +<p>At about two o'clock at night, the hearing was adjourned until the next +Monday evening, after which I arranged with the Governor to see him +Monday, <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> I saw the letters referred to, which contained the +grossest misrepresentations, uttering sentiments I never thought of, or, +if I had, should not have expressed there, unless demented.</p> + +<p>I went home with a strong conviction that efforts were being made, by +whom I knew not, to turn the whole force of thought upon me and make of +me a scape goat in the matter. I retired, but not to shut my eyes in +sleep for the night. For a time my mind remained in confusion about +those lectures, but after resting awhile, and the excitement had passed +off, all came clearly to view, as given on a former page.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_28" id="CHAPTER_II_28"></a>28. <i>Preparing for the adjourned session.</i> Saturday morning I wrote to a +few understanding and reliable gentlemen, who heard the lectures in +question, alluded to the letters and their allegations, and by return +mail received answers, asserting that, as nearly as they understood, and +by inquiry from others who heard, no such ideas were received as charged +in the missives, giving some ideas that were uttered, a very different +sentiment from the letters, and what no one could censure. That day, I +met the writer of one of those letters in the city, and to my inquiry, +he replied,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> "Oh, I did not hear the lecture, or know anything about +what was said, personally; but my son was present, and gave me what +information I had." I could but think, "A bright son that!"</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, I called on the Governor as appointed, and found him +very much excited over the matter. He talked almost incessantly for a +long time, but occasionally giving me opportunity for putting in a word. +I attempted to assure him that he was laboring under a great mistake +about my acts at the prison, that I had not been guilty of anything he +had in mind, and that he must have been misinformed. But my assurances +seemed to carry but little weight. He finally said, "Mr. Quinby, your +management at the prison has caused me more trouble and anxiety than all +my State business put together." I was perfectly astonished. There were +my incessant and most arduous labors for peace and quietness in the +institution, my great painstaking, with the sole view of leading the +prisoners to do right in every respect, with never a hint from me, to a +prisoner, of disapprobation of any prison officer or his acts,—with +never a word of dispute between any of us as officers, besides my +careful observance of all the prison rules to the letter, as I +understood them, to which I had ever felt impelled by a sense of duty, +and on which, for a long while, I had felt the importance of double and +thribble care. How could my management in these things cause the +Governor such trouble and anxiety? The truth now flashed in mind, that +setting the guards and overseers to watch me, had its purpose. Then, +there must have been a long and persistent course of running to his +Excellency with a tissue of misrepresentations. Had it really befallen +me as it befel the man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho? Things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +certainly looked in that direction, and perhaps it was nothing more than +might have been anticipated; for, if one would persistently slander +innocent ladies, it would be natural for him to misrepresent me. If, at +every opportunity, he would defame the character of another, could I +rationally suppose that mine would be any safer in his hands?</p> + +<p>Having left the Governor with the settled conviction that my days of +incessant prison toil were virtually ended, a gentleman of influence in +the place, rode up to me in haste, with the remark, "Step aboard, Mr. +Quinby, you must have legal counsel in these matters. A combination is +formed to crush you, and the really guilty go free. I have volunteered +to engage such lawyers, and they wish to see you at once to learn the +true state of things and how to take hold of the case." Though I +insisted that it would be of no avail, he gave no heed to that, and soon +landed me at the proposed office door. I related, in brief, the general +facts as they had occurred, and the interview just had with the +Governor, to which the eldest of the number replied, "Your case is a +foregone conclusion. It is already decided. You can not do a thing." But +another proposed to consult with the attorney already in the work, and +arrange as thought advisable.</p> + +<p>Returning home, I found a friend waiting to inform me of the proffered +service of still another lawyer. Thus friends were aroused and clustered +around ready to help, as I had not anticipated. No little excitement +prevailed in the place.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_29" id="CHAPTER_II_29"></a>29. <i>The adjourned hearing.</i> I went to this with ideas clear, thoughts +collected, mind pretty thoroughly aroused,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> and feeling ready to attempt +a vindication of the right. Being again called on first, I commenced, +referred to the assertion that I made the previous evening about not +alluding to the prison in my lectures, that I was wrong in this, that I +did refer to it, stating on what points, and the sentiments uttered, +presenting the letters that I had received, showing that I uttered no +such ideas as alleged, and gave a general outline of my reform moves at +the prison and the motives that impelled me to voluntarily assume such +excessive labors, closing thus: "And now, gentlemen, if, after doing all +this, I am to be crushed, it will be a hard case."</p> + +<p>They now referred to the other cases on which but little more was +brought out. Before closing, one of the council, turning to me, +remarked, "Now, Mr. Quinby, if you know of anything wrong at the prison, +not here developed, we wish you to be free and state it, for we desire +to understand the truth." But I did not think it best for me to say +anything farther then, for, if I did, it would be opening a square fight +with the warden, which I by no means desired, and for which I did not +feel myself prepared. It would have been really stepping forward as +leader in the matter, a position which I did not wish. Then, again, as I +supposed, such prejudice had somehow been aroused against me, that, +should I attempt to make further development, it would be of little or +no use, and perhaps be worse for the cause than my silence. Besides, I +hoped that the time would come, and that not far distant, when our +rulers would have their eyes opened, and matters be so effectually +sifted as to find the real truth.</p> + +<p>Thus, the hearing closed, and we left the deliberating body to make up +judgment, which was that "no blame is to be attached to any one," or to +that amount. This was just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> as I had anticipated respecting the Sylver +case, the food, &c., for the investigation really amounted to little in +those respects. I was truly disappointed, however, concerning myself, +not that any wrong, or even a shadow of it, was brought against me, but, +as I judged from the Governor's remarks and the general drift of things, +that certain ones had worked underhandedly, and so effectually as to +render my removal a sure matter. But they did not succeed.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_30" id="CHAPTER_II_30"></a>30. <i>Motives for desiring the chaplain's removal.</i> One asks, "What could +be the motive of any for seeking your removal, if you had uniformly +proceeded at the prison as before set forth?" That was the puzzle to me, +for not a word had been said in that direction, except the note of +warning from the prisoner, till conversing with the Governor, and then +nothing specific; hence, I was left wholly to conjecture. My persistent +effort to keep alive, as far as possible, what I could of the reform +system of the past year, was, no doubt, repulsive to the warden, and in +order to be rid of that, he would need to be rid of me. This might be +one motive. Again, no little stir was being made in the city about +prison usages, prison suffering, &c. Probably he thought I was at the +bottom of that; that I wrote down facts inside, and divulged them +outside. Hence, the nettling that one of my practices caused. +Occasionally, I would be solving a long question in arithmetic for the +prisoner at the striking of the signal for retiring to the shop, at +which I would step aside, sit down, finish my solution, return the slate +to the prisoner's cell, and leave. I also, at times, noticed that the +deputy was watching me far more earnestly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> than the men. Then the +question was asked at the hearing, what I was writing on these +occasions.</p> + +<p>Now, if he considered me as the cause of this stirring up, he, of +course, would wish me away. This would be a strong motive. But I was +not. True, I wrote the stories of a number of the men, as they came out, +or till all were found telling over and over the very same thing, in +substance. These, however, I laid away in my drawer, saying nothing +about them to any one. But these men would also call on their former +Sabbath school teachers, or other acquaintances they had met in prison, +and relate to them their stories, and thus they spread. Neighbors would +call at my house, and be talking these matters over, I being as reticent +as possible, but would not come out squarely and lie in the matter by +contradicting the accounts. And, further, the points which I had brought +to the governor's notice were, without doubt, unsatisfactory to the +warden. Then, also, my fitting up the prisoners as they left. He perhaps +desired a man for the place, who might wish it so much as to be willing +to pass on with doing but little of what I was attempting.</p> + +<p>For months I supposed these the great motives which prompted that +removal. But the next year I learned of another and perhaps greater than +either of these. A man, retiring from prison, said to me, "Chaplain, how +amused we would feel sometimes, last year, when you were preaching, at +the appearance of the warden, to see him turn pale, and then red, and +hitch on his seat. We understood it." Another, usually present, not a +prisoner, said also that he had noticed the same thing.</p> + +<p>At the time in question, I was treating upon the moral code from Sabbath +to Sabbath, and would, in one discourse, take up lying, and point out as +clearly as I could its influ<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>ence upon the one practicing it, and upon +society in general; then, perhaps, stealing, or swindling and thus on. +In these efforts, I was intent on discharging my duty to the prisoners, +on leading them from those sins, having nothing to do in the matter with +the warden as to any of his steps in life. If personal applications were +made, I was not responsible for that. I arranged for no such purpose.</p> + +<p>But when the man, on his release, made the remark given, the idea +flashed in my mind that here was a stirring motive to efforts for +getting rid of me, with the hope of obtaining one who might be willing, +on coming to certain sins, to let the plow of truth turn out, and not go +straight through.</p> + +<p>Whether that running to the Governor and that stirring him up so +greatly, was prompted by one or another of the above reasons, or all +combined, or something else, still, I never ascertained. Had charges +been preferred against me openly and squarely, I could have met them +face to face, known what was what, and shown their falsity. But as +things were, I was left in the dark as to how to proceed, and to what +conclusions I should come as to the motives prompting to the struggle to +my disadvantage.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_31" id="CHAPTER_II_31"></a>31. <i>Chaplain's change of course and the question as to who should +conduct the prison correspondence.</i> After this hearing, I decided to +change my course in two respects, the one about going out to lecture on +Association matters, the other about writing to prisoners' friends. +These I wholly abandoned. True, nothing was said to me suggestive of +these changes, nor had I taken any wrong step on the points, but, in the +investigation, I was led to see that these were <i>the</i> sources whence +misconception would be the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> most likely to arise, and where evil-minded +persons might pretend a wrong, with some show of plausibility, without +really any shadow of grounds in truth. I would not only shun every evil, +but every appearance of evil, or what might be construed into an +appearance.</p> + +<p>Great sensitiveness pervades too many minds on the idea of attempting to +show benevolence to a released prisoner, they holding it as a wrong to +society. These will not hear on the subject understandingly, but with +prejudice and a proclivity to misrepresent. Though the class does not +embrace, in its numbers, the more intelligent, worthy citizens, yet it +contains more or less who possess the power of casting mists of +blindness before the well-disposed and honest seekers for the right.</p> + +<p>In this class, we find the ideas of the brutal and vindictive freely +cropping out in their utterances. "Those fellows ought to suffer. They +were put in prison for punishment, now let them have enough of it, so +that they may thus learn to do better, no matter if it were ten times +worse." These persons seem to think that the correct way of prison +management would be to select the most hard-hearted, cruel men of the +State for officers, and deliver the convicts into their hands, for them +to exercise their brutal feelings upon as fully and freely as they may +choose. These points, then, evidently need to be agitated in the State, +by lecturers and through the press, but it were better that this work be +done by others than by the prison chaplain.</p> + +<p>The loss of my occasional writing was severely felt, especially by +outside friends. Thus, on Fast day of '71, a prisoner wrote a letter to +a sister in the West, and asked for an envelope and stamp that he might +send it, but weeks and months passed and none were forthcoming. There +was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> idea, "You must not ask a second time." The sister became +deeply troubled at not hearing from or about the brother, not knowing +whether he were dead or alive, and wrote to me, earnestly beseeching to +be informed. But as I was now under the ban, I did not answer her. She +also wrote to the ex-warden, but he was away and did not answer. In the +fall, when that gentleman of Concord was chosen warden, she wrote to +him, but, as he was sick and knew nothing of the matter, he did not +respond. And no doubt she also wrote to the warden himself; but probably +has not heard to this day.</p> + +<p>Formerly, I should have written her something like this: "Your brother +is alive, in usual health, and progressing well. Don't be over-anxious +till he may write you." In this way I could have satisfied her, +measurably, at least with no reflection, in any way, on prison +management.</p> + +<p>This neglect of the deputy seemed the more cruel from the fact that the +man was a most faithful, obedient prisoner, and that this sister had +previously furnished him with ample writing materials, that he might +write frequently with no expense to the State, which materials the +warden had confiscated on coming into office.</p> + +<p>In connection with this matter, the important question comes up, In +whose hands, really, should the prison correspondence be placed?—in +those of the warden or chaplain? The correspondence, to be well managed, +requires no little labor, especially if the inmates are permitted to +write as they should and receive answers in return. If, in the warden's +hands, it would tend to crowd other business too much, or itself be too +much neglected, the latter having been the fact.</p> + +<p>To avoid all this, in various places, they put the management in the +hands of the chaplain. This would seem the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> more appropriate, being +rather in his line of duty, and more easily performed by him. A schedule +of the points of information, which should be allowed to pass, could be +marked out by the competent authority and laid before him for his +guidance, that matters might be correct in that respect.</p> + +<p>This question ought to receive the careful attention of our law-makers, +for proper letter writing should not be restricted in any degree in the +prison. Good letters from home and friends will bring with them no +little reformatory power and influence to quietness and order. Indeed, +the privilege, by proper management, can be made a great force in +disciplinary efforts among the prisoners.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_32" id="CHAPTER_II_32"></a>32. <i>Change, for a time, in the warden's management.</i> Shortly after the +death of Sylver, a man, occupying a cell near by, was taken sick, but +could sit up the most of the time. As he said, the warden went to him +and remarked, "I am warden here. Be free, and ask for whatever you need, +and you shall have it." He permitted this man to sit with his cell door +unlocked, and to go to the stove when he chose, and, to all appearance, +properly cared for him, giving reason for much commendation. True, he +was shortly to leave prison, and his statement would go towards +counteracting the reports of prison cruelty circulating outside, and +some were uncharitable enough to contend that this was the object of the +better treatment.</p> + +<p>One evening, about this time, I found a prisoner in his cell appearing +as though he could live but a few hours, and perhaps minutes, unless +immediately attended to. He had been in the hospital a number of weeks +with a lung difficulty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> and, though he had not recovered, was +transferred sometime that day, I think, to his cell,—to a colder +atmosphere. Here, he found it difficult to speak or breathe. I hastened +to the warden for him to attend to the matter. He hurried for the +physician, who soon arrived, and had the sufferer returned to the +hospital, where he died some weeks after. This was one of my only three +requests or suggestions that were granted or favorably attended to by +the warden while I was under him. True, I was not denied many times, for +I early learned not to propose anything or make any request, except when +absolutely needed.</p> + +<p>This changed course in the warden, however, did not continue many weeks. +That hearing and its acquittal had passed, and the Sylver affair was +dying away, when, at length, I thus found him returned to his former +spirit. Though early in the season, on a warm day, he had divested the +sick of their flannels, and I suppose all other prisoners. Soon the +weather became cooler, and I found a sick man in the hospital suffering +greatly for want of his flannels, which articles, as he asserted, he had +not previously been without, summer or winter, for twenty years. He was +trembling with the cold, which much enhanced his distress. Going to the +warden, I presented the case, and received the reply, "If he wants his +flannels, let him ask the doctor." He could meddle in the matter enough +to divest the man of the needed articles, but would not move to put them +on, and thus mitigate his sufferings. It was then early in the +afternoon, and the man would have to suffer till the next forenoon, the +usual time for the doctor to make his visit. When he came, as I was +informed, he lectured them severely for removing the flannels at all.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_33" id="CHAPTER_II_33"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>33. <i>The fate of Henry Stewart and others.</i> Henry was said to have been +exceedingly unfortunate in his parents, they having been largely +chargeable with his proclivities to evil. He was highly excitable, +easily thrown into a perfect phrensy of passion, insane at times, and, +on the whole, very difficult to manage, requiring a large amount of +patience and skill in those over him. They needed to study his +peculiarities and accommodate their treatment to his particular case, +much the same as would the driver of a vicious, balky horse. The former +managers had so treated him, that he had really improved, and his +condition was appearing more and more hopeful. But in the new order, +where officers were not expected to bother themselves over +peculiarities, it was different with Henry. Though laboring with +faithfulness generally, what was bred within would appear in outward +acts. When a spell came on, they would "shake him up," as the deputy +said (the import of which I did not fully understand), and put him in +the solitary. At length his insanity, or whatever had impelled him, +would pass off, and he come out in his right mind. Confinement to his +cell would probably have been just as effective in securing his good +deportment and less injurious to his health. Whenever I visited him, he +would appear hopeful, tell what a good boy he proposed to be, how he +meant to live, and not get into any more trouble; that he should soon be +out, and would then strive to be a good man. Many air castles the poor +fellow thus built, but to see them fall. The prison fare and general +management was now highly unfavorable to his proclivities, tending +constantly to make them worse. Men repeatedly told me that the officers +would severely beat him, and that he was sadly abused. One day, in a +freak of insanity or anger, he struck his over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>seer to the floor with a +bed-post, coming within a hair's breadth of ending his life, and was +aiming a second blow, which a fellow prisoner arrested, and thus saved +the overseer. Henry was put in the solitary, and I know not how long +kept there, nor how used; but when, at length, I found him in his cell, +he was greatly changed. I was perfectly astonished! He was not only +insane, but changed in physical appearance; shrunken in flesh and with a +strange expression of countenance. For a time, I could hardly believe it +was Henry, but finally had to admit that it was really he. I have seldom +seen one with a fever change more for the time. Soon his insanity took a +boisterous turn by night, keeping the other prisoners all awake, which +induced them for a time to confine him to the solitary during these +hours, and keep him in his cell by day. But his howls so disturbed the +prison family, that they next resorted to keeping him in the shop by +night, lying upon his back, his feet chained together, with a post +between them.</p> + +<p>Thus, they continued for a season, but finally, the governor sent him to +the insane asylum. Shortly after, I was speaking to one of Henry, in +hearing of the warden, as being insane, to which he replied, "No, he is +not insane. He is ugly, of which I could have cured him, had his time +not been so near out." I thought, "You <i>would</i> have cured him by death, +and were very near it."</p> + +<p>As he was taken to the asylum, the warden said to me, "Chaplain, I wish +it understood that he is taken out to be tried for attempting to kill +his overseer," thereby expressing the desire, as I understood it, for me +to give that version of the matter to the prisoners. "What an idea!" I +answered in my mind, "the chaplain going about lying for the warden!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>Fisher was naturally of a low order of mind, but still possessed +knowledge enough to work well at many things under the direction of +another, was to come out the early part of March, but whom I missed from +his cell a while previous, and, from his long absence, began to suppose +they had sent him off unbeknown to me. But the day previous to the +expiration of his sentence, I found him again in his cell, completely +demented. I was told by more than one, that his overseer, attempting to +direct him in a certain way about his work and not succeeding, seized +him by the collar, plunged him head foremost to the floor, and then +jerked him about, he probably now uttering some disrespectful words; +then the deputy was called and took him to the solitary, I was also +informed, and plunged him against the outer prison door, on the way, +with such force as to push it open.</p> + +<p>When first finding him in his cell, as stated, I asked where his father +lived, and he answered, "Enfield," as I understood it. But after that, I +could not obtain even a sound from his lips. He kept almost constantly +spitting, would frequently laugh to himself, but I could learn nothing +about his legal residence. I was expected to care for him, and would not +turn him loose to suffer and perhaps perish; but I found that I should +be liable for damage, should I send him to another town. True, the +State, by her prison management, had reduced him to this wretched +condition, and ought to bear the expense of maintaining him, but there +was no law or provision for that. Hence, finding it my only safe and +legitimate course, I obtained a decree from the probate judge, took him +to the insane asylum, and notified the commissioners of that county, of +the same.</p> + +<p>No doubt, with proper prison fare and treatment, both of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> these men +might have come out able to earn their living, under proper guardians, +which they would have needed; and that the fate of both was directly +chargeable to the prison treatment.</p> + +<p>There was one, also, who left after my departure from prison, belonging +to another State, who had become nearly as demented as Fisher. Hence, +they obtained for him a railroad pass, and put him on board the cars +with a label fastened upon his arm, directing him to be transferred to +such a State and town, where his friends were supposed to live. He, too, +I doubt not, was reduced to that demented condition by the prison +treatment for he was far from such a state at the beginning of the year.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_34" id="CHAPTER_II_34"></a>34. <i>Warden's want of courtesy to prisoners' visitors.</i> By rule, no +friend is allowed to see a prisoner except in presence of the warden or +a subordinate that he may hear whatever is said. The time allowed for a +visit is usually short, and the parties, of course, wish to make the +most of every moment. But no little complaint was made, that, when the +interview was in the warden's presence, he would engross much of the +time in recounting his exploits in prison management, the disorders he +found, the corrections he had made, how they would deceive his +predecessor, but could not deceive him, and the like. No matter how far +one had come, or at what expense, he would, perhaps, be treated thus. +Some, on going away, having had an opportunity of saying but few words +to the prisoner whom they visited, would utter remarks which were +anything but complimentary to the man thus imposing upon them, as they +regarded it, and to the State for allowing such things to occur.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_35" id="CHAPTER_II_35"></a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>35. <i>Effects of the new order upon the prisoners.</i> The mental effects +have been spoken of in three cases. These were the most marked of that +type. The effects on the physical system were also very apparent. It +could not be otherwise, for the men lost no little flesh. One man said +he weighed himself about the time the order in question commenced, and +found his weight some one hundred and eighty pounds. He left after being +under the system a little more than six months, and had lost some +twenty-five pounds in weight. And I should judge this to be a fair +general average, according to their appearance, of the change in most of +the prisoners.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">3</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The Bill of Fare at the prison for this year can not be +given, as it was not, to the writer's knowledge, published.</p></div> + +<p>And why not this result? A large number did not pretend to eat any +dinner on Mondays, and many more ate but little. There was such a +general carrying back of the food at this meal, that I decided to count +particularly and see exactly what the facts were. On two consecutive +Mondays in April, I think, I did this and found a dozen or over, not +even taking their dishes to their cells, so had nothing to eat; +thirty-two each day, returned their basins, all, I think, with the bit +of bread gone, a large number not having touched the wheat part, some +having eaten a very little, and others more, but all returning more or +less of that; then the dishes of the remaining prisoners would be empty. +Those were the only days I counted so carefully in the spring, but +judged them to be fair samples for that time of the year. But the number +was not small who did not pretend to take this meal while the cracked +wheat appeared. Then, as informed, they would pursue a similar course +with certain other meals, for instance, when the fish was served. Some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +would not take the soup meal. The Sabbath morning repast of baked beans +was ever spoken of as good, satisfactory both in quality and quantity. +One man said his custom was to save some of the beans as a relish for +his meals early in the week. The peas were complained of as bad. One +overseer said to a prisoner, who was making his dinner of these, "I +would as soon take so much shot into my stomach." The lack of vegetables +was severely felt, especially that of onions, though I was informed they +purchased a bushel, or so, in the winter, of very small onions, or +scullions, as many call them. In the spring, I found a man in his cell +sick, who said he was having symptoms of the scurvy, a difficulty he had +in the army, that he was suffering much for the want of vegetables, and +that he knew of others also suffering from these scurvy symptoms.</p> + +<p>The warden, of course, well knew of this dislike of the food, but the +men must take what he allowed or go without. A man asserted, on leaving +prison, that the warden said to him, "All I have against you is, that +you would not take your rations better." He replied, "I purposed to obey +the prison rules, but did not feel myself bound to eat what I could not +relish." One who was sick in his cell with a dispeptic difficulty, said +he could not take brown bread as it soured on his stomach, but could eat +white bread, for which he had asked, but to no purpose. I mentioned the +matter to the steward, asking if he could not have the white bread. He +answered, "No. They indulged him in that under the former administration +and he thinks he must continue to have it, but now every one is to fare +alike, so he must take his chance with the rest."</p> + +<p>But the reader will ask, "Did not this warden allow the men who chose, +to take anything extra?" Certainly. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> former custom had been to place +brown bread, cut in slices, near the rations, each man having the +privilege of taking as many slices extra as he might choose. Or, he +would convey dishes with extra rations to certain cells afternoons if +requested, or when the occupants were to work extra evenings. This +warden allowed any, desiring, to take of the brown bread extra, but only +one slice each. I would now, also, though very seldom, see dishes of +cracked wheat setting on the beds as extra rations, or basins of +hash-skins.—The reader understands that, in making hash, more or less +will dry, or burn upon the sides of the kettle, leaving a thick skin +when all the eatable part is removed.—This skin, scraped from the +kettle, composed these hash-skins, perfectly dry as husks. This was to +save everything and have nothing wasted.—The reader will understand +again, that when distributing books to the cells, and looking after the +books, I could not avoid seeing these things.</p> + +<p>With the failing flesh also went the strength to work. A man described +the effect on himself, thus: "On first going into the shop after eating, +I feel quite vigorous for my task, but soon a peculiar goneness comes +on, and finally becomes so that what I do is through fairly driving my +system." He had been very vigorous, able to go through almost anything, +but what he had passed here proved sufficiently powerful to bring him +down.</p> + +<p>An overseer told me, that the men in his division became so weak that it +required great effort on his part to keep some of them at their task, +they being hardly able to stand up by their machines. But his duty +forced him to keep them there as long as they could do anything, though +a part became unable to accomplish more than one quarter of their +ordinary work. His heart would really ache for the fellows.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>It should be recollected that everything in the shop, but tending them, +is done by machines, each operation having a machine for performing it, +the business of the prisoners being to pass the articles to and from the +respective workers. Hence, the amount of work turned out did not, of +course diminish in proportion with the failing strength of the workmen, +as must have been the case in the old method of hand planing, sawing, +&c.</p> + +<p>I subsequently learned that food would be carried into the shop for the +suffering men, but I know not to what extent. At first mentioning, I +thought that it could not have been done, and expressed the doubt, but +my informer explained how, showing a perfectly feasible way.</p> + +<p>The effect of the new system was plainly visible, too, on the health of +the men. This, of course, could not be avoided. A man, who was very +healthy, and vigorous to work when it commenced, ran through the winter +into early spring when he began signally to fail, said he could not eat +the rations any longer, and went without food of any amount, still +constantly performing his task, till his system entirely broke down, and +he was taken to the hospital for a drugging course, the doctor remarking +to me that he had "failed with no apparent cause." I think the want of +food was sufficient cause. Had he received proper care and suitable +aliment, he would, doubtless, have been spared this sickness. I was +informed that, when he was near death's door, he was pardoned, to die +with his friends.</p> + +<p>Another, who had fallen a victim to prison treatment and was in the last +stages of consumption, said to me, "Had they used me as well when I was +in health and able to work as they now do, I should not have been here +at this time." Calling the next day, I learned that he had received +pardon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> and been carried home, that he might die there. His stay, I +learned, was very short.</p> + +<p>How many of these pardons were granted in view of death, I never knew. +They were gratifying to friends most certainly, but would make the +prison mortality appear smaller than it really was. For, surely, if a +man sickened in prison and received pardon as above, his demise should +of right be set down as among the prison deaths.</p> + +<p>A man came out in the spring, having been a prisoner one year; was well +and robust when entering, but the ordeal of the winter brought on a +rheumatic difficulty, so that towards its close he was really sick, and, +as he remarked, solicited the warden for the privilege of laying off and +doctoring a little, with the answer, "I know what the matter is with +you, you wish to get rid of work; you can go to the shop;" and he was +given no respite, nor was anything done for him while there. He went +home so used up, that, as his father asserted, it did not seem that he +could have lived at the prison but a few weeks longer. He revived, +however, with home air and home treatment, worked considerably through +the summer, but, as fall came on, had a return of the rheumatic trouble +contracted in prison, with which he suffered many months, and died. A +number of others, too, on their leaving, I found completely broken down, +who were sent away to friends, or places of their usual abode, to be +maintained by relatives or at public expense. A man, when leaving, said +that he had there sometimes been forced to work, when so sick that five +dollars a day would have been no temptation to him for thus laboring. +One was reported to me as having been kept to his machine till fainting, +and then carried to the hospital. One, with a consumptive difficulty, +not able to work in the shop, was put in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> cook-room to do what he +could there, and kept at his task till, one Sabbath eve, he was taken to +the hospital where he died the next Tuesday morning.</p> + +<p>But why pursue this dark recital? All such management, of course, made +the prison sickness appear less in the physician's account than the +reality. It seemed fortunate to the men that the term of sentence to +many so expired as to leave them under this rule but a comparatively +short time.</p> + +<p>In conversation with an overseer here, who had large experience, the +idea was started as to how long time would be required for the system +reigning at the prison this year to use up completely the number it +commenced with, could all have been kept truly under its influence, with +no respite or mitigation. His conclusion was some two years. Nor could I +think he was much out of the way, that is, take the case as it bore on a +large share.</p> + +<p>The system left its legitimate effects on the minds of the inmates, +aside from driving to insanity and idiocy, namely, irritability, angry +feeling, or moroseness. Under the former rule, the men, when leaving, +would generally express much gratitude towards officers and friends for +the interest taken in their welfare, apparently filled with a hope and +inspiration here gained, prompting them to strive for their own best +good, from which no little advantage, to them, might be hoped. But under +this rule, how different! Men fully admitting the justice of their +sentence, and having come with the purpose of serving it out +submissively, and with not a word of fault-finding, would go away +complaining of the wrongs done them in the general prison fare, their +hearts filled with bitter feelings, prompting them to execrate those +from whom they had suffered these wrongs, and curse the State for +putting such men in power over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> prison. One who was so reduced that +he found it a task to walk about, remarked, on leaving, "I have some +accounts to settle with them over there" (meaning the warden and +deputy), "and if I recover, I shall return to Concord and settle with +them. I will have my pay unless they are the strongest." Some would +leave with the feeling of <i>don't care</i> as to what course they should +take.</p> + +<p>What was said above as to losing flesh among the prisoners, should be +taken with some exceptions. The cooks could manage to satisfy their +demands of appetite. So also could those doing common chores. Some were +naturally very small eaters, and some would eat all furnished them, +however prepared. The females had such food as went to the warden's +table, and, so far as I learned, what they needed, and ever appeared in +good heart, except when sick.</p> + +<p>A female prisoner, for some offence, was condemned to her cell for a +week and to feed on the rations from the other part, which was held by +her probably as a God-send rather than a punishment, for it gave the +females the very opportunity desired for really seeing on what the men +had to live. After this, when a woman left she was not slow in her +declamations against the miserable fare of the men, and how they must of +necessity suffer.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_36" id="CHAPTER_II_36"></a>36. <i>Comparative prison order for the two years.</i> Some represent that +the present warden found great abuses in the prison, all of which he has +corrected. No doubt, this idea has quite extensively prevailed, and that +interested parties have taken no little pains to extend the impression +as widely as possible. Let us, then, look to the point with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> care, and +give full credit for whatever has been gained in that direction.</p> + +<p>The warden banished from the prison all bouquets and flowers, and talked +of them in the most sneering manner, contending that the practice of +presenting them to prisoners was the most outrageous wrong. He has put +an end to all attendance, from the city, upon prison meetings of every +class, except when he may give special invitation himself; has abolished +all lecturing to the inmates by outsiders; and would have abolished the +secular school, but for the persistent efforts of the chaplain; has +ended the custom of having the female prisoners assemble with the males +in the chapel Sabbath mornings for worship, requiring all moral efforts +made for them to be put forth in their work room. He has also ended all +funeral observances at the prison, cut off all distribution of religious +tracts to the prisoners, and all trinkets or trinket-making in the +cells, and has forbidden the receiving of presents from friends, +excepting tobacco, &c.</p> + +<p>If there were prison abuses in any or all of these, he has effectively +corrected them, and should receive the full credit.</p> + +<p>Then there were those two orders which he established in the shop, and +he should be credited with whatever good they secured. The one was, that +a man, meeting company in a door or pass-way, must turn and face the +wall till they had passed, thus professedly not seeing them, though, +before turning, he must have enjoyed the sight of all. The other rule +was, that the men, when waiting for work, must stand at their machines, +and by no means sit down.</p> + +<p>In respect to account-keeping, no comparison can be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> made, for, previous +to the service of this warden, the arrangement had been entered into for +him to have no concern with that, the financial matters being attended +to by an agent.</p> + +<p>We come next to the behavior of the prisoners, the great point really to +be looked at,—the one which outsiders, no doubt, always suppose to be +meant, when reading or hearing about gains in prison order. In the +chapel, with the most critical observation and careful weighing, I could +not discover the slightest difference. The behavior was good, equally +good at all times, in both years. So, also, in the hall, as far as my +knowledge extended. As to the shop, I could not pretend to judge from +personal observation, but an overseer, who served under both, gave me +all needed information. He said, that he found it more difficult to keep +order in his division the second year than during the first; that some +were more excitable, revengeful, inclined to vent their spite on their +machines, if nothing else; to throw those out of order and break things +generally, costing him far greater effort to manage them. The uniform +testimony of the men leaving prison has been in the same +direction,—that they were more inclined to watch their overseers and +take the advantage to commit little misdemeanors, as would naturally +arise from this increased prompting to vent their ill-feelings.</p> + +<p>So far as I learned, more contraband information was smuggled in during +the second than the first year; certainly I heard it often alluded to. +They would hint at outside matters that I knew nothing of, and in a way +that showed considerable knowledge of them. Take an illustration: The +day after Pike's nomination as governor, a prisoner said, half +inquiringly, "Well, it seems that Pike is nominated."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> I could not say +"No," in truth, and, from my position, was not allowed to say, "Yes." +Hence I answered, in a joking way, "How much you think you know about +the outside world;" to which he replied, "I do know. I had a paper +brought me that very afternoon, before it was dry, giving an account of +the whole proceedings. He will be elected, too, and we shall have +different fare at the prison."—What one knew would be communicated to +others, so, of course, this fact was generally understood among the +inmates.</p> + +<p>I have since learned, that, during the second year, a somewhat regular +correspondence was carried on between the two wings, three couples, I +think, thus making their arrangements for marriage, to be consummated +shortly after their release. And the enjoyment to them was, that some of +these letters were passed directly before the warden's face and eyes, +without his notice.</p> + +<p>One letter from the south wing was miscarried, and fell into his hands, +for which the sender was locked up and thus gained the knowledge, above +referred to, of the men's rations. But, nothing daunted at the fate of +this missive, she prepared another and sent it before her release, or +very soon after, which passed in safety. Besides this irregularity, +parties in prison corresponded with those even out of the State, giving +a pretty full account of the prison management, a friend of mine being +shown quite a pile of these letters.</p> + +<p>Hence, taking all things into account as to the deportment of the +prisoners, we are forced to the conclusion that no improvement was +secured the second year over the first, but rather a loss, that is, so +far as I saw or heard.</p> + +<p>The warden, of course, did his best towards preventing all prison +abuses, for he considers himself a very smart prison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> officer, so shrewd +that no prisoner can get the advantage of him. But he sometimes found +more than his match. Some thought it not a very hard matter to "pull the +wool over his eyes." The question has more than once been asked, "Is it +possible that he can be so befogged?" Why not? He is an old man, between +seventy and eighty, of great self-esteem, perhaps entering his dotage. +If such a man be placed in so responsible a position, what may we +expect?</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_37" id="CHAPTER_II_37"></a>37. <i>Good traits in the warden for prison service.</i> He possessed two +most excellent and important traits for a prison officer. He was usually +at his post, would be but seldom away and then only for a short time, +but once, I think, for a few days, during the year. He would also be +almost constantly looking after things himself, not leaving matters +altogether to subordinates. True, some would complain of finding him in +unsuspected and rather out-of-the-way places, but it taught them ever to +be on the alert, ready for inspection at all times.</p> + +<p>While, however, these traits, with a moderate share of judgment, would +qualify one for running a steam engine, other and still higher and more +important qualities are needed for managing a prison.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_38" id="CHAPTER_II_38"></a>38. <i>Chaplain's inability to prevent knowing more or less of the +prisoner's troubles and the prison management.</i> If the chaplain is alive +to the prisoners' moral needs, their sorrows of heart and intent on +affording the requisite ad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>vice, in searching for knowledge how to +direct his words, he will often, of necessity, learn more of things in +general than he desires. The case of the young man spoken of in Sec. 25, +who had been in the solitary and gave this as an excuse for no lesson, +is in point. He was making no complaint, but simply excusing himself. +This plea, however, brought with it an idea that no little lack of +prudence may have existed in a point of prison management, but of which +I could not judge without knowing further circumstances. Thus there are +numerous incidental ways by which knowledge will come to mind unbidden. +Men, thinking themselves ill-treated, or who see others wronged, will +speak of these things before he can stop them, and thus some knowledge +of wrong, perhaps, is gained. For example: A man in his cell, no little +excited, commenced: "How my blood boiled this afternoon at seeing them +throw S., that sick man, on those timbers, and hurt him so." But just as +soon as I saw his drift, I called out, "Hold on. You know I must not +hear about that." Before I could stop him, however, enough was in the +mind to raise the supposition that the feeble one was being abused, +which idea subsequently received confirmation from the fact of his +death.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_39" id="CHAPTER_II_39"></a>39. <i>Secular school success.</i> My course was to commence at No. 120 and +call at every cell in succession, where the inmate would engage in +study, till arriving at No. 1, and then over again in regular order, +being able, to "go the rounds," as we called it, about twice a week, +each receiving my attention only so often.</p> + +<p>I had quite a variety of exercises. Two commenced their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> alphabet, +although some twenty-four years old. A number took reading in easy +sentences, with spelling. Some thirty took arithmetic in its various +stages, a few, as in the year previous, taking it up in review a while +before leaving. A number in this branch made good proficiency, +considering their disadvantages. Two took book-keeping, one doing but +little, the other obtaining such a knowledge of the science as to +prepare him to keep books passably well. But this was under +difficulties. Having no blanks for practice, I obtained for him three +large slates, one for day book and so on. But soon I found him with +blanks all ruled. True, they were made of brown wrapping paper, on which +he would write with a pencil. Asking no questions, I looked to his work +as he pushed on with all energy and determination. No one could be more +diligent.</p> + +<p>One, having been a machinist, expressed a desire, a while previous to +his liberation, for an opportunity to practice somewhat on mechanical +drawing. I obtained some patterns, carrying him one at a time. He would +copy them with great exactness, and had been called on occasionally to +draw working patterns for machinery in the shop. How lamentable that a +man of his talents should go into service.</p> + +<p>One took Latin, went through the grammar, and became able to read +somewhat in the reader. He expressed a determination to obtain an +education, when released, for which he was striving, when last heard +from.</p> + +<p>One, a house painter by trade, took arithmetic, and English grammar. He +was quick to learn, and a keen, smart fellow. He frequently expressed +the wish that he could learn something of ornamental painting, and thus +be able to work on signs and fancy carriages, when liberated. I, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +course, could do nothing for him at that, directly. But it occurred to +me that perhaps I could, in a measure, indirectly. I could perhaps start +him somewhat in penciling, thus leading his mind to a practical +knowledge of making the sketches and outlines of what he would wish to +paint. This idea he grasped with avidity, commencing, in a drawing-book +that I furnished him, on simple outlines, thence to shading, and finally +to foliage, showing as good improvement as is usually found in our +schools. And this exhibited the more talent in him from the fact that I +could give only a few general hints at the work, from what I had +gathered by hearing teachers when directing their pupils. Hence, when +coming to difficulties, he was left to work upon them as best he could, +till conquered.</p> + +<p>Having a work on Perspective, from which I had gained a few ideas, I +gave him some hints on that. But we had nothing to practice upon but the +inside of the prison, the walls and windows. He labored somewhat on the +idea of the vanishing point, and that of the diminution of the angle of +vision as distance increases.</p> + +<p>Thus, the reader will see, our school took a somewhat wide range. I +would interest the mind, so far as could be, in what would profit, and +thus beget a love for truth and turn the attention away from wrong. With +the wholesome ideas gathered in these studies, I would also inculcate +the moral, to elevate the thoughts and heart to the truly good. Here, I +constantly kept in view the idea of the best interest of the prisoner +and the State.</p> + +<p>This labor was most fatiguing. Standing there at the cell doors with no +means of sitting, I would, at times, become so completely exhausted as +to be obliged to retire to rest a while. Then, taking the air from the +cells would occasion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>ally be most repulsive and injurious to health, the +whole weakening to the system.</p> + +<p>I attempted to have a short school exercise with the females twice a +week, but word soon came that they could not be spared for that, and the +effort was abandoned. The pupils did as much, perhaps, as could +rationally be expected, under the circumstances. Could we have had the +school in the chapel, greater results would have crowned our efforts, +with much less labor.</p> + +<p>Though I was wholly cut off at first from having an evening school in +the chapel, near the latter part of January, the warden informed me that +I might have one there on Thursday evenings, if I would give up the +prayer meeting, but not to begin till warmer weather. I could not harbor +the idea, for a moment, of relinquishing the prayer meeting, and +supposed I must wait for the proposed Thursday evening effort till the +warden moved. At length, I found that he was waiting for me, when it was +too late to move in the matter at all. Indeed, had we attempted the +effort when first spoken of, it would probably have been more trouble +than benefit.</p> + +<p>As to the penciling, nothing was said by any in disapprobation of it, +yet, after that hearing, with the thought that possibly this might be +one of the points of offense, I took from him all the materials except, +perhaps, the slip on perspective, which he greatly regretted.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_40" id="CHAPTER_II_40"></a>40. <i>Sabbath school success.</i> The prison year commences the first of +May. The former warden continued some ten weeks into the second year, +during which time the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> Sabbath school attendance remained as usual, +averaging eighty-six.</p> + +<p>On the first Sabbath of the new order nearly the same number were in +attendance. But many had no teachers provided, and I could have nothing +to do about arranging for the school's best interest.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">4</a> The following +Sabbath brought a great falling off, still greater the next, and so on. +In a few weeks the warden peremptorily dismissed one of the teachers he +had invited, telling him that if he would call at another time, he would +give his reason.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> In speaking of the Sabbath school teachers employed, page +69, the author intended to say, such a number that each teacher could +have a guard stand by him and see that nothing contraband passed.</p></div> + +<p>At first, a prisoner would occasionally ask a question, as usual, and a +little discussion spring up; but the warden at once crushed all this, +requiring the teachers simply to put the questions as in the book and +the pupil to give the answer and nothing more. The number continued to +fall off until it went below thirty, giving me fears that none would +attend, all my efforts for their continuance being of no avail. No +excuse would usually be given. But one said, "I won't attend with such a +warden," and I judged this the general reason. At length I found +uneasiness pervading the teachers, one having determined to resign; but +I entreated him to remain for the sake of the prisoners and the Sabbath +school, for, if he left, his class would follow, dropping the number to +twenty or under, and all would be likely to take the same course. He did +not feel satisfied with laboring under such circumstances, with a guard, +may be a mere boy, at his side to watch him, and he, perhaps, turned off +as unceremoniously as the other. He preferred going of his own accord. +But my plea prevailed, and he remained.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>The average attendance after the advent of the new order was +forty-eight; for the whole year, fifty-seven.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_41" id="CHAPTER_II_41"></a>41. <i>Religious success.</i> The contrast between the religious element of +the present year and that of the past was painful. Still, among those +who at first gave up all hope of struggling against the tide, a few were +induced to forsake that ground and struggle on; thus we hope something +of the past was saved.</p> + +<p>In my discourses I felt impelled to dwell more largely on the moral +code, to which the inmates gave respectful attention. The prayer +meetings were well attended, though but few of the inmates would take +any part. One of the Sabbath school teachers was usually present, and +labored with good effect. We took up more of the time in Bible +exposition, which would occasionally seem to awaken some interest.</p> + +<p>As to our true religious success this year, or the real good +accomplished, none but that Being who knows all things can decide. One +thing is certain, much earnest, prayerful effort to that end was made, +much hard labor performed. But it is difficult rowing against wind and +tide. Still, we probably shared in as large success as could reasonably +be looked for under all the circumstances.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_42" id="CHAPTER_II_42"></a>42. <i>Lack of truthfulness at the prison.</i> We are often told that no +confidence can be placed in the word of a prisoner. But in my experience +under the new rule, I was taught the sad lesson that I could place no +greater confi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>dence in the assertions of some of the officers. A +complaint of this character had repeatedly been made by released +prisoners. Still, it required personal experience to enable me to +appreciate its full and lamentable force. Hence, the shock I felt at the +virtual request of the warden for me to join in the falsehood course, by +telling the prisoners that Henry Stewart, when removed to the insane +asylum, was taken out to be tried for attempts to murder his +overseer.—Then, again, there were the assertions I repeatedly heard the +warden make to prison visitors, on passing through the cook-room. "We +give the prisoners good food and enough of it. We purchase the best of +articles the market affords, and have the food well prepared." He would +repeat this in earnestness and apparent sincerity, as though he really +believed it himself.—Subsequently, a gentleman of the city, of +undoubted veracity, being about to visit the parents of a prisoner, +called and asked the warden how he was, with the answer, "He is all +right; you may tell his folks that he is all right." In a few days +after, it was found that, at the very time of this assertion, the man +was so sick that the doctor had nearly given him over to die.</p> + +<p>Then I would sometimes smile and sometimes feel sorrowful at his +changeable appearance; perhaps if one of influence and authority came +in, he would put on peculiar airs of suavity, and expatiate upon how +things were and should be in prison, while one without that influence +might enter and receive entirely different treatment. I here see how our +rulers may have been led on at times, unaware of the true state of +things in the institution. How easy to cover up!</p> + +<p>Then in the female department, I called for a convict in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> order to +arrange for her disposal on leaving prison, and was told, "The assistant +is in the city with the key to their apartment, therefore you can not +see the woman." But how was I surprised shortly to learn that, at the +moment of this assertion, the assistant was in the kitchen at work, and +known to be there by my informant.</p> + +<p>Is it any wonder that such people disbelieve in prison reform?</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_43" id="CHAPTER_II_43"></a>43. <i>Reported quarrel between the warden and chaplain.</i> The idea has +been circulated, how extensively I know not, that the warden and +chaplain had a quarrel between them at the prison. It seems to have +pervaded some minds in the legislature at Concord in '71, being used to +the disadvantage of a bill before that body in regard to the prison, the +fate of which perhaps was made to turn on that. No doubt a certain +Concord gentleman, who had an ax of his own to grind in connection, +knows very well how this report was made so prevalent. Whether he or +another started it, I know not.</p> + +<p>But that idea had not the slightest foundation in truth. The +circumstances of our official intercourse in all that passed, have been +faithfully set forth in the preceding pages, and the reader can see for +himself that there was no quarreling. When the warden told me to "bring +the key back and not touch it any more," I did as required, without +uttering a word. When I told him what I should do about fixing up the +Maine man before sending him away, his remark was in no fault-finding +tone. When he pointed out my work at first, and in our connected +colloquy, all our words were civil and courteous, no unpleasantness in +tone;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> and when he informed me on the point of the man's glasses and the +sick man's flannels, I gave him no unkind answer. And where was the +quarreling? Nowhere. It did not exist. He taught me my bounds after the +manner he did, and I accepted them and conformed my moves thereto with +not a lisp of fault-finding. He never spoke a word in disapprobation of +what I was doing, but that all was agreeable to his mind. Again, where +was that place of quarreling? Not in the prison between the warden and +chaplain. Whenever we met, it was on the most civil terms, we invariably +passing the compliments of the day.</p> + +<p>True, we each had our notions on prison reform, he thinking that +attempts in that direction are useless, that, when one has fallen into +prison we can not reform him, that punishment is <i>the</i> great mission of +the prison, and thus on; I, supposing that reform is practicable, that +we should faithfully use all available means for it, and make it the +paramount object of imprisoning. On the question of prison order we were +exactly alike in sentiment,—perfect order, strict discipline,—though, +perhaps, varying as to the ultimate results, he securing that as a +deterrent to crime; I, as an important and indispensable element in +reform, leading the once erring to that state of mind in which he will +hate wrong and love right.</p> + +<p>Then, as we had not a word of debate over our differing ideas, so there +was no clashing in carrying them out. The warden established his line of +policy, as he had a legal right, then I surveyed the ground and decided +to go on with my reform efforts, so far, with respect to time and place, +as I could consistently with his arrangements, at all times looking to +the best prison order, and at no time to interfere with any of his +moves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>This was our prison quarreling, and the whole of it; a very peaceful +affair. How happy, if all quarrels were of this character! I felt +assured that, though what I was endeavoring to promote in our prison was +held by those at present in the ascendant as being an interloper in such +an institution, and wholly out of place there, truth would at length +prevail. Prudent labors, persevering efforts, patient waiting and firm +trust in the great Leader, would now, as ever before, result in the +triumph of the right. With such views I daily toiled in quietness, +interfering with nobody around me.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_44" id="CHAPTER_II_44"></a>44. <i>Prison Report for '71.</i> I had looked for a pretty free use of +whitewash in this, but it goes immeasurably beyond my anticipations. I +really expected to find some regard for truthfulness in the statement of +facts. But, in my astonishment at reading, I would inquire, "Have I +fallen into a general confusion of names? Is black indeed white?"</p> + +<p>Let us read, p. 13,—"He [the warden] ... spends his whole time in and +about the institution, not having been absent to the value of half a day +since he entered upon his duties."</p> + +<p>Thus we have it. Sum up the time spent by the warden during the year in +going to the P. O., or in calls out on business, or errands, or +attending meeting on the Sabbath, or journeying to New York even, and +the whole does not amount to "the value of half a day." This prepares us +for any statement we may find. If we admit that, we can anything.</p> + +<p>Let us, then, look at the food question.</p> + +<p>On page 6. we have,—"The food furnished the prisoners<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> has been +selected with more than ordinary care and great pains have been taken in +having it well cooked and served. We have a regular weight from which +the rations are made, and any man, wishing for more than the regular +allowance, is always furnished with an extra quantity." P. 13,—"The +warden is not only valuable as a disciplinarian but is economical in his +management of the affairs of the prison, at the same time allowing to +the prisoners liberal rations of food of the best quality, but none to +waste."</p> + +<p>This can be admitted just as easily as the quotation preceding. How +rejoiced the prisoners would have been to realize the truthfulness of +this assertion one short week,—"Selected with more than ordinary care!" +"Regular weight!" "Liberal rations of food of the best quality!" That +will do,—decaying fish, potatoes "not fit to put into the human +stomach," and all.</p> + +<p>But when the Report comes to the chaplain it uses a black wash with +quite as unsparing a hand, thus, (P. 13) "But the warden has not had +that sympathy and assistance from the chaplain, which should be mutually +rendered to each other by officers of the prison. The chaplain, for +reasons best known to himself, has not acted in harmony with the warden +in the discharge of his various duties, a matter very essential to the +discipline of a prison. He has on the other hand, manifested +peculiarities of his own which have been very detrimental to the +discipline, and, we have reason to believe, have caused some uneasiness +among the prisoners, which has made it more difficult for the warden, +and, in some instances, causing punishment which would otherwise have +been avoided."</p> + +<p>But let us read what the warden says (P. 9),—"In conclusion, I desire +to express my thanks to all the officers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> connected with the +institution, for the prompt, cheerful and efficient manner in which they +have discharged their several duties."</p> + +<p>The chaplain was one of those officers. What, then, shall we believe? +Who tells the truth? What has become of straightforward dealing? Where +is that trait once called honor among men? The reader, having fully +informed himself of the real facts, will pronounce the above charge +against the chaplain as unqualifiedly untrue from beginning to end.</p> + +<p>But one says, "That first assertion must be true. The warden could not +have shared your sympathy in his acts." No, that first assertion is not +true. It is equally false with all the rest, that is, in the sense of +the writer, which evidently is that the chaplain did not sympathize with +the warden in his desires for order, and labor with him to that end. +Order is the first thing to be sought in prison as everywhere else. It +has my fullest sympathy and for the very purpose of helping towards it, +under this warden, I voluntarily undertook what I did.</p> + +<p>"The warden has not had that assistance from the chaplain," &c. The +reader has seen the chaplain putting in a pacific word here and there, +doing all he could to interest the mind in its privations, helping men +keep down their angry passions, robbing the solitary of its occupants, +excusing, entreating, helping to order in every way possible, and is +held up in that light.</p> + +<p>"Not acted in harmony." Not a discordant word or step is the truth.</p> + +<p>"Manifested peculiarities of his own." Peculiarities! What were they? +Honest devotion to duty and not an eye to personal popularity; most +arduous toils engaged in for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> helping to the best interest of the +prison; patient efforts for reforming and elevating the fallen. All I +said or did there would come within some of these points. Were those +peculiarities? What then must be the character of the prison management? +If the chaplain's moves were held as peculiarities it could have been +only from contrasting the animus and acts of those who ruled with his. +They would hold the prisoners as so many "dumb, driven cattle;" he, as +human beings, with instincts of reason to be addressed and emotions of +right to be stirred; they, in all cases, would move their brute fears, +threaten, scold, drive; he, a part of the time at least, would appeal to +the manhood sentiments, persuade, entreat, expostulate; they would +regard them as morally hopeless, to be cruelly treated, and made money +of; he, as those for whom hope lives, and on whom redeeming influences +should be used, and efforts made for coining from them gold purer than +earth affords.</p> + +<p>Nor are these moves of the chaplain peculiarities in many other States, +if in N. H. Nor are they original with him. Other minds had brought out +such ideas and pushed them somewhat widely into public acceptance, and +he was only attempting to introduce something of their benign influence +here.</p> + +<p>"Detrimental to discipline." What gross darkness!</p> + +<p>"Made it more difficult for the warden." Change "difficult" to "easy" +and the truth would be told.</p> + +<p>"Causing punishment." What an idea!</p> + +<p>The chaplain saw the changes attempted to be brought upon the prisoners, +and thought he understood something of the effects which the move would +produce on their minds and the results likely to follow. He knew that to +some extent he had the confidence of the men, that they were look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>ing to +him as their friend, and as working for their best good; that, +therefore, he could, by carefully using his influence in a quiet, +unassuming way, help slide the matters round the very sharp corner which +was being turned, and thus, on the one hand, make things more endurable +to the inmates, and, on the other, easier for the rulers. With an eye +single to this purpose he acted, and has the satisfaction of possessing +pretty clear evidence that he prevented a measure of trouble in the +prison, and thus rendered the warden some aid at least, and made his +task somewhat easier. Indeed, he did what he could in that direction, +though with no blowing of trumpets. And, after doing all this, to be +held up in this light by the agent is a pretty hard cut.</p> + +<p>Now, one of two things is true in regard to all the quotations above +made. The assertors either believed they were telling the truth or they +did not. If the former be taken, if they really thought they could +purchase the articles they did and from them make the best quality of +food; if they really supposed the chaplain's moves were as deleterious +as they represent, what does it show in regard to their judgment as +fitting them for place and trust? or, if the other, what of their +character as to truth and veracity? Let them take which horn of the +dilemma they may choose.</p> + +<p>One perhaps says, "The writers were so informed about the chaplain." +Could that be any extenuation of their wrong? If such insinuations had +been made to them, why did they not first give some intimation of it to +him, thus giving him the opportunity of showing their falsity? Why did +they not have the parties face to face, and thus learn the truth? But, +instead of this, they published what they did, and that to the injury of +an innocent man, so far as their influence could go.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>But what could have impelled the assertors to such a course? The author +does not pretend to know, but it looks as though the object was in this +way to push the chaplain to resign, and they thus be rid of those reform +efforts. Hence p. 13,—"The prison is a penal institution, and is +intended for punishment, not primarily as a reformative one, as some +people think." Here is, undoubtedly, the key to this raid on the +chaplain. But what is its full import? These reformers fully believe +that the sentence of the court must be strictly carried out, and that, +too, as an element of reform. The above sentence must mean that the +prisoner is put there to be punished as the State directs by its laws +and courts, and, in addition, for the managers to "use him so that he +will not wish to come back," or to punish him as they may choose. If the +sentence means anything, it must mean that. This being the true way, let +us have it so understood, and, next summer, let the legislature +recognize the idea by a specific act, and then let the judge change his +sentence accordingly, putting it, "Your sentence is, that you be +confined at hard labor in the State Prison at Concord for —— years, +and that you there be further punished at the discretion of the prison +officers acting for the time being." Let this be announced to all +evildoers; and, further, let the warden, agent and all, give a true +account of the severity of their several punishments, to be published +yearly, that the prison may thus appear as deterring to crime as +possible. Away with this covering up and pretending to the best living +and best usage generally, thus making the institution appear so +attractive. A lady visited a friend there and returned, having been +made, by the warden's palaver, perfectly reconciled to the friend's +condition, remarking, "They are kept so well there, and used so kindly, +that one can not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> feel bad at all about a friend in the prison, except +from the fact that he can not have his liberty to go out as he chooses." +I protest against such proceedings. But let the truth stand forth, just +as it is, that the wicked may really know upon what they must depend.</p> + +<p>Why not put out the sentiment squarely that reform moves have no place +in the prison? Let us be truthful in this, too. Then dismiss the +chaplain and save that expense to the State, for he can be of no use.</p> + +<p>It is made evident that the writers would banish from prison all reform +moves from this assertion, p. 13,—"We think, sometimes, the matter of +reform or sympathy for the prisoners is carried so far, in attempting to +reform, as to lead the prisoners to believe that they are injured +persons instead of transgressors, which is, in our opinion, wrong, and +has a bad tendency." Is not the writer here a little muddled? or would +he hold up these reformers as so absurd a set as to think of reforming +men by making them believe they are good already and really sinned +against? Indeed, would not the labors of such men of straw be bad? True, +the writer pretends to found his objections to the reform efforts on the +fact that they are carried too far, not perhaps, feeling exactly ready, +at this late day, to come out squarely against efforts to raise the +fallen, and to induce the erring to become good citizens. No, but it is +"carrying the matter too far." Just as though we could go too far in +efforts for saving the drowning man. Away with such a sham!</p> + +<p>This indirect charge must have been aimed at the chaplain, for he was +the only prison officer, that year, who could rightly be accused of such +a crime as attempting reform moves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>We are again told that Mr. P. had brought the institution to where it +was "with firmness, but with kindness and a Christian spirit," which +unfolds the writer's views of "kindness" and the "Christian spirit." No +doubt the prisoners were just wicked enough to say, "Lord, deliver us +from all such 'Christian spirit.'"</p> + +<p>We are further assured, that Mr. P. "has accomplished wonders in this +direction, for, in our view, there is now no better disciplined prison +in the N. E. states."</p> + +<p>That is a very comfortable feeling, very much more so than the emotions +of some, who, going into others States, are made to blush at the taunts +thrown out about our prison management, that "such things will do for +you N. H. folks, for those so far on the background."</p> + +<p>But let us turn to the financial part of the Report. Long before the +document made its appearance, it had been heralded far and wide in the +papers that those now running the prison had made it produce a clear +gain of over five thousand dollars in nine months. Of course, making +this announcement was for personal popularity. Let us look at the +figures after the Report comes to hand. Number of prisoners, 85 males +and 6 females. Profits reported for nine months and twenty days, +$5173.51, including $396.65 paid on roofing shop. Without deducting this +item, we have $5570.16 gain over the real running expenses, which, for a +whole year, would amount to $6914.67. Let us compare this with the gain +of the Massachusetts State Prison for '72, that Report being at hand. +Its number of inmates were 543. If our 91 prisoners gained what they are +represented, then 543, in that proportion, would gain $41,260.06, +without considering the advantage in larger numbers. Reckoning that in, +it would raise this gain to some $45,000,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> no doubt, the gain of +Massachusetts in proportion to ours. But what was her gain? It was +$14,635.23, ours being, in proportion, more than three times as much as +hers, we thus leaving her all out of sight.</p> + +<p>The writers say, p. 11, in regard to Mr. P., "His management has been +perfectly satisfactory to your committee. The results of his +administration are the most conclusive proofs of its efficiency." Do any +wonder that the committee should be satisfied with such showing, if +looking to nothing but to the dollars and cents?</p> + +<p>But does not the announcement itself show an aggravated wrong to the +prisoners, or a false representation? It must be one or the other, if +not both. There is no possible way to accomplish all this by honest +shrewdness in financiering and rightful treatment to the convicts. All +articles of food have their market value. If really suitable for use, +the value is fixed for the time being, from which no material deduction +can be had. Things have their wholesale and retail prices. True, these +vary more or less, from accidental causes, such as the abundance or +scarcity of the article, the state of the money market, or the season of +the year. Buyers, by watching these accidental influences, may purchase +more or less to their advantage. And one can look to these points, and +profit from them, as well as another. Prison providers, especially in +large establishments, will purchase, of course, at wholesale, and those +at Charlestown enjoy quite as good advantages, to say the least, for +sharing in these accidentals as those at Concord; and they no doubt look +out quite as shrewdly. If, however, one is willing to turn from articles +fit for use, he can find those as cheap as he desires, going down from +thirteen cents to three or one, if he likes.</p> + +<p>Then this boast of great gains at our prison gives a sus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>picious look, +to say the least. If we allow for all that cruel cutting off, previously +depicted, and even more, that would not bring the accounts to what would +appear probable. The agent, in purchasing legitimate articles, +manifested no skill beyond others. He certainly ran behind on wood as as +I happened to learn by experience. The man who furnished the prison with +this, agreed to supply some for me, of the same quality and price, but +failed to bring it at the time, which forced me to look elsewhere for +what I needed and which I found, with no extra painstaking and at a +bargain, reckoning price and quality, better by one dollar at least per +cord.</p> + +<p>But if this withholding from the prisoners what they so greatly needed +and what was their just due, will not bring the accounts within the +region of probability, to what source shall we look for the discrepancy? +Let us examine the accounts carefully and see what we thus find. True, +it is said, "Figures won't lie," but men, when disposed, may so use them +as to lead wide of the truth. In our examination we find the same +dealing as before pointed out. Important items of expense in running the +institution are deliberately omitted in reckoning. Thus, there is the +warden's salary of $1000, the chaplain's, $750, printing the Report, +$121,98, appraisers', $78, amounting to $1949,98. Subtracting this from +the pretended gain, $6914,67 - 1949,98, gives 4964,69. Let us see what +this would be with the Charlestown number of men, $29,625,56, over two +times the comparative gain at Charlestown, a very large margin to be +accounted for in our withholding.</p> + +<p>Certainly we can not afford to boast very loudly over these figures, but +should rather blush. The reader should bear in mind, that the prisoners +are let at both places on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> contract, ours at ninety cents per day, and +those in Massachusetts for over one dollar, so that her prison managers +enjoy an advantage over ours for rolling up gains. And when we talk of +gaining more than twice as much as she, we have reason to fear that +those hearing us will say, that too many of those dollars were ground +out of the flesh, and blood, and sinews, and life even of the +prisoners,—not a very welcome sentiment.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_45" id="CHAPTER_II_45"></a>45. <i>Efforts of the Prison Aid Association for legislation in favor of +the prison.</i> The Governor, in his message of '69, proposed that the +prison be put under the management of a Board especially appointed to +that purpose. But, instead of this, and in connection, making such other +provisions for the institution as were really needed, the legislature +simply passed the whole matter over into the hands of the Governor and +Council, as this Board, an improvement somewhat, no doubt, over the +former system, but an arrangement, which, in the views of many of our +best citizens, carries with it grave objections.</p> + +<p>The Board, thus constituted, is a changeable body, the members never +remaining in office more than two years, and sometimes but one. As a +result, the prison must necessarily be managed largely by the +inexperienced, for the men, generally, no doubt, come to the office +without having given any special attention to the subject. This is much +like setting a company of untaught landsmen to navigate a ship.</p> + +<p>Again, the prison is liable to no little changeableness in its mode of +being directed, a great detriment to its welfare, unless it be from bad +to good. Men will possess their varying notions, and some, though +lacking a knowledge of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> best prison interests, will persist in +having their peculiar views put in practice, however conflicting and +contradictory. It is also now liable to be left largely in the hands of +the warden to be run as he wills, besides being exposed to the +unfavorable effects of political party influence. Finally, the +institution can receive only its part of the largely divided attention +of its managers, and thereby, at times, be liable to inconvenience.</p> + +<p>But the best interest of the prison evidently demands the control of men +especially adapted to their task, men who shall form a body with all +possible permanence, possess ripe experience, be free in their rule from +partisan control, who shall make the institution their speciality, and +manage after some fixed policy involving the most enlightened +principles, principles of true reform.</p> + +<p>The Association took up these matters, and for the purpose of obtaining +legislation looking as undividedly in this direction as possible, +appointed a committee, of which Rev. Mr. Sanborn of Concord served as +chairman, who should, after due investigation and correspondence with +other States, prepare the requisite bill for legislative consideration. +After much labor, the following, as subsequently amended, was presented +to the legislature at its session in '71.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="center"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.</p> + +<p class="center">IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND +SEVENTY-ONE.</p> + +<div style="font-size: 90%;"> +<p>An act in relation to the Penal Institutions.</p> + +<p><i>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of +Representatives in General Court convened:</i></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Section 1.</span> There shall be a Board of directors of +Prisons to consist of five persons appointed by the +Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the +Senate, who shall hold office for five years, except +that the five first appointed shall hold their office +for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years respectively, the commission +of each designating his term of office. Thereafter one +Director shall be appointed annually in the month of +June, to hold his office five years. Such Board shall +have charge and superintendence of the State Prison, +and shall have such power, and perform such duties in +respect to County Jails, the Reform School and other +penal and reformatory institutions within the State, as +the Legislature may by law impose upon it. The Board +may, from time to time, elect from its own members or +otherwise, a Secretary, who shall perform such duties +as the Board may prescribe, and shall receive such +salary as the Legislature may determine. The other +members of the Board shall receive no compensation, +other than reasonable and other traveling expenses, +while engaged in the performance of official duty. And +the limit of such expenses shall be in amount —— to +each individual, which shall not be changed except at +intervals of five years.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Section 2.</span> Such Board shall have power,</p> + +<p>I. To appoint the Warden, Deputy Warden, Chaplain, +Physician and Surgeon of the State Prison, and shall +have power to remove either of such officers, for cause +only, after opportunity to be heard in his own defense +upon written charges. All other officers and guards of +the prison shall be appointed by the Warden thereof, +and shall be removable at his pleasure.</p> + +<p>II. To define the powers, duties and compensation of +such officers, except the compensation of the Warden.</p> + +<p>III. To establish by-laws for the government of the +prison.</p> + +<p>IV. To provide for the purchase of all articles +necessary for the use of the prison, or the health and +comfort of the officers and prisoners.</p> + +<p>V. To provide for the sale of all articles manufactured +in the prison or not needed for the use thereof.</p> + +<p>VI. To make contracts, if expedient, for the support +and employment of the prisoners or any portion of them.</p> + +<p>VII. To make all necessary additions, alterations and +repairs within the prison or its inclosure.</p> + +<p>VIII. To provide such books and instruction as may be +considered necessary for the convicts.</p> + +<p>IX. To draw its warrant through its Secretary upon the +State Treasurer in favor of the Warden for all +appropriations made by the Legislature for the State +Prison.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Section 3.</span> Such Board shall visit the State Prison at +least once every month, and oftener, when thought +necessary, for the purposes of ascertaining whether the +laws, rules and regulations are faithfully observed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Section 4.</span> The Governor may remove either of the +Directors of the Prison for malfeasance or misfeasance +in office, after having furnished him with a copy of +the charges against him, and giving him an opportunity +to be heard in his own defense.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Section 5.</span> All acts and parts of acts, inconsistent +with this act, are hereby repealed, and this act shall +take effect from and after its passage.</p></div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>This bill was presented and went to the judiciary committee of the +House, a body composed of two ex-judges and other gentlemen of +influence, all of whom favored it, some saying to me, privately, that it +was the very thing needed. The committee reported it unanimously. It +passed the House with no opposition, and so also the Senate, the final +vote having been taken when some private interest in Concord started up +to defeat the measure and induced a member of the Senate to move a +reconsideration of that vote. His move prevailed, and the bill was +referred back to the Senate committee, before which this interest +appeared in objection to the measure, while friends were present in its +advocacy. The committee again reported unanimously in favor of the +passage of the document, but on taking final action it was postponed to +the next session of the legislature.</p> + +<p>Here was the point where the story circulated of the warden and chaplain +quarrel, that this bill was the embodiment of certain peculiar notions +of the latter which he was pushing to the disadvantage of the former, +muddling some of the Senate, and thus leading them to think it not best +to be "mixed up in the matter," and so to vote that the measure be put +over.</p> + +<p>It is wonderful to think how slight an influence will sometimes thwart +an important measure in passage at the legislature. A mere whisper of +some whim, a little prejudice against another, perhaps may put it all +aside. How little attention is given to merit! This is true even of Hon. +Senators. To one of these I spoke about his vote within ten minutes +after he had given it, and he replied,—"I don't know, I am sure, how I +voted, for I did not care anything about it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>The fact is, this bill did not originate with me. I had nothing to do +with it, not being on the committee who framed it. But, as Agent of the +Association, I spent more or less time at the State House, looking after +the interest of the measure.</p> + +<p>The next session the bill came up in the Senate again, and, through the +same interest as before, probably, it was indefinitely postponed and +another put on passage in its stead, which went to the House committee +on prisons. But they did not think it worthy of being reported, and that +died. A member of the committee remarked that it appeared to be a scheme +started by one for the purpose of making a comfortable place for +himself. And he, no doubt, had the right of it, for the prominent +provision was that the Board should consist of three, one of whom must +be a resident of Concord, and not be allowed over four hundred dollars. +That would be a nice thing for the Concord man. Thus matters stand at +present so far as legislation is concerned.</p> + +<p>If the reader will give attention to the bill above presented, he will +see that it is very comprehensive, and might easily be carried out. It +contemplates the needed permanence, each member being in long enough to +obtain large experience in prison management, yet changing sufficiently +often to avoid the ill effect of remaining in office too long. It +further contemplates small expenses, as each member of the Board is to +charge nothing for his time.</p> + +<p>It has been suggested that the bill be further amended, by striking out +the words "and other instruction," in Article VIII., and inserting the +following Section after Sec. 3, thus, Section 4: This Board shall +consider the reform of the prisoners the paramount object of the prison, +and shall se<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>cure to them such secular, Sabbath school, moral and +religious instruction as, in their view, shall be most conducive to this +end, but not therein to conflict with the labor interests of the +institution.</p> + +<p>One objects to the above bill, that, as it proposes no compensation for +the time spent by the members of the Board, men of efficiency can not be +found to act upon it. If the concern is to be run simply for +money-making, that would be the fact; and of right should be. But, when +we come to labors for raising these fallen ones from their crimes and +degradation to uprightness and a higher life, in a word, to make true +men and women of them as we ought, it is quite another thing. In that +case we have men, good and true, men fully qualified for the task; men +who, while carrying out the primary objects of the prison,—good order, +good discipline and true reform every way,—would also present the best +truthful show of legitimate gains in dollars and cents. Certainly it is +demeaning to our State to think otherwise. We have men among us, of +noble minds and large hearts, who, by honest industry and true integrity +of purpose, have raised themselves to that position in the public +estimate where they deservedly share the fullest confidence of their +fellows, for ability and fidelity to the highest and purest aims, and +who feel that they owe it as a gratuity to society to lend a measure of +their talents in managing her public interests. Hence, no difficulty is +found in obtaining men to act with the highest efficiency as trustees to +our colleges and seminaries without compensation. So, too, enough can be +found really fitted to run the prison as proposed.</p> + +<p>Another objection to the bill has been, that it does not make it +obligatory for one of the Directors to reside in Concord. As the object +of the legislation is for the special ad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>vantage of the prison, rather +than to make a place for a certain Concord gentleman, it was not thought +needful to insert such a limitation. Then, again, railroad facilities +are so great as to do away with the need of such an enactment. That +whole matter can be safely left in the hands of the appointing power, +who should look for the best men to the position.</p> + +<p>But the bill, with the connected ideas, is here placed before the +reader, with the ardent hope that it will be thoroughly studied by him, +improved where it can be, or a better one substituted, and thus the best +system of prison management practicable be hit upon and made a law as +soon as may be, thereby running the institution on principles +commensurate with the prevailing intelligence of our people, the genius +of our Christian civilization, and in keeping with the times in which we +live and what is being accomplished in other States.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_46" id="CHAPTER_II_46"></a>46. <i>Experience with the new government.</i> In June, '71, the Democratic +rule gained the ascendency at Concord. When the new rulers became +established in their places, and were able to give attention to prison +matters, the Governor sent for me to call at the council chamber, which +I did. His desire, as well as that of his council, was to know really +about the state of things at the prison. It seemed that statements had +been made to them tending to show something of their true character. I +gave some general intimations as I understood matters, but could not, +from the circumstances, enter into particulars as on the preceding +pages; and, indeed, had not then so learned some of the facts that I was +at liberty to speak of them. They professed a deter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>mination to have the +prisoners properly treated, with enough to eat and of good food, though +the Governor said he had not posted himself on prison matters at all, +not thinking it worth while from the circumstances. It will be +understood that he was elected, not by the popular vote, but by the +legislature, and, previous to its assembling, he could put but little +confidence in his election there.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_47" id="CHAPTER_II_47"></a>47. <i>Chaplain determines to have an investigation into the charges +against him in the Prison Report, but relinquishes the idea.</i> On reading +the Prison Report for that year, I felt not only shocked at the +character of its general statements, so far as the warden and committees +were concerned, but also determined on having an investigation into the +charges against me. Touching one's character in that way is no trifling +matter, and I did not feel like sitting quietly down under +representations so entirely false. Had I been guilty, I would have borne +the deserved rebuke without a murmuring word. Some proposed that the new +Governor and Council make a general investigation of the prison matters, +and I put this in with the rest. But they were not inclined to that +unless parties preferred charges, in which case they would hear and +consider them. Hence, I decided to call for a hearing on those +allegations, and prepared the papers according to legal advice, but +thought best, before sending them in, to consult certain influential +friends in the place about attempting the move, and received a decided +remonstrance against it; they arguing that the step would stir up +strife, make divisions and party alienations; that, in the uncertainty +of things, I had no assurance of obtaining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> satisfaction, and the like. +Supposing this to be given in sincerity, and that, perhaps, it might be +for the best, I gave the matter up, and threw aside my papers.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_48" id="CHAPTER_II_48"></a>48. <i>Anniversary of P. A. Association for '71 and remarks on our jails.</i> +This was held in the Representatives' Hall, at Concord, the second +Tuesday evening of June. Ex-Gov. Smyth, President in the chair. +Attendance not large. The Agent gave a full report of the past year's +doings, showing that good success had attended their efforts, and that +the enterprise was taking hold of the public mind in a measure, though +with some opposition. It had been a year of planning, commencing and +going forward as a new struggle in the State; the object of the +Association being to aid those released from prison by furnishing them +with good, immediate employment, under proper influences and with +suitable surroundings, helping with money only as indispensable, and +then not intrusting it to those aided to disburse. An important +beginning had been made, much hard work performed, and a measure of good +evidently accomplished, giving favorable indications for the future, +with the needed energy and effort. Only $100.50 of the $300 appropriated +by the State had been expended.</p> + +<p>In preparing this Report, the Agent had written to all the jails in the +State, proposing over thirty questions for answers, in order to develop +the state of crime and the penal working in our commonwealth. Only a +part responded, but enough to furnish us with important subjects for +study and effort. The good of society, the welfare of the State, loudly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +call for our better minds, our more influential workers to give most +earnest attention to these matters. We should here make a great effort +for improvement; an effort entered into by ministers of religion and +those of justice, legislators and all. Woman, also, should come to the +help.</p> + +<p>As now managed our jails are prolific schools of crime. The old, +hardened offender and the young, in comparative innocence, are huddled +together, the latter to be taught in deeds of wrong and adroit methods +of performing them of which he had never dreamed before; instruction +that, perhaps, fires his mind to enter these ways of sin as a business +for life. Does not this look to the need of a classification, in these +institutions, that we now have not?</p> + +<p>In some cases the women's cells are in the same wards with the men's, +and they can freely talk together, though locked in separately, and +probably never allowed to associate further. But there is a living +remembrance of wrong, daily seen in Concord, which should cause us to +blush, in the person of an unfortunate boy, who had his birth in jail, +the mother having been in durance there one year previously as a +candidate for State Prison,—another sad lesson for comment and remedial +labors.</p> + +<p>Our jails are cultivators of indolence. Men, women and children are +locked in there with no useful employment,—except in that at +Manchester,—nothing to do but to impart and study lessons of crime; and +some manage to remain there the most of the time, preferring this to +honest labor. These all go to swell the burdens of the tax-payer. Why +not have some sort of industries connected with these places? Set these +fellows at work on something. Keep them out of idleness, so far as can +be. If the employment does not bring in largely of dollars and cents, it +will, in what may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> be better. And are not some of our jails themselves +nuisances, a disgrace to the State?</p> + +<p>We need, at least, two work-houses. They may not be of great expense at +ornamenting, but appropriate, substantial, fitted every way to their +use. Then fill them with this vagabond population now floating back and +forth between the establishments catering to vice and the jails. Give +them really corrective sentences. Modify essentially this +short-time-sentence system. If one's wrong habits are not corrected by +one sentence, let the next be longer, or till thoroughly reformed, +reform being the object aimed at. Then should we take the keepers of +these rum-shops, billiard-saloons, gambling-dens and houses of ill-fame, +with those of their frequenters that need be, and put them here at work, +too. This would be a wonderful purifier of society. Give each a dose, +say of six months, when, if that don't cure, repeat it till the work is +accomplished in them also.</p> + +<p>Then, here are numerous other connected questions for us to study, +discuss and settle in regard to securing a general punitive system, a +system in advance of what we now possess, more corrective of crime. And +what shall be done for those children coming up in idleness, ignorance +and vagrancy?</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_49" id="CHAPTER_II_49"></a>49. <i>Fourth of July at the prison in '71.</i> The observance this year was +in exact contrast with that of last, the one bringing gratification and +pleasure, the other, gloom and punishment. The workmen and other help +desired prison work to cease that day, for their enjoyment, which was +granted. But, instead of studying any means for giving a moment's +pleasure to the inmates, they were locked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> in their cells for the day. +But I spent the hours with them, going from cell to cell, and making +efforts for removing the intolerable tedium, not unfrequently hearing +the contrast between the last Fourth and this, alluded to with deep +sighs. It would have been great relief to them could they have continued +their work in the shop for the day. Hence, the remark of one and +another, "How cruel to keep us shut up here!" "Oh, how much more +agreeable to be out at work!" "I would rather work four times as hard as +usual than be confined here." Thus, they expressed themselves. If +punishment was the purpose, that was effectively obtained.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_50" id="CHAPTER_II_50"></a>50. <i>Chaplain's removal from office.</i> The custom had been for the +chaplain to remain in office till resigning, or for an indefinite +period. This seems to be needful, if he is the right man, for it takes +time for him to become acquainted with the inmates and establish himself +in their confidence. Frequent changes in this office is bad policy. +After serving in the place a while and finding so much interest +connected with this department of labor, I decided to throw my whole +energies into the work for a time and see what fruits could be gathered +therefrom. I was also at no little labor and painstaking in a change of +location, moving near the institution, to be in close proximity to my +work. Things progressed till, a few weeks after the March election of +'71, a Democratic neighbor remarked that, should his party come into +power, I should have a competitor, the next summer, for my office. It +was understood that the competing gentleman's plea was, that, more than +twenty-five years previously, he had been appointed to the place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> and +served nine years, but when the Democratic party lost the power, he was +set aside; yet he had been living all these eventful years true to those +principles, and now on the party's return to power he should be restored +also to his former place. It was understood, too, that he had received +the promise of the position on this contingency. The new Governor +obtained his election, after which Democratic friends of the city and +elsewhere assured me that my place would not be disturbed, especially as +I was doing so much for the prisoners; and one of their leading men +undertook to attend to the matter when the Governor and council should +come to the prison questions, and present the general wish from all +parties that I remain. I proceeded with my usual work for six weeks, +when, just at night, one day, I received word that I had been dismissed. +Directly referring this to that gentleman, "Why," said he, "that is a +mistake. This very afternoon, not two hours ago, at the council chamber, +they assured me they should not act on the prison offices till their +next meeting some two weeks ahead." But notwithstanding his assurances, +the step was taken just on the heel of their adjournment.</p> + +<p>On inquiring of a councilman, if, in this dismissal, they had been +influenced in any measure by the aspersions in the Report, he said they +had not; that they did not doubt but that I had been faithful in my +duty, assuring me that the reason was wholly political; to which I had +no excuse to offer, as I had been guilty of voting the Republican +ticket; and if I must be dismissed on that ground, of course no more +words were needed. But there did seem a lack of straightforwardness for +them to move as they did in the matter without giving this gentleman the +opportunity of presenting what he wished.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>The gentleman appointed was a good man, but feeble, and acknowledged to +a friend that he could not do what had been done for the prisoners the +previous year. But the idea seemed to prevail that he could do what was +desired by the warden. Hence, as is understood, the secular school is +largely a thing of the past, and finally the Sabbath school is given up. +Now, this is a very nice place for him in his advanced years, he being +over seventy, where he has no care, and but little labor.</p> + +<p>But what of the effects upon the inmates thus left with so much idle +time on their hands? Anything but good. A young man, the previous year, +was quiet and orderly, closely attentive to his studies, making good +advancement; but, when left with all these unemployed moments, he turned +his thoughts to planning an outbreak, was arrested in the execution, and +for months condemned to the ball and chain. Whereas, had his mind been +kept employed as formerly, no doubt he would have continued quiet. Does +it pay thus to cut off educational and moral privileges and share such +results?</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_51" id="CHAPTER_II_51"></a>51. <i>Prison fare under the new government.</i> I did not serve under this +government for a period sufficiently long to enable me to learn from +personal observation very much as to what would be gained in the fare of +the prisoners, but thought some steps were being taken in the right +direction. The cracked wheat dinner was abolished for meat and potatoes. +The evening after, I found the prisoners rejoicing over it. One +exclaimed, "<i>Didn't</i> we have a good dinner, to-day? They have put away +that wheat stuff, and now give us good meat and potatoes. Oh, <i>isn't</i> +it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> good?" A woman, leaving prison, gave us an account of the warden's +scolding, that Councillor —— "was about poking his nose into +everything." This, if true, gave signs of a determination to know and +remedy matters. But they had to work under difficult circumstances. They +did not begin sufficiently near the bottom.</p> + +<p>As informed, they went quite thoroughly into fitting up the clothing and +bedding,—a welcome move, for no set of fellows ever needed it more. The +next winter, however, I said to a man who was leaving, "You fare better +over there this year than last, do you not? You are kept warmer, are you +not?" To which he answered, "I don't see much difference." Certainly, I +was looking for a different answer from this, and did not know what to +make of it.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_52" id="CHAPTER_II_52"></a>52. <i>The warden question.</i> It was supposed and reported that the warden +would be removed; then we learned that the political muddle prevented, +some contending for a straight, out-and-out Democrat, others, for a +Labor Reformer, the party with whom they had bargained and thus gained +the power. Then there was another element which seemed largely to +prevail, and which some thought acted more powerfully than all +others,—the fear as to how the prison accounts would stand at the end +of the year. They had found out the condition of things in the prison, +and learned something of how they had been run the previous year, and +had every reason to suppose that they could not possibly make so large a +show of gains as was then made. A highly important matter to them, for, +should they run behind, their opponents would, of course, use it to +their party disadvantage in future political campaigns. What could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> they +do in the matter? Of course, the most feasible way was to keep the same +warden, with the hope, by his manipulating, of a less falling off; or +the fact of their having made no change here, would blunt the force of +the falling-short argument materially. Hence, party interests would +prompt them, on the one hand, to remove the chaplain for a partisan; and +on the other to retain the warden for his aid to them politically. Thus, +it seemed that party considerations ruled the whole matter, and that the +rulers, instead of rising to the true dignity of their position, and +inquiring about the real interests of the prison, the best man for the +place, bowed obsequiously to the shrine of party. True, late in the +fall, or in early winter, they moved in the matter by appointing a +gentleman of Concord to the wardenship, but under such circumstances, +that he could not, for a moment, think of accepting, though doubtless he +would have improved matters had he done so.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_53" id="CHAPTER_II_53"></a>53. <i>Experience at the prison subsequent to dismissal.</i> This experience +was limited, but sufficient to open another dark chapter in the history +of poor human nature. I still acted as agent to the Association. In +August, a man was to leave, concerning whom they started the story that +an indictment was made against him, ready for his arrest on leaving +prison; but they promised that if he would leave within a half hour +after his dismissal, he could go safely. I had a place for him near a +friend with whom relatives had deposited money on his account, but whose +locality I supposed he did not know. Very early, on the morning of his +release, I, by a message, solicited the warden to forward him to me, so +that I could send him on the five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> o'clock train. But seeing nothing of +him, I at length went to the prison office and asked the warden if he +would please let the man out, as I could send him by the next train. He +answered, "He has gone, Sir; went this morning at five, for New York." I +now turned to the deputy as usual previously, and asked, "Will you +please furnish me with a list of those going out this month?" He +answered, "No, Sir;" when the warden said, "You have had enough to do +with the prisoners, already. You are not to have any more concern with +them." I answered, "Very well," and, turning to go out, remarked to a +man about to leave, for whom I had a place in readiness, "Come to me as +you leave here, and I will give you directions as to where to go." The +deputy followed me, indulging in a tirade of most abusive language. As +he finished the words, "You had better not be over here making a fool of +yourself, but keep away lest you get kicked out," I had arrived at the +top of the stairs, where I stopped, supposing he proposed to kick me +down, remarking, in a subdued tone of voice, nothing frightened or +excited, "Here I am. If you wish to kick me down stairs, you can. I came +in civilly on business, supposing, as a citizen, I had a right to that." +The deputy ejaculated, "A d——d poor citizen," the warden also having +followed, and joining freely in the vituperation. Seeing no active signs +of putting the threat in practice, I started on and came safely away, +but was subsequently informed by one then standing at the foot of the +stairs, that he kicked towards me, when I had taken a few steps. But he +did not hit or injure the object of his rage. In this experience I was +more fortunate than a guard, who, as he asserts, when leaving service +there, was followed to the front door and kicked down the steps by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> the +warden, upon the ground, the foot hitting his back and causing such +lameness that he had not then, after four months, recovered. He was +purposing to prosecute the warden for damages.</p> + +<p>Thus, while they have smiles and words of suavity for some, they can +deal freely in such abuse to those who doubt their highest perfection. +Now, if they would treat me and others thus, what would they do to the +prisoners? One will say, "They were irritated towards you, for you had +told the Governor and Council about the prison management." That was no +doubt the fact. And they will become irritated with the prisoners also, +who are helplessly in their power, where they can treat them as they +please.</p> + +<p>As to the two prisoners, whether the one pretended that he would go to +N. Y., and took passage accordingly, or was forced to that, I never +knew. But he would have taken passage to any place the warden proposed, +in order to escape from his hands, as, through his influence, he +doubtless feared the arrest. For the ticket, the warden expended the +man's five dollars allowed by the State, and advanced him five more, +probably supposing that it would be paid him by the Association. The +man, as I learn, rode until he felt safe from being seized, when he left +the cars, traveling on foot for lack of means to go by public +conveyance, and, at length, arrived at this friend's, in as bad a +plight, probably, as any before spoken of. He said he had been sick, +confined to his cell for weeks, was neglected, and sometimes was not +furnished with water to wash for days together.</p> + +<p>The warden, himself, accompanied the second man to a place in the city, +and put him to work as he had previously arranged. Soon hearing of his +locality, I called, found his new pants with a bad rent, after only part +of a day's wear,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> and furnished him with suitable clothing, pointing out +the place also of my arrangement to which he could go, or remain where +he was.</p> + +<p>Another leaving prison, and calling on me, remarked, "I asked the warden +where you lived, to which he answered, "I don't know;" an additional +specimen of the truthfulness there.</p> + +<p>But one queries, "Why was the warden determined that you should not see +the men coming out?" He could have had but one reason, the fear that +they would tell me the stories of their sufferings. The one ticketed for +N. Y., I learn, gives some spicy accounts.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_54" id="CHAPTER_II_54"></a>54. <i>Prison report for '72.</i> This claims a better financial show than +that of the previous year. Thus says the warden, p. 4, "I am permitted +to record another year of financial success." Then the committee, p. 10, +"The financial affairs are in a highly prosperous condition. You will +find, by looking at the treasurer's report, that there has been a net +gain, to the State, of $5,501,03, after paying all outstanding bills, +which is a greater gain than the previous year, considering the less +number of convicts and the larger outlay for clothing, &c. When we +consider the large appropriations that have been required from year to +year to run the prison, it must be encouraging to the tax-payers of the +State to know that the prison has added the two past years, $10760,20 to +the revenue of the State, with no outstanding bills, and no complicated +matters to embarrass the institution."</p> + +<p>This, surely, is a glowing picture; one so greatly enjoyed by its +authors, that it would seem almost too bad to spoil it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> by letting in a +gleam from the light of truth. We see from the Report that our present +managers here follow closely in the footsteps of their immediate +predecessors as to their statement of financial facts, though intent on +outdoing them in appearances at least. Like them, they reckon only a +part of the expense in running the prison, leaving out the warden's +salary, and other large items, and thus pretending the gains to be what +they are not. They could equally as well have omitted the sums paid the +physician, deputy, guards and overseers, thereby making the figures +indicate a gain of over twenty thousand for the two years, instead of +over ten thousand. The principle of statement would have been the same +and equally truthful. It certainly appears as though they were straining +every nerve to secure the greatest personal and party popularity on the +dollar and cent question. Nor would we, by any means, censure them for +that, provided they proceed with a due regard to truthfulness, the +rights of the prisoner and the best interest of the State. But the +people can justly require them to give these a proper place in their +plannings and efforts. The pecuniary question is of high import and not +to be lost sight of for a moment, but should not be allowed to swallow +up every other interest with a miser's greed and with even a measure of +disregard for what is really true.</p> + +<p>In estimating the entire amount of expense to the community, this year, +in running the prison, of right we should reckon a somewhat large item +not above alluded to, the sum expended in caring for those made invalids +the past year by the prison management, and thus sent out to the public +charge. Of these there are probably six at least,—those two sent to the +Insane Asylum, and four others. Thus, deducting all the real +expenditures, but a small list of gains are left.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>To be able the better to judge comparatively and see the drift of things +in our prison management, let us select the more important items from +the Reports of the years '70, '71 and '72, forming them into a table, +taking the average number of the prisoners for each year, obtained by +adding the numbers at its beginning and end, and dividing by two. Under +the food and clothing items, let us insert what they pay in +Massachusetts State Prison per day for food, and per year for clothing, +to a prisoner or per capita:</p> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" summary="Prison expenses and earnings" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> +<tr> +<td colspan="4" style="border-top: double black 5px;"> </td> +<td colspan="2" class="year" style="border-top: double black 5px;">1870.</td> +<td colspan="2" class="year" style="border-top: double black 5px;">1871.</td> +<td colspan="2" class="year" style="border-top: double black 5px;">1872.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="left">Average </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="3">number,</td> +<td class="number1">123</td> +<td class="number2"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span></td> +<td class="number1">104</td> +<td class="number2"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span></td> +<td class="number1">85</td> +<td class="number3"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="left" colspan="1">Expense </td> +<td class="left" colspan="1">for </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Overseers and Guards,</td> +<td class="number1">$5,960 03</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">$6,314 91</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">$6,613 32</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Physician,</td> +<td class="number1">100 00</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">250 38</td> +<td class="number2"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span></td> +<td class="number1">282 00</td> +<td class="number3"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Provisions,</td> +<td class="number1">8,581 32</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">5,416 41</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">3,283 00</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="right"> " </td> +<td class="left_border">per capita,</td> +<td class="number1">69 48</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">51 83</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">38 39</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="right"> " </td> +<td class="left_border">per day, per capita,</td> +<td class="number1">19</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">14</td> +<td class="number2"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-5</span></td> +<td class="number1">10</td> +<td class="number3"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="right"> " </td> +<td class="left_border">per day in Mass. Prison,</td> +<td class="number1">18</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">18</td> +<td class="number2"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">6-10</span></td> +<td class="number1">18</td> +<td class="number3"> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">7-10</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Fuel and Lights,</td> +<td class="number1">1,195 43</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">954 41</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">682 13</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Clothing,</td> +<td class="number1">1,963 94</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">1,447 86</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">1,472 24</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="right"> " </td> +<td class="left_border">per capita,</td> +<td class="number1">15 90</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">13 85</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">17 21</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="right"> " </td> +<td class="left_border">in Mass. Prison,</td> +<td class="number1">21 67</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">19 40</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">18 72</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Library,</td> +<td class="number1">262 95</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">94 84</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">0</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right">" </td> +<td class="right"> </td> +<td class="left_border" colspan="2">Ordinary Repairs,</td> +<td class="number1">1,937 64</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">1,057 08</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">1,029 50</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="left_border" colspan="4">Earnings of Convicts,</td> +<td class="number1">25,338 22</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">22,619 70</td> +<td class="number2"> </td> +<td class="number1">19,134 45</td> +<td class="number3"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="right" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;">" </td> +<td class="right" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;"> </td> +<td class="right" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;"> " </td> +<td class="left_border" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;">per capita,</td> +<td class="number1" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;">209 22</td> +<td class="number2" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;"> </td> +<td class="number1" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;">216 41</td> +<td class="number2" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;"> </td> +<td class="number1" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;">223 79</td> +<td class="number3" style="border-bottom: double black 5px;"> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>This table tells its own story and is in perfect unison with all that +has been uttered on former pages. The guards and overseers, the same in +number, and with no additional labors, receive increased pay from year +to year. Nor has there been any going up in the scale of wages outside +to cause a demand for this. Nor were they more experienced and +intelligent, thereby claiming higher compensation. Many were mere boys, +some not overstocked with intelli<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>gence. They had one boy of seventeen +for overseer in the shop.</p> + +<p>The physician's pay has also received a yearly rise in the scale, though +with a large diminishing in numbers of prisoners and, as the Report +says, a remarkably healthy state among them. How can we reconcile this? +True, the first year he attended only when called, and subsequently +every morning. But why the difference between the second and third years +with the fewer men and alleged healthy state? This is what needs +explaining.</p> + +<p>But we find the food expense going the other way,—19, 14 <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-5</span> and 10 <span style="white-space: nowrap;">1-2</span> +per day to a man. What a cutting off! Will it go on thus till the story +of Hierocles about the man's horse shall be verified in our prison? So, +also, of the lighting and fuel with no change of space to be +warmed,—$1,195 43, $954 41 and $682 13. No wonder there was such +suffering from cold that second winter, before pointed out. Then what of +the third? No change in the prices of the market can account for this +variance. It must have been sheer withholding the necessaries of life. +We see that the Charlestown food allowance per day, for those years +respectively, was,—18, 18 <span style="white-space: nowrap;">6-10</span> and 18 <span style="white-space: nowrap;">7-10</span>, increasing a trifle. Nor +does any great extravagance appear in that first year with us, nineteen +cents, one cent lower than authors say should be, though one higher than +Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>The allowance to the library is also suggestive,—$262 95, $94 84 and 0. +True, during the first year the library was repaired, enlarged and newly +catalogued, but the second year the appropriation was about what is +annually demanded for keeping the books properly replenished and in +suitable order. It is as small a sum as should be thought of. That +cypher, therefore, for the third year, shows an unwarranta<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>ble neglect. +These figures are especially suggestive, too, on the educational and +moral points, perhaps a good index of them. And what a show! Down, down! +What a picture for New Hampshire! Grant that the chaplain preaches to +the men Sabbath mornings, meets them in the prayer-meetings, &c., to +what does it amount in the midst of such surroundings? True, it +gratifies them to assemble, hear the human voice, and sing. That is +about all the good that can be looked for under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>The labor figures, too, are expressive,—$209 22, $216 44 and $223 79, +what each earned per year; poorer fare and more work. We admit that this +rise may, in part, be credited to the fact that, from the former +warden's suggestion, our rulers had arranged for the doctor to visit the +prison daily and examine the cases desiring excuse from work, by real or +pretended sickness, with the anticipation of saving more or less labor, +which that warden supposed he had lost from being left himself to do +this excusing, and without medical advice, which measure commenced when +the new warden came in. But, besides this, enough remains unaccounted +for in that way, no doubt, to render it highly probable that too many of +those complaining of having been driven to work when sick, had just +cause for such complaints.</p> + +<p>Those figures on repairs are important,—$1,937 64, $1,057 08 and +$1,029 50. That first year made the last of those spent in that general +fitting up, enlarging and repairing as preparatory to running the +institution at more income, less expense, and, consequently, larger +gains than ever before, thus laying the foundation for its present +prosperity. Those sums for the second and third years would have been +mere trifles but for keeping the shop appliances in repair,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> and that of +the first very much less. Now that the contractor keeps these appliances +in order himself, this repair bill for a long while to come should be +very small. Hence, when we hear the laudations of the present apparent +financial prosperity of the prison over that of a few years ago, we are +not to infer that those former rulers were any the less shrewd, +far-seeing, or energetic in financial matters than those of later date, +but that the latter are only reaping from what the former sowed.</p> + +<p>The table shows us how the increased gains are secured; mostly by +withholding the necessaries of life from the men, and yet driving them +to more work.</p> + +<p>But we turn from examining this table more directly again to the Prison +Report of '72. It says,—"As complaint has been made that the prisoners +were not properly fed and clothed, or that the food was deficient in +quantity and quality, we say to you that we think no prisoners in this +country are so well fed and clothed as the convicts of the New Hampshire +State Prison." What shall we think concerning the judgment of those +writers? It seems that they have become conversant with the prison fare +in all the States of our country, and, after careful examination, have +deliberately formed the opinion that the fare in the N. H. State Prison, +at ten and one-half cents per day, is really better than that elsewhere +at eighteen cents.</p> + +<p>Then again, ibid: "No article of food has been furnished by us that was +not good, sweet and wholesome; and as good in quality as will average +upon the tables of the tax-payers of the State. The remarkably healthy +look of the convicts is plain proof that they are well cared for, have a +plenty to eat, and that which is good." It seems that the authors of +this part of the Report have not only traveled far and wide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> over our +country and surveyed each prison, but have also called on every +tax-payer of our State, scrutinized their tables carefully, and found +that their average living costs not over ten and one-half cents per day +to each individual. When found they time for all this? Or are we to +understand that they are purposely using the whitewash their +predecessors left?</p> + +<p>The chaplain is again, in this Report, brought forward thus, pp. 10 and +11,—"At the commencement of our labors as Prison Committee there was a +want of harmony between the former chaplain and the officers of the +prison, which seemed to us against the interests of the prison, and +ought, in some way, to be removed. We could see no way to obviate this +difficulty other than the removal of the warden or the chaplain. After +due consideration, with the best information we could get, we thought +best to recommend the removal of the chaplain and the appointment of Mr. +Smith to that office. By this change harmony was at once restored. Mr. +Smith has rendered faithful and effective labor, to the entire +satisfaction of the committee and officers of the prison. Mr. Smith's +prison experience, together with the deep interest he has for the +welfare of the prisoners, seems to indicate him to be the right man in +the right place."</p> + +<p>"Rather hard on the former chaplain," said one of our editors. But what +shall we believe? One of the subscribers to this article told him that +he was removed on purely political grounds, as previously narrated. Then +there was that corroborative assertion by the democratic neighbor that +Mr. Smith had received the conditional promise. Now this declaration is +published to the world. Where is the truth? Were they unwilling to put +it out squarely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> that they had made a political foot-ball of the prison? +Or would they rather sacrifice the character and reputation of an +innocent man, who had labored as best he could for the good of the +institution? They pretend to have acted in view of a difficulty between +the chaplain and warden, and "with the best information we could get, we +thought best to recommend the removal of the chaplain." Where did they +obtain that information? There was, of course, but one source, and, from +a year's experience, the writer understands something of its character, +that it would not be impossible for men regarding themselves rather +shrewd to leave, wholly misconceiving the real truth. But what shall we +say of this course of condemning a man unheard, and on ex parte +assertions? Is that the part of honorable dealing? But the whole subject +is left with the reader to pass judgment upon in view of the facts +already set before him.</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p><a name="CHAPTER_II_55" id="CHAPTER_II_55"></a>55. <i>International Penitentiary Congress, London, July 3-13, 1872.</i> This +resulted from the move already spoken of at the gathering in Ohio in +'70. Dr. Wines, there selected to the important work of bringing about +the proposed assemblage, received due governmental qualifications by a +commission from our President according to a special act of Congress, +the Secretary of State also opening the way by communicating with the +various governments represented at Washington, respecting the great +subject. On this mission, the Dr. visited Europe in '71, received a +cordial welcome from the various governments, and found them generally +in readiness to enter heartily into the move. After due consultation, +London was settled upon as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> place of meeting, a committee, to +provide for which and facilitate its general objects, was chosen in +London with the Right Hon. Sir Walter Crafton as Chairman and Edwin +Pears, Barrister at Law, Secretary. This committee is represented as +composed of all political parties, with Lord Carnarvon really at the +head, similar committees being formed in most of the other countries +moving in the enterprise. To prepare work for the congress and secure +its objects, a circular was addressed to the various States containing +thirty prominent questions on imprisoning and its connected points, for +answer. On assembling, this body found itself composed of delegates duly +commissioned from twenty-two different governments, Russia and Turkey +included, all the States of Europe represented but Portugal, delegates +present from India, Victoria and other British colonies, South America, +and eighteen of our United States, then representatives from various +penitentiaries, benevolent societies for giving aid to released +prisoners, magistracies, &c., &c., 298 in number, a gathering the like +of which, in some respects, had never been held. Here were judges, +professors of criminal law, prison managers, philanthropists, and +various gentlemen skilled in the working of criminal jurisprudence.</p> + +<p>Here the commissioned dignitaries from kings and emperors found +themselves met with delegates from voluntary associations and democratic +institutions. How could they, in justice to their dignity, submit to +this? But the matter was amicably adjusted, and all came upon a +democratic level and acted in the greatest harmony,—an important gain +to manhood. The meeting was held at a Hall of the Middle Temple; at the +opening, Earl Carnarvon presiding and making the inaugural address, +giving welcome to the foreign<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> delegates and making numerous important +suggestions. At the next session Dr. Wines presided, and gave an address +full of information as to the purpose of calling this congress and the +objects to be gained,—a universal harmony in prison managing, which +managing should have certain broad principles underlying, permeating and +vivifying it.</p> + +<p>At a soiree given by the English committee to foreign visitors, the +Prince of Wales and suit attended, thus showing the sanction of the +English government to the congress. This sanction was also expressed by +the attendance at one session of the Home Secretary of State, Right Hon. +Austin H. Bruce, giving an official welcome to the gathering, and +expressing a hope of being materially profited by the deliberations. The +meeting, on the whole, was an important affair, of high interest from +beginning to end. Its transactions are published in a volume of 796 +pages, to be had of Rev. Dr. Wines, New York. Then one of the +commissioners from New Hampshire, Mr. Allen Folger, wrote out a synopsis +of the doings, which has been published in a pamphlet of 50 pages, by +the authority of our State, for distribution, showing the interest our +Governor and Council take in these matters.</p> + +<p>The questions before spoken of were taken up by each country and +elaborate answers given, papers were read upon them and thorough +discussion had. The order was not to take any votes but to bring in +facts of the various prison workings, to interchange views, criticise +and thus sift out the best, in which, evidently, great enlightening of +mind was obtained, and a great advancement made in the right direction. +On page 537 of Transactions we have the following reform sentiments: +"Man, in the state of penal servitude, is no longer a thing, but a moral +being, whose liberty human<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> justice has not the right to confiscate +absolutely and irrevocably, but only within the limits required by the +protection and security of social order. The logical sequence of this +view is, that it is the duty of society to reform the criminal during +his temporary privation of liberty, since, in this way only can the +peril of his relapse be successfully combatted, and the public safety +effectually maintained. The reformation of imprisoned criminals is not, +therefore, in our day, a work of philanthropy, but an obligation of the +State."</p> + +<p>In one or two prisons they have been so successful in reform efforts, +that, having taken some of the very worst criminals, they have led them +to such order and good behavior, as to be able to dispense with locks +and bars, rendering the prison more like a great family, kindness being +the great controlling element.</p> + +<p>In the abridged report of the proceedings of the International Congress, +under the head of "Cumulative Imprisonment," we learn that the following +question was submitted, and several important suggestions followed its +presentation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: Ought prisoners on reconviction to be subjected to more severe +disciplinary treatment than on the first sentence?</p> + +<p>It was opened by M. Peterson, of Bavaria, who maintained that cases +required treatment according to the degree of demerit shown on the +prisoner's trial, and therefore, that instead of laying down one +principle, the right course was to leave the judges to decide what +should be done in each case.</p> + +<p>M. Ploos Van Amstel, of Holland, and M. Stevens, of Belgium, advocated a +merciful treatment as likely to have more effect than severity.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>Mr. Aspinall, of Liverpool, read resolutions which the Liverpool +magistrates had passed, to the effect that it was desirable that +cumulative principles should be applied to the punishment of all crimes +and offences, and that the magistrates should be empowered to transfer +well conducting and deserving prisoners to homes for the remainder of +their sentences. Voluminous statistics showed that there were numerous +reconvictions up to seventy times, and that the conclusions arrived at, +by the magistrates, was that it would be better for the prisoners and +better for society if the cumulative principles were carried out.</p> + +<p>Dr. Guillaume, of Switzerland, mentioned his experiences in some of the +cantons of his country, which had led him to the conviction that it was +better to give the reconvicted such sentences as would enable the +prisoner to learn a trade, by which he could earn his living in the +labor market without being obliged to fall back upon the lines of crime, +than to give short and severe punishments, which, by including a +lessened diet, sent the criminal back into the world, not only +unimproved in morals, but deteriorated physically.</p> + +<p>It would seem, according to his views, that the design of imprisoning +is, to bring back to society those once injurious, but who are now +changed to good citizens.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, of Massachusetts, advocated the merciful and +kindly treatment as being the way to make a permanent impression upon +the criminal classes.</p> + +<p>M. Robin, of France, stated that his experience led him to set his face +against all pains and penalties in prison, as against Christian +principles, and advocated the teaching of trades. All in all, strict +adherence to Christian principles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> should be at the bottom of the +treatment of criminals.</p> + +<p>Count de Foresta, of Italy, held that the question was rather one of law +than prison discipline. He urged that there was a line of prison +discipline beyond which it was impossible to go without turning the +discipline into cruelty.</p> + +<p>Another question touching "Prison Labor," was brought forward and +considered, as follows:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Question</span>: "Should prison labor be merely penal, or should it be +industrial?"</p> + +<p>It was opened by the reading of a long and interesting paper by Mr. +Frederick Hill, brother of the late celebrated Recorder of Birmingham. +The substance of the paper was that labor, to be made useful and +productive, follows natural laws, which are the same in prison as out of +prison; that it is an advantage to the prisoner to fit him for +usefulness and to make more easy his reform; that it will help pay the +cost of his conviction and imprisonment; that upon release, he will be +better armed against relapse into crime, as well as much better prepared +to obtain an honest living than those whose labor has been merely penal; +that the pains and privations necessarily attendant on the process of +moral reformation are so great as to make it unnecessary, for the +maintenance of the principle of deterrence, to superadd artificial pains +and penalties.</p> + +<p>Colonel Colville, Governor of Colbath Fields Prison, one of the largest +London prisons, spoke very strongly against the tread-mill system of +punishment which is in nearly all the prisons of England, and almost +unanimously condemned by the prison officials.</p> + +<p>The general opinion of the Congress was in conformity to views expressed +by the speakers mentioned.</p> + +<p>Under the question touching the moral value of visitation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> of the +prisons by women, we find the following sensible views expressed:</p> + +<p>"While the character of the visiting women depends upon chance, they are +as likely to be indiscreet, and to interfere unwisely as otherwise. If +they were selected as men are, or ought to be, for their fitness, their +work would be done with good judgment and discretion. Then, again, +criminal men separated from their families and from all gentle +influences, need the ministry of good women for their reformation. The +motherly influence of pure, gentle women will sometimes control and +subdue the violent, when even blows would fail to do so."</p> + +<p>The whole force of the International Congress went in favor of the idea +of <i>reforming</i> the prisoners. For this the body advocated stimulating +the prisoners' self-interest, thus:</p> + +<p>"In this way, the prisoner's destiny during his incarceration should be +placed, measurably, in his own hands; he must be put into circumstances +where he will be able, through his own exertions, to continually better +his condition. A regular self-interest must be brought into play. In the +prison, as in free society, there must be the stimulus of some personal +advantage accruing from the prisoner's efforts. Giving prisoners an +interest in their industry and good conduct tends to give them +beneficial thoughts and habits, and what no severity of punishment will +enforce a moderate personal interest will readily obtain."</p> + +<p>They also advocated using the moral force:</p> + +<p>"In criminal treatment, moral forces should be relied on with as little +admixture of physical force as may be; organized persuasion to the +utmost extent possible should be made to take the place of coercive +restraint, the object being to make upright and industrious <i>freemen</i>, +rather than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> orderly and obedient <i>prisoners</i>. Brute force may make good +prisoners, moral training alone will make good citizens. To the latter +of those ends the living soul must be won; to the former, only the inert +and obedient body. To compass the reformation of criminals, the military +type in prison management must be abandoned, and a discipline by moral +forces substituted in its place. The objects of military discipline and +prison discipline, being directly opposed to each other, can not be +pursued by the same road. The one is meant to train men to act together, +the other to prepare them to act separately. The one relies upon force, +which never yet created virtue; the other on motives, which are the sole +agency for attaining moral ends. The special object of the one is to +suppress individual character and reduce all to component parts of a +compact machine; that of the other is to develop and strengthen +individual character, and, by instilling right principles, to encourage +and enable it to act on these independently."</p> + +<p>They tell us again "that the self-respect of the prisoner should be +cultivated to the utmost and every effort be made to give back to him +his manhood." "There is no greater mistake in the whole compass of penal +discipline, than its studied imposition of degradation as a part of +punishment. Such imposition destroys every better impulse and +aspiration. It crushes the weak, irritates the strong and indisposes all +to submission and reform. It is trampling, where it ought to raise, and +is therefore as unchristian in principle as it is unwise in policy."</p> + +<p>Farther, "The system of prison discipline must gain the will of the +convict. He is to be amended, but this is impossible with his mind in a +state of hostility. No system can hope to succeed which does not secure +this har<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>mony of wills, so that the prisoner shall choose for himself +what his officer chooses for him. But to this end the officer must +really choose the good of the prisoner, and the prisoner must remain in +his choice long enough for virtue to become a habit. This consent of +will is an essential condition of reformation, for a bad man can never +be made good against his will. Nowhere can reformation become the rule +instead of the exception, where this choice of the same things by prison +keepers and prison inmates has not been attained."</p> + +<p>They assert, too, that the officers should possess a hearty desire and +intention to accomplish the object of reform in the prison. Regarding +these officers they also say thus:</p> + +<p>"In order to the reformation of imprisoned criminals, there must also be +in the minds of prison officers a serious conviction that they are +capable of being reformed, since no man can heartily pursue an object at +war with his inward beliefs; no man can earnestly strive to accomplish +what in his heart he despairs of accomplishing. Doubt is the prelude of +failure; confidence a guaranty of success. Nothing so weakens moral +forces as unbelief; nothing imparts to them such vigor as faith. 'Be it +unto thee according to thy faith,' is the statement of a fundamental +principle of success in all human enterprises, especially when our work +lies within the realm of mind and morals."</p> + +<p>Finally, they assure us that "work, education and religion (including in +this latter moral instruction) are the three great forces to be employed +in the reformation of criminals."</p> + +<hr class="betweenchapter" /> + +<p class="center"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span><a name="CONCLUSION" id="CONCLUSION"></a>CONCLUSION.</p> + + +<p>The two systems of prison management, previously alluded to, are now +before the reader so far as these pages have elucidated, the +<i>reformatory</i> on the one hand, and the <i>punitive and money-making</i> on +the other. And which do you prefer? Will your choice be for the honest +effort to raise up the fallen, to do our duty to the erring, to throw +what influences can be about these disturbers of society to lead them to +become upright citizens? Or, will it fall upon the crushing, cruel, +vindictive course, the process of making them more debased, sordid, +revengeful? Do you prefer manhood-producing with its benign effects, or +money-making attended with the blighting of the higher aspirations of +the soul? This subject has been taken up in the narrative form, that the +writer could the more easily, by incidents, and in the briefest way, +bring out the peculiarities of the two systems in their workings and the +animus impelling them. He has brought forward nothing in the line of +facts and incidents except what had come under his own observation, or +been so reported to him that he had no doubt of its truthfulness. Many +of the incidents in Part II. he would gladly have passed in silence, +regretting exceedingly the necessity of bringing them out. But a solemn +sense of duty seemed to impel him to this task. He has delayed any move +hoping the turn of events would excuse him from penning these truths for +the public eye. But his conscience and his God will condemn him, if +longer delayed. He has brought forward names with no unkind feeling, or +purpose to expose or wound, but to show the way things have moved. No +matter what course others may have taken towards him, he has endeavored +studiously to follow the exhortation he has so often given to the +prisoners<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> in yielding all that into the hands of God, for his disposal.</p> + +<p>This matter is now before the people. Will you not study the questions +carefully and act? Will not ministers of religion and of law, merchants +and artisans, all those in the various industries of life, men and women +come to the help? True, the latter, however pure and exalted, is now +forbidden entrance to the chapel in labors of love for the fallen men. +Hence, that somewhat recent shock to the community in the stern refusal +of Elizabeth Comstock's request for permission to address the inmates on +their moral and religious interests. How long shall such things be in +our prison? How long shall the light of science, of morality and of pure +religion be virtually shut out from that abode? How long shall we work +so as to make bad men worse, hard hearts harder, the depraved more +iniquitous, the pestiferous more destructive to the safety and quietness +of society? Till the people shall stir effectively, make their voice +heard and their power felt. Why not change our system of imprisoning and +put it fully on that of reform? Why not adopt the course of dismissing +prisoners only on condition of good evidence of reform and on further +condition of being returned in case of relapse into crime? Why not +arrange for those who will not reform, as some will not, to serve in +prison for life, thus freeing society of their depradations? Then why +not use them humanely while keeping their time occupied in useful +employment, still permitting each to enjoy the means of mental, moral +and religious culture. Many, thus situated would, no doubt, live really +good, pious lives, who, from their moral weakness, could not resist the +temptations to crime which are met on every hand without. To such, the +prison should act as a kind, beneficent guardian.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors which were +present in the original edition have been corrected.</p> + +<p>In the Table of Contents, "B. and E's request" was changed to "B. and +E.'s request".</p> + +<p>In Part I, Chapter 1, a missing quotation mark was added after "managing +penal institutions".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 1, a missing quotation mark was added after +"correction of prison abuses".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 6, "laborers in she school" was changed to "laborers +in the school".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 11, "a line of sustantial agreement" was changed to +"a line of substantial agreement".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 19, "On said of the cracked wheat" was changed to +"One said of the cracked wheat".</p> + +<p>In the original text, two chapters were numbered 24. The second of these +has been renumbered 24 1-2 (which matches the numbering in the Table of +Contents).</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 24 1-2, a missing quotation mark was added after "a +system of especial surveillance".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 26, "Had they endeed his sufferings" was changed to +"Had they ended his sufferings".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 27, "asked to state about the Silver case" was +changed to "asked to state about the Sylver case", and "the patient +really died of a heart difficult" was changed to "the patient really +died of a heart difficulty".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 35, a missing quotation mark was added after "take +anything extra", and a missing comma was added between "irritability" +and "angry feeling".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 36, a missing quotation mark was added after "it +seems that Pike is nominated".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 47, "they were no inclined to that" was changed to +"they were not inclined to that".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 51, a quotation mark preceding "One exclaimed" was +deleted.</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 54, "Prison report for 72" was changed to "Prison +report for '72", and a missing quotation mark was added after "no +complicated matters to embarrass the institution".</p> + +<p>In Part II, Chapter 55, "the teaching of rades" was changed to "the +teaching of trades", a quotation mark following "without turning the +discipline into cruelty" was deleted, "should it beindustrial" was +changed to "should it be industrial", a quotation mark was added +following "industrial", a quotation mark was deleted following "views +expressed by the speakers mentioned", and a quotation mark was added +following "to act on these independently".</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its +Experiences, by Hosea Quinby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRISON CHAPLAINCY, EXPERIENCES *** + +***** This file should be named 29797-h.htm or 29797-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/9/29797/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its Experiences + +Author: Hosea Quinby + +Release Date: August 25, 2009 [EBook #29797] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRISON CHAPLAINCY, EXPERIENCES *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY, +AND ITS EXPERIENCES. + +BY REV. HOSEA QUINBY, D. D., +EX-CHAPLAIN OF N. H. STATE PRISON. + +IN TWO PARTS. + +CONCORD, N. H.: +PUBLISHED BY D. L. GUERNSEY +BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER. +1873. + +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by +D. L. GUERNSEY, +in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. + +MORNING STAR STEAM JOB PRINTING HOUSE,--DOVER, N. H. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +PART I. + +UNDER THE REFORMATORY SYSTEM. + + +1. Emotions at the Idea of Assuming the Position, and Object of these +Pages, 7 + +2. Our First Meeting for Worship, 8 + +3. The Sabbath School, 10 + +4. General Appearance of the Convicts, 11 + +5. The Warden, 11 + +6. Educational Means found in Operation, 12 + +7. Influence Left by the Former Chaplain, 13 + +8. Prison Order, 13 + +9. Chaplain's Routine of Duty, 14 + +10. General Description of the Prison and Prison Management, 15 + +11. General Remarks upon the Prisoners, 22 + +12. Prayer-meetings Commenced, 25 + +13. Pike, the Hampton Murderer, 28 + +14. Doctrinal Discourses, 34 + +15. Effect of the Prayer-meeting on Prison Order, 34 + +16. The New Chapel, 35 + +17. Prison Repairs and Mistakes, 36 + +18. Profanity Attacked, 37 + +19. Efforts for a Son, from a Mother's Plea, 38 + +20. Warden's Efforts for a Young Man, 40 + +21. Experience with noble appearing Heads in Prison, 42 + +22. The Warden Admits Presents to Prisoners from Friends Outside, 44 + +23. Warden Decides to Resign, 45 + +24. Prisoners' Anxiety at the Rumored Resignation, 47 + +25. Governor and Council Memorialized by the Prison S. S. Teachers and +Chaplain, 48 + +26. Prison Funerals, 49 + +27. Educational and Sabbath school summing up, 49 + +28. Religious Success, 51 + +29. Fourth of July at the Prison, 52 + +30. The true Principle of Imprisoning and Prison Managing--on the Idea +of Reform in the Convict, 53 + +31. The Commutation System, 59 + +32. Chaplain's Proposed Attempt at Tobacco Reform, 60 + + +PART II. + +UNDER THE PUNITIVE AND MONEY-MAKING SYSTEM. + + +1. Warden Chosen, and new Arrangements for the Chaplain, 61 + +2. Chaplain almost Resolved to Resign, but Decides to Continue and +Arranges his Work, 64 + +3. Cells Cleared of Trinket-making and Tracts, 65 + +4. Necessity for the Chaplain's Undertaking what He Did, 65 + +5. New Phase at the Prison, and the Chaplain's Efforts, 66 + +6. Sabbath School Commences, 69 + +7. The Warden's Views Considered, 69 + +8. Chaplain's Restrictions, 73 + +9. Prisoner's Aid Association, 76 + +10. Complaint of Prison Hunger, 76 + +11. Chaplain's Object in hearing from Released Prisoners and Others, 77 + +12. B. and E.'s request, and the Connected Abuse, 78 + +13. Alleged Prison Conspiracy, 80 + +14. National Prison Reform Congress, 81 + +15. Money-making and Punishing, the Paramount Objects in our Prison +Management, 83 + +16. Waste Paper in the Cells, 83 + +17. Defective Beds and Bedding, 84 + +18. Cracked Wheat Dinner, 86 + +19. Bad Fish, &c., 87 + +20. Prison Suffering from Cold During the Winter of '70 and '71, 88 + +21. Lighting the Hall, 93 + +22. The Aid of the Association to Released Prisoners, and Warden's +Course, 94 + +23. Lecturing for the Prison Aid Association, 99 + +24. Prison Correspondence under the New Rule, 100 + +24 1-2. Chaplain under a System of Espionage, 102 + +25. The Chaplain's Pacific Efforts severely Taxed, 104 + +26. Death of Gideon Sylver, 109 + +27. The Sylver Case Excitement and Hearing before the Governor and +Council, 115 + +28. Preparing for the Adjourned Session, 118 + +29. The Adjourned Hearing, 120 + +30. Motives for Desiring the Chaplain's Removal, 122 + +31. Chaplain's Change of Course, and the Question as to who should +Conduct the Prison Correspondence, 124 + +32. Change, for a Time, in the Warden's Management, 127 + +33. The Fate of Henry Stewart and others, 129 + +34. Warden's Want of Courtesy to Prisoners' Visitors, 132 + +35. Effects of the new Order upon the Prisoners, 133 + +36. Comparative Prison Order for the two years, 139 + +37. Good Traits in the Warden for Prison Service, 143 + +38. Chaplain's Inability to Prevent Knowing more or less of the +Prisoners' Troubles and the Prison Management, 143 + +39. Secular School Success, 144 + +40. Sabbath School Success, 147 + +41. Religious Success, 149 + +42. Lack of Truthfulness at the Prison, 149 + +43. Reported Quarrel between the Warden and Chaplain, 151 + +44. Prison Report for '71, 153 + +45. Efforts of the Prison Aid Association for Legislation in Favor of +the Prison, 163 + +46. Experience with the new Government, 169 + +47. Chaplain Determines to Have an Investigation into the Charges +against Him, 170 + +48. Anniversary of P. A. Association for '71, and remarks on our Jails, +171 + +49. Fourth of July at the Prison in '71, 173 + +50. Chaplain's Removal from Office, 174 + +51. Prison Fare under the new Government, 176 + +52. The Warden Question, 177 + +53. Experience at the Prison subsequent to Dismissal, 178 + +54. Prison Report for '72, 181 + +55. International Penitentiary Congress, London, July 3-13, '72, 188 + +Conclusion, 197 + + + + +THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY. + + + + +PART I. + +UNDER THE REFORMATORY SYSTEM. + + +1. _Emotions at the idea of assuming the position, and object of these +pages._ The proposal of friends that I become chaplain of our State +Prison at first struck me with much disfavor, from the idea that the +position, instead of affording the encouragement and satisfaction +attendant upon my former labors in schools and churches, must be up-hill +work, and repulsive to the finer feelings of the heart. Still, having +been no little accustomed to laying aside personal tastes and +conveniences for the good of others, I yielded, and commenced the work +on the first Sabbath in July, 1869. + +The experience gained in this connection, with the hints and suggestions +on collateral subjects, is set forth in the following pages, not for the +purpose of personal notoriety, but for the sake of correcting important +misconceptions by giving the true facts, and making a humble effort +towards awaking in the public mind a deeper interest on a subject in +which every citizen should feel a concern, and on which he should +become duly informed, and thus be prepared to act intelligently. For +this preparation he needs light, which light the real working of things, +properly set forth, would surely give. Experience is ever regarded as +the best school-master, the proper touchstone to all our theories. + +Never was the community more widely and deeply stirred than now on the +questions, "What course will prove the most corrective of crime with the +least public burden? What is the true method of managing penal +institutions?" + +These are questions of no trifling moment, questions which bear largely +on the public weal. From the days of Howard, the philanthropist, they +have been rising in the public estimate, now to stand among the more +prominent of the age. + +On these, widely differing theories are brought face to face in earnest +antagonism; some contending for the sterner type of the vindictive, for +rendering the condition of the wrong doer as repulsive as possible, thus +to terrify him from erring,--others contending that they have found a +better and more effective way in humane, reform, gospel +efforts,--efforts prompted by the principles of enlightened +Christianity. + +The writer, while touching upon a somewhat wide range of points, will +constantly aim at as great brevity in statement as may be consistent +with perspicuity, go into detail only so far as shall appear needful to +the end in view, and feel amply compensated for his labors, if the +developments and suggestions here made shall in any degree aid the cause +of prison reform. + + + + +2. _Our first meeting for worship._ In assembling, while the ladies and +gentlemen, admitted from the city, were taking their places at my left +and front, the female prisoners were being arranged at my right, closely +facing the wall, with the matron and assistant beside them, that they +might not indulge in looking about upon others, for such an act was held +as a misdemeanor. This done, and the south door securely bolted, that +leading to the hall was unbarred, and the male prisoners, some one +hundred and twenty, were marched in by divisions and regular file, +taking their seats with perfect order before me, and filling every +available foot of otherwise unoccupied space in that small and ill +ventilated room called "the chapel," thus packing it as closely +apparently as could be. + +What a sensation thrilled every nerve on this my first experience in +attempting to dispense the gospel, thus locked within walls of granite +and iron, with a military guard at each window ready to deal summarily +with any who should attempt escape, or commit a disorderly act. Then +what mingled emotions of sorrow and pity at the thought of so great an +amount of talent present, which had been devoted to crime, and the +depths to which their iniquities had sunk the wrong doers,--enough to +make angels weep. + +The singing by the prison choir, a young lady of the city presiding at +the instrument, was exhilarating, voices good, all in time, and movement +spirited, the whole having a peculiar charm. Many a choir outside might +have listened with advantage. The Scripture reading was responsive, the +chaplain repeating a verse and then the audience. As the speaker +commenced his sermon, every convict's eye was fastened upon him, +apparently with the deepest interest, continuing thus to the close. + +This fixed attention, with all the connected circumstances, acted as a +powerful stimulus to his intellect and heart, causing thoughts and +words to flow almost unbidden, and those of a peculiar unction, thus +rendering preaching in the place easy. The numerous moistened eyes and +earnest countenances seemed plainly to say, "Here are minds responsive +to the truth, a field which can be cultivated for God and humanity." + +Those anticipated feelings of repulsion did not arise, but rather the +assurance that success and pleasure would attend a faithful dispensing +of the word for reforming and elevating the prisoner in his bonds, as +well as in efforts to save sinners under more favorable surroundings. + + + + +3. _The Sabbath School._ This met Sabbath afternoon in two places, the +females, eight in number, in their work room, with the matron and other +ladies who might attend from the city as teachers; the males in the +chapel, a number of Christian ladies and gentlemen from outside +attending and hearing classes, some having long been laborers here in +the work, one having, years previous, helped set the school in +operation. The toils of these earnest workers were evidently being +blessed, under God, to the good of their pupils, producing impressions +upon some, which greatly aided them in their efforts at reform. My +attendance was with the latter, and the interest was fully equal to that +I had witnessed in the forenoon worship. + +The prisoners were required to attend the latter, while the Sabbath +school attendance was left to the inmates as a voluntary matter, and yet +some ninety males attended this, about three-fourths of the whole +company from which the audience was usually drawn,--a much larger +percentage probably than any outside congregation can boast of. + + + + +4. _General appearance of the convicts._ Judging from appearance as they +sat in the assembly, a few were evidently hard cases, narrow-minded, +sordid, ugly. To a number, dame Nature had dealt bountifully on the +score of mind, they having noble foreheads, and bright, sparkling eyes, +indicative of no small natural ability. One would think that some of +these would have shone conspicuously in any of the learned professions, +business circles, or common industries of life had they bent their minds +in the right direction. Certain visitors at the prison and State House, +in time of the legislative session, were wicked enough to say that they +found the likelier appearing company at the former place. Other inmates +partook more of the low cunning, the artful, leading them to accomplish +their ends by more adroit means, while a small number seemed bordering +on insanity, two on idiocy. + +In dealing with these, as a whole, while at large, no doubt the police +had found their own shrewdness, at times, keenly taxed, and been made to +feel that they were called to grapple with mind worthy of a better +cause. + + + + +5. _The warden._ He was found to be a man of generous impulses, an +earnest Christian worker, with a heart full of kindness, professing to +act for the prisoners' highest good. He would furnish them with enough +of suitable food, good clothing and bedding, all needed care in +sickness, with the requisite means for mental, moral and religious +improvement, fully believing in the practicability of labor to reform +the wayward and elevate the fallen, that reform is the primary purpose +of the institution. As one great means to this, he seemed to feel it +needful that the inmates be kept under strict, wholesome discipline, +and required at all times, when able, to perform their tasks fully and +faithfully. + +He was accustomed to hold correspondence with other prison officers of +like faith with himself on prison management, and profited by any +feasible hints thus gained. His motto was, "Keep the prisoners on good +fare, provide them all needed means for reform and make all the money +practicable from the prison as subordinate to these." + + + + +6. _Educational means found in operation._ By the combined effort of the +warden and my predecessor, what we may term a secular school had been +established in the chapel, to be held evenings, in sessions of one hour +each, as often as a guard could be spared from other prison duties. This +was voluntary on the part of these gentlemen, and was intended to be +open for all the male prisoners of good behavior to attend, and take +such of the common branches as each should need. + +The legislature had so far recognized the move as to vote the chaplain +an increase of salary in consideration of his labors as teacher in the +school. But here it stopped, and that short of its full duty. It ought +to have gone further, and made the thing a fixed fact, obligatory upon +all prison officers, as really as our common school system outside is +upon town officers. Why not? The State has taken the convicts under her +care as wards, moved them from their vicious surroundings, and put them +where, with a little additional painstaking on her part, many of these +may be led to the daily habit of devoting their otherwise idle or +squandered moments to storing up valuable ideas for future use, a long +step towards their true reform. + +As leading in the same direction, these gentlemen had adopted the custom +of having occasional lectures in the chapel for the men by outside +speakers, also readings by a lady elocutionist, and meetings for +instruction and drill in singing. + + + + +7. _Influence left by the former chaplain._ This influence was of a +highly salutary character among the prisoners. A number would feelingly +refer to his efforts for their best being, and from which they had been +constantly striving to profit. Some professed to have experienced a +change of heart under his ministration, and were still living in the +exercise of daily Bible reading and prayer, being obedient prisoners, +duly attentive to all the prison rules, and in good repute among the +officers of the institution. They continued thus till leaving prison, +and had not fallen from their integrity when last heard from. Eternity +alone can unfold the amount of good secured to those once degraded men +by these efforts. + + + + +8. _Prison order._ While intent on reform measures, we were not for a +moment to lose sight of the strictest order. The warden would have the +rounds for this carefully observed, that no risk should be run with +regard to the safe keeping of the prisoners and their due observance of +the rules. Hence, the chaplain was not allowed to hold his school in the +chapel for instructing the men, or have any gathering of prisoners there +without a guard. Then, previous to their admittance, we were required to +be certain that the south door to the chapel was securely fastened, and +the key, for safe keeping, passed through an opening to the guard-room. +And when the exercises were ended, and the men secured in their cells, +on a given signal, the keeper of the key would open for our release. + +This order was not to be deviated from under any circumstances. From +this fact, had the prisoners, at any time, risen in rebellion, +overpowered the guard and chaplain, they would have found no means in +the room for escaping. Or had any professed goodness, or pretended to a +great desire for education with the hope of being taken to the chapel +under circumstances favorable to their getting away, they would have +found it of no avail. Good or bad, professedly reformed or not, all were +treated alike in this respect. And, so far as I had the opportunity of +observation, the same strictness was observed in all other departments +of the prison. + +True, one escaped, but from no lack of internal watchfulness or order. +His time had almost expired, he having been a faithful, obedient, +well-disposed prisoner. The warden set him at work doing chores about +the stable and outer yard, not supposing that he would leave for so +short a period, and thereby forfeit his commutation and render himself +liable to be returned at any time through life. But after serving here a +few days he absconded. + + + + +9. _Chaplain's routine of duty._ In this were embraced, not only the +Sabbath morning service and the Sabbath school care, but also visiting +the cells for giving words of advice, visiting the hospital for +imparting religious consolation, managing the secular school, changing +the library books for the inmates, Saturdays, learning, from the +prisoners, enough of their past history to enable him to judge of the +instruction adapted to each, and, in fine, to speak such words here and +there as would conduce to the requisite order. This gave a wide range, +an important field. I seemed to have returned to my school keeping days; +and found my long habit of reading human nature in students of no little +use, aiding me to understand the best manner of approaching each so as +to gain his confidence. Also my custom in school discipline, which had +at times been complained of as being too strict, now served an excellent +purpose, prompting me, at every step, to move in decided contrariety to +all irregularity and disorder. + + + + +10. _General description of the prison and prison management._ The old +part of the prison was erected in 1812, favored by Mason, Woodbury and +other distinguished men of that day, the avowed purpose being to have an +institution where the criminals of the State could be gathered and put +under reformatory influences. Thus it appears that the idea of reform +was a fundamental one in the founding of the establishment. Some years +since the north wing, for the male prisoners, was erected, which is +three-storied and contains 120 cells, each about three and one-half feet +wide, seven feet long and seven high, the bedsteads being of iron and +made to turn up. The south wing, or old part, contains a tenement for +the deputy and cells for the female prisoners. + +The warden occupies the main building, or middle part. Here, too, are +the cook room for the male prisoners, the chapel, the office, guard +room, hospital, dormitories for the guards and overseers, and the +reception room, in which the library is kept. + +The prison yard is surrounded on three sides by a granite wall, perhaps +sixteen feet high, the prison itself constituting the wall on the fourth +side. In the yard are two buildings of brick, each two stories high, one +much larger than the other: the smaller, on its lower floor, affording a +wash-room, tailor's shop, &c., the second story and attic rooms used for +storage or any needed mechanical purpose, sometimes as shoe shops; the +larger building is devoted to bedstead manufacturing, the machinery +driven by steam. + +From this engine these two buildings are warmed by means of steam pipes, +the boiling in the wash-room being done by the same. The hall is +furnished with a steam boiler, which not only warms that, but also the +guard and reception rooms, and the chapel, and the steam is used in the +men's cook room, all other warming and heating in the prison being done +by wood fires. To economize fuel as much as possible, a steam pipe has +been extended from the engine room to the prison to conduct the waste +steam of the shop boilers for use in those apartments. + +The female prisoners eat at a table in the warden's kitchen and from the +same food as goes to his own table. The men have a prescribed diet, +called rations, the allowance of each being dealt out in a tin +basin,--meat, potatoes, gravy, &c., all together, the potatoes unpared. +Coffee is given in a tin dipper. The meals being ready, the men are +marched through an entry by a long table standing contiguous to the +kitchen and loaded with their rations, each taking what belongs to him, +carrying it to his cell and partaking in solitude. Their mode of eating +is quite a curiosity. They generally use their beds for tables, and each +has a knife, fork and spoon in his cell of which he takes the exclusive +care. He fishes out his potatoes and pares them; but where shall he put +the parings, dripping as they are? He has no extra dish. Then how shall +he wash his knife, fork and spoon? He can use his tongue, for he has +nothing else, and he may or may not have a towel on which to wipe them, +but his jacket sleeve or pants' leg is wonderfully convenient. + +What a dehumanizing system! Why not let the men eat at tables the same +as the women, and have some decency about the matter? Then how much +better in another respect. By the present system, rations must be dealt +out to all alike, giving the same quantity to each, with the result of +having more or less food returned or a part not have enough, some eating +more than others. But if at a table, each can eat as he needs, and thus +avoid suffering or waste. + +The men are provided with means for ablution by a few bathing-troughs in +their wash-room. An old man gave me quite an amusing description of the +operation, thus: "The bathing department here is a wonderful +institution. They will march a file of men into the wash-room, old and +young together, fill the troughs with water, put in a little soap, then +a nigger or two to grease it with; when done, the men must strip and go +in one after another. A wonderful institution! I never would go that." + +The female prisoners are employed in mending and making apparel for the +men, and in domestic labors in the family apartment. The feeble men are +employed in light work about the hall, such as dusting, carrying water +to the cells, whitewashing, sweeping, &c., or in repairing clothes. Two +able-bodied men are required in the cook room, another in the wash-room +and to do chores, and part of the time still another. The remaining men +are let to a contractor, who pays a stipulated price per day for each +when he works. + +The needed officers to the institution are the warden, deputy, +physician, chaplain, hospital steward, four overseers, four guards, and +two night watchmen, fifteen at least. All of these must be paid from the +prison earnings. When to this is added the cost for supporting the +prisoners, the ordinary repairs, printing the Report and annual +apprisal, we have the net prison gain. But the outsets, with the +strictest economy, must always of necessity be large, showing that crime +is an important drawback to industry and thrift. + +When I commenced my labors at the institution, it was about emerging +from an experience which had brought no little opposition to the warden +from some in the city, especially in the line of his reform moves. + +He took the prison in '65, the inmates, numbering seventy, being let on +a contract of forty cents per day; the bedding extremely limited; the +cells swarming with those pestiferous attendants on sleeping hours, +every crevice between the stones and bricks affording a safe resort; the +food for the inmates insufficient for prison demands. + +He at once commenced a war of extermination in the cells. Having secured +a change of bedding, and taking a division at a time, he would remove +all the articles for washing and boiling, and inject burning fluid into +the cracks and crevices, setting fire to it, and thus literally burning +out each apartment. He found it essential to renew this attack, however, +as months rolled round. + +Finding, from the best authority at hand on prison fare, that it is not +safe to run the supply to a man lower than twenty cents per day in cost +for the raw material as the market usually is, and that flour bread is +an economical food for prisoners, as well as being humane, he resolved +to adopt this with a diet commensurate with nature's real demands, +built a baker's oven, and hired a baker for instructing certain selected +inmates in the art of baking, and established the daily supply seen in +the Bill of Fare at the end of this article. Under the head of +"vegetables" are embraced all the articles commonly used as such on our +tables,--onions, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips and cabbage. Not, +however, using all at any one meal. + +In the chapel service the warden gave the prisoners liberty to look upon +the speaker,--a great relief from the former downcast method,--and the +chaplain introduced the responsive manner of reading, denounced by some +as a most dangerous innovation. The Sabbath school was held the year +round, instead of simply during the session of the legislature, and a +few months beside. + +But it required close calculation and strict economy with the warden to +meet the current expenses with the wages of forty cents per day to a +man, though he did that and gained a little. + +The war ending, the tide began to set towards the institution, +increasing the number in '66 to 111, '67 to 118, and '68 to 135, the +highest number ever reached by the institution. The current then turned, +the prisoners numbering in '69, 129, and in '70, 118. + +In '67 the authorities relet the prisoners at ninety cents per day +instead of forty, a great advance, brightening the financial prosperity +of the institution. But in doing this they had to make a great outlay in +enlarging the shop, obtaining a new engine, boilers, &c. There were, +also, important repairs, with improvements in the drainage and +ventilation, made. + +These outlays were mostly made by the warden, the Governor, for the +time, assenting and advising. In '69 the Governor and council relieved +the warden of all financial responsibility, appointing one of their +number to act as prison agent, and make the purchases and meet the +outlays at the prison, in which year they put a new roof to the south +wing and made other important alterations and repairs. From the +legislative grants and prison earnings all these expenses were met, and +the year closed with the institution free of debt, in good repair, and +with all needed labor appliances, which was a great relief to all having +the care and responsibility of the concern, rendering the task of +keeping things tidy and in comfortable order much easier than formerly. +It is better and more economical for the State. That constant patching +up and fixing over in numerous places, swallowing up money, no one +hardly knowing how, is now nearly ended, permitting the real gains of +the institution to accumulate and stand prominently in view, though +everything there is not quite perfection yet. + +The drainage and ventilation were found very defective and in bad order, +but by the remodeling are made as good, perhaps, as can be in the +situation. + +In this general fitting up, the prison officers and men voluntarily +contributed to quite an extent, of which no account anywhere appears, +though the State enjoys the gain. In the summer and fall of '69 and the +spring of '70, I frequently saw the deputy, out of the usual work hours, +going with squads of men to labor on the sewers or wherever they could +advantageously. + +The prison is lighted by gas. In the hall the burners, thirty-two in +number, are placed along the outer walls, each from eight to ten or +twelve feet from a cell, but being old and leaking badly, they give a +poor light, the bars to the cells casting shadows on the books or papers +the prisoners may attempt to read. Hence, one of the governors ordered +candles to be furnished to the cells extra when desired. These were so +extensively called for that in '69 the gas had been largely dispensed +with for the candles. + +In case a prisoner is attempting to run away, or is rising upon an +officer, the officers are held at liberty to shoot, knock down, or use +whatever means may be needed in self-defense or in preventing their +escape. Otherwise prison rule does not allow an officer to strike a man, +but he must be punished by the solitary or ball and chain at the +discretion of the warden, who found it needful to use no little +precaution as to the length of the former, "for too great severity in +that tended to insanity on the part of the punished." + +In letting the prisoners on contract, the State furnishes the shop to +the contractor rent free, also the motive power, shafting and belting, +keeping these in repair. + +In managing the prisoners, each officer has his assigned position and +duty, and everything is conducted with a precision closely approximating +that of a military character. + +The south door to the chapel, spoken of, opens to the female part in the +south wing and to the pass-way down two nights of stairs and out of +doors. + + +BILL OF FARE + +_At New Hampshire State Prison._ + + +SUNDAY: + _Breakfast_--Baked beans, brown bread, and coffee. + _Supper_--Rice pudding, brown bread, and coffee. + +MONDAY: + _Breakfast_--Flour bread, brown bread, and coffee. + _Dinner_--Corned beef, vegetables, and brown bread. + _Supper_--Flour bread, molasses, and coffee. + +TUESDAY: + _Breakfast_--Corned beef, warm brown bread, and coffee. + _Dinner_--Codfish, potatoes, butter gravy, and brown bread. + _Supper_--Flour bread, molasses, and coffee. + +WEDNESDAY: + _Breakfast_--Fish hash, brown bread, and coffee. + _Dinner_--Fresh beef soup with vegetables, and brown bread. + _Supper_--Flour bread, molasses, and coffee. + +THURSDAY: + _Breakfast_--Meat hash, brown bread, and coffee. + _Dinner_--Stewed peas with pork, and brown bread. + _Supper_--Flour bread, molasses, and coffee. + +FRIDAY: + _Breakfast_--Meat hash, warm brown bread, and coffee. + _Dinner_--Baked fresh fish or chowder, potatoes, and brown bread. + _Supper_--Flour broad, molasses, and coffee. + +SATURDAY: + _Breakfast_--Meat hash, brown bread, and coffee. + _Dinner_--Fresh beef soup with vegetables, and brown bread. + _Supper_--Flour bread, molasses, and coffee. + + + + +11. _General remarks upon the prisoners._ When entering my service here, +the prison had more inmates than cells. Eight were females. The +community was reaping a sad harvest from the demoralizing effects of the +late war. Six or eight were U. S. prisoners. + +All treated me with due respect. The most were easily approached, free +in conversation, readily giving account of themselves, admitting their +crimes and the justice of their sentences, which probably they would not +have done to one in whom they could not confide. A very few would plead +innocence, some, no doubt, rightfully; three probably having been +victims of fiendish plots. Two or three were very reticent, one saying, +"No one here shall ever know my real name, native place, or business of +life." + +It was heart-sickening to listen to their tales of wrong and suffering, +clearly showing that "the way of the transgressor is hard." Sin has a +most debasing effect upon its victims. Three-fourths or more doubtless +came to prison directly or indirectly through strong drink. True, in +many cases, more remote causes lay back of this, a native inclination to +sin, loss of parents, parental neglect, family infidelity, vicious +associates, ignorance, Sabbath-breaking and the like. A very few had +used no strong drink. A large share were young, some mere boys on their +alternate sentence. Many, on entering, could neither read nor write. + +The crimes were various, extending from the worst murder cases down to +the lower grades of iniquity, some perfectly fiendish, horrible. It +would seem impossible for men and women to do such deeds. + +But these inmates were evidently not all the wrong doers of the State +who merited punishment. In a few cases, no doubt, the prosecutor rather +deserved the doom. Then there are those rum-sellers, keepers of billiard +saloons, gambling dens, and houses of ill fame, all inciting to crime. +Numbers of them stand really in the light of _particeps criminis_ to our +inmates, and perhaps were more deserving of this confinement. How long +will the people see this class making criminals of our sons and +brothers, yea, of our daughters and sisters too, and remain inactive? +Why do not the very stones cry out? + +I found all the prominent religious persuasions here represented, from +the Universalist to the staid Quaker; a number had been Sabbath school +attendants, one quite an Advent speaker, who seemed positive he would be +able to convert us all to his notions could he have the stand for a +suitable time, a privilege he earnestly strove for. More came from the +Catholics than from any other sect, and more from the shoe-makers than +from any other business class. + +When introducing the subject of personal piety to each, no little care +was required to bring it forward in such a manner that it should not +strike the mind repulsively, and thus fill it with needless prejudice, +but rather conciliate and convince, leading to free conversation upon +the subject. In this a great advantage would be gained. + +The larger portion acceded to the just claims of religious truth upon +them, some hoping that their imprisonment was being sanctified to their +highest good. One feelingly said, "I was swiftly floating on the stream +of sin and corruption towards that awful gulf in which I must have +landed ere this, had not the prison walls caught and saved me, as I +trust." Some I found professing a belief in infidelity, a few in real +atheism. + +As weeks passed on, it became evident that something beyond human power +was at work in the minds of a few. Personal conversation developed the +fact that they were really and seriously considering their ways. A case +of much hope would occasionally present itself. "But," says one, "these +fellows were professing this with the hope of getting out." + +That could not have been the case with some, most surely, as their term +had nearly expired and they neither asked nor looked for a pardon. The +work must have been genuine with these, if not with all. Nor could I see +any reason to doubt the sincerity of any, and I scrutinized closely. + +The classification of prisoners, as to their crimes, affords an +interesting subject. It will be largely found that the wrong doing of +each is of a specific character rather than a general. Thus that of one +is simply in the line of murder; that of another, robbery; of a third, +stealing, or picking pockets, acting the burglar, assaulting female +character, or of whatever sort. Then, thieves can be classified into +horse thieves, sheep stealers, leather thieves, watch and money thieves, +and so on. + +Some commit crimes only when influenced by strong drink, and then steal, +quarrel or murder. Many can not help their wrong doing, or will not, and +therefore should remain in prison, where they can live as very good men, +and aid the State instead of cursing society by their wrong deeds. + +They do not all steal for the gain, but for the sake of stealing. Hence +here is one who will hoard up his booty and never go to it afterwards. I +asked an old man, a burglar, what induced him to lead such a life, and +received this answer: "There is something peculiarly exciting in the +engagements. I never engaged in it for what I could obtain." + + + + +12. _Prayer meetings commenced._ Previous to the present fall, no prayer +meetings had been established at the prison, the need of which we now +greatly felt. After much thought on the matter, I asked the warden if we +could not introduce them, and he answered, "Oh no, that can't be. There +are so many hypocrites among the prisoners, who would take advantage to +say what they might choose, and to the disgust of the others, that we +can not control the matter." This came from no lack of interest in the +subject, for it was the very thing that had found a large place in his +contemplations and desires, though he had seen no time when he could +feel it safe to take the step. Not being able to put the idea out of +mind, I soon brought it before him again, but in connection with the +Sabbath school teachers. After duly considering the pros and cons, the +question was decided thus,--"Start such a meeting, to be held weekly, if +found practicable. Next Sabbath let each teacher, when hearing his +class, select such of the number as he may think fitted for the +exercise; passing the names to the warden for him to invite them in at +his discretion, the meeting to commence the following Monday evening." + +To prepare their minds for the occasion, the discourse, the next +Sabbath, was on hypocrisy, the text being the account of Ananias and +Sapphira, with the attempt to point out the enormity and danger of that +sin, that the truly sincere should not be kept from duty by hypocrisy as +seen in others, or by being accused of it in themselves by the +malicious. At the close, the warden, grasping my hand, said, "We will +let all go in who choose. We will make no selection," and we appointed +the meeting accordingly. + +Met at the time appointed, nearly one hundred being present, for it was +a novel matter there. In the commencement I clearly stated what would be +expected of all who might engage in prayer or speaking, referring to the +subject of the sermon the past day, and said that the opportunity was +offered for those only to improve who sincerely desired to become better +and were truly determined to act accordingly, expressing the full +conviction that none would presume to come forward under any +hypocritical pretenses. + +A few of the Sabbath school teachers present took part to good +acceptance. Then two or three of the inmates offered prayer, and three +or four spoke of their feelings and desires. They could not have been +more appropriate in their words, spirit, or manner. To all appearances +they were sincere. + +Perfect order prevailed,--a most profound and respectful attention. Much +of the time the dropping of a pin upon the floor could have been heard. +An overpowering spirit seemed to pervade the room, not so much in the +words uttered as in the convictions of each man's own heart, it was an +impressive season. How was my soul relieved at this triumph over our +fears and rejoiced at the way God had evidently opened before us. + +Thus the meetings commenced and that too indicating, as the first +results, the very blessing I had been hoping and praying for, a deeper +impressiveness to our Sabbath and other religious efforts. Shortly +after, we found that hearts not sensibly touched before, were being +deeply impressed, among them one of the worst cases perhaps in prison. +It was taking a new start in the right direction. + +In laboring with these men now, as at all times, I felt that a great +responsibility rested on me; that this was no place for dealing softly, +petting them with insinuations that they had been more sinned against +than sinning, and that nothing was needed for them but a professed +determination to amend, with a few efforts in that direction. Duty +seemed imperative that I should labor to bring the wrong doings of each +as clearly and impressively as could be before him, how deeply he had +sinned against his own best good, his fellows and his God, enforcing the +absolute necessity of true repentance, and turning to the right through +faith in Christ; that he must make a thorough, radical work of the +matter, or it would avail nothing. Thus plainly, yet coupled with a +feeling heart, I invariably met the prisoners on these subjects. And +where no evidence could be found of a realizing sense of sins committed +and true compunction therefor, we could found no hope in the case. + + + + +13. _Pike, the Hampton murderer._ On entering, I found him in prison, +not at work, but confined to his cell according to our present law, +that, when one is condemned to execution, he shall be confined in the +State Prison one year, at the end of which the sentence shall be carried +out, unless receiving a reprieve or commutation. + +By law also, the criminal has the right to choose his own spiritual +adviser, and, much to my relief, I found that Pike had arranged with my +predecessor about this before he left. Still I volunteered to the doomed +man all the aid in my power, for which he appeared highly grateful. + +The plea of insanity had been used on the trial, or that the accused was +in a state of mind, when committing the offense, that rendered him +irresponsible for the crime alleged, which plea Pike would ever make to +me, sometimes alluding to the great injustice of his being hung. But as +Mr. Holman had undertaken to fathom that, I never pressed him with any +particular inquiry on the matter. + +It would seem impossible for one manifesting the spirit Pike always did +to us, to commit so horrid a crime, and probably he never would had he +been free from rum. In prison, he at all times appeared gentlemanly and +kind-hearted, helped me a number of days in repairing the library, and +seemed glad of the opportunity. + +When laboring with those he afterwards murdered, he was uniformly +pleasant, ready to do anything for them they needed. They parted on the +most friendly terms, the old people earnestly urging him to continue +with them still longer. + +But when Pike was under the influence of liquor, he was a very different +man, and at times a highly dangerous character. In this he was fully +responsible, for he could have let the drink alone, and did when he +chose. I saw nothing leading me to doubt his full responsibility in the +murder. But others also are responsible,--those who helped him to his +liquor and thus caused his madness. Against them, also, the blood of +those mangled forms cries loudly from the ground to a righteous God for +vengeance. The community likewise, which, by supineness and inactivity, +permitted those persons to carry on their nefarious traffic, must come +in for its share. The blame of that startling act does not all lie at +Pike's door, though he was guilty enough. + +When I attempted to urge upon him the importance of a full preparation +for the dread event before him, he seemed strangely inclined to put it +off and almost callous to the magnitude of his sin. He would admit that +his career had been one of desperate wickedness, but did not appear +truly moved in spirit by its real enormity, or as having genuine +repentance over the matter, a thorough breaking up of the fallow ground +of the heart. Trusting to the idea of his non-responsibility as a +shielding circumstance, he no doubt felt almost perfect confidence, till +near the last, that a pardon, or commutation, would be granted, and +ventured on that assurance. I constantly discouraged the idea, +repeatedly urging him to put no confidence in that, but earnestly to set +about a preparation for the worst. The final decision of the executive +power, not to interfere with the decision of the court, came to me, but +in such a way that I was not at liberty to announce it till officially +divulged. Still, feeling so anxious for the criminal, I went as far as +the circumstances would allow, and said to him, "From what I hear, your +case is finally decided, but not in your favor. And I am perfectly +satisfied that my information is reliable." But it was not official, and +the very fact of its being withheld inspired him with hope that I was +mistaken. + +The rulers, no doubt, did as they thought best in the matter, but it +would seem that there was an error on their part in not communicating +their finality to the criminal as soon as made. It was a grave matter to +him, and the last few days he reflected no little upon the course. + +In our labors with the doomed man, we had two prominent points before +us, one to fit his mind for going upon the gallows with the needed +fortitude, the other to lead him to a due preparation for appearing +before his God. During the last week, by his desire, clergymen from the +city visited him. A few of the singers from the city, also, by the +warden's invitation, occasionally called and spent a short time with +him, singing some of those devotional pieces so well fitted to his case, +which were followed by prayer and then all retired. His cell was now in +the hall. This occurred when the other prisoners were in the shop at +work, for at no other time were visitors allowed at his cell. Two or +three of his last days were spent in the hospital, which then had no +sick occupant. The strictest care and watchfulness were observed by the +officers, so that, whether in his cell or in the hospital, he could not +possibly escape if he attempted it. + +The day appointed for the execution was Tuesday. Monday the criminal +frankly admitted to his adviser, that he knew what he was doing that +terrible night, and was fully responsible for the deed, which +acknowledgment he signed in writing. He also dictated a letter to his +youngest brother, faithfully warning him against following his own ways +of wildness and drinking, also a note containing good advice to two +young men who had been officers in the prison, and finally an address to +be read on the scaffold. Brothers and other relatives took leave of him +Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. + +The fatal hour was fixed at eleven, A. M. Pike was up in due season, +took a slight morning repast, dressed for the day, had devotional +exercises, and finished parting with friends at nine, that he might have +opportunity for becoming duly rested and composed in mind for that +painful occasion. At ten the other officers retired, leaving him alone +with us two. What an hour before us? I had never experienced the like +before and hope never to again. It was much like standing on the +crumbling verge of time and looking into eternity's vast abyss. + +We had a season of prayer, then conversation for the purpose of learning +his present feelings and convictions. He professed a hope that God had +forgiven his sins and would accept him at last; said that no doubt it +would be better for him to go then than be pardoned and return to the +world once more, for, in that case, his appetite might overpower him +again and he do other horrid deeds. Still, it was hard to die in the way +he must. + +Personal conversation over, we continued bringing to his mind fitting +portions of Scripture and appropriate verses from hymns and thus +occupied the moments till eleven slowly arrived. + +Our door opens. The sheriff with his attendants enters. We march to the +scaffold in the hall, where are gathered many reporters for the press +and other gentlemen. The address being read and prayer offered, Mr. +Holman at his right and myself at his left lead him upon the fatal drop, +and there support him while the preparation for the last is being made. +During the adjustment of the black cap and noose, I feel a tremor in +his arm. He is taken forward from us and placed under the beam. His legs +are bound, his arms pinioned, the sheriff reads extracts from the doings +of the court, and gives the final sentence. The spring is touched, the +drop falls, the surgeon calls for the rope to be drawn higher, as the +feet touch the floor. This done, life ends in about a quarter of an +hour. + +As the drop fell, Mr. Holman settled back in a chair, faint. I led him +to a window where he soon recovered, but serious illness followed, +caused by the excitement and anxiety of his labors here. + +Now, if men must be hung, humanity would call for the work to be +performed differently in these respects: That mortal long reading from +the court doings should be dispensed with, that is, long for the place. +It can be of no sort of use. A short formula, consisting of the last two +or three sentences, uttered by the sheriff, would be all sufficient. + +Then, again, that black cap should be different. Binding the limbs +consumed a few moments, and the reading, referred to, still more. But +probably after the cap was on and the noose fitted over it, the criminal +exhausted all the oxygen available to him in three or four breaths, and +was forced to suffer the process of suffocation during that occupied +time. How near death he was when the drop fell, I can not say, but he +appeared to be suffering greatly before the binding was completed. That +could all be remedied by having an orifice in the cap opposite the mouth +for breathing. + +Further, that sad mistake about the rope should never be allowed to +happen. He who permits himself to be appointed to such a duty, ought so +to understand his business that such an accident shall be impossible. + +Some of the papers, especially in New York, roughly criticised our +efforts to prepare Pike for his end, said it was an outrage on society +to give a wretch like him so much attention; that, in it, we exhibited a +sickly sentimentalism, appeared as though we would raise crime to a +saintship, and more in the same line. A few words only on this must +suffice. + +We supposed that the sentiment, "The criminal has a right to the benefit +of the clergy," really meant something; that, though this man had been +condemned to execution by his compeers for a most outrageous crime, he +yet had a right to means for preparing himself to pass the ordeal of the +scaffold with due composure, and for becoming reconciled to his God, if +that could be. We did not dream that anybody short of heathendom would +object to this. Supposing we were appointed to work for that end, we +went to the task with a sincerity of purpose. If we were not appointed +to do just the things we did, for what were we, pray? + +We simply followed the usual course pursued at the bedside when one is +near death, had religious conversation, prayer, singing, parting with +friends; though, in this case, we had no extreme feebleness caused by +disease to meet, but rather crime, in one of its most revolting forms, +to recognize in bringing gospel appliances, concerning which crime we +endeavored to be duly faithful. + +Hence, all that feverish editorial brain-work over this pretended wrong, +and that amount of printer's ink and paper thus used were simply wasted +upon, what never occurred, or that which was only a usual, honest effort +to do our duty with fidelity. + +But this tirade, no doubt, came through the agency of some living not +far away, who designedly put a newsmonger on the wrong scent, for the +purpose of venting their own spleen at the idea of having those around +who would treat a helpless, fallen man better than a dog. + + + + +14. _Doctrinal discourses._ In pursuing my labors among the prisoners, I +often met those skeptical views, before alluded to, which were sometimes +quite boldly avowed. Some of them would constantly attend the Sabbath +school, doubtless simply from the pleasure derived in puzzling their +teachers with questions. They were acute, shrewd fellows, keen in +argument, quick to see a point and turn it, hard to meet. To help these, +if possible, I decided to give a few discourses on the evidences of the +existence of a God as seen from the light of nature. Those of the +skeptical class as well as others manifested no little interest in the +subject. Soon evidences began to appear of a material softening among +them in their opposition to Bible truths. One young man said to the +warden, "When the chaplain commenced those discourses, I felt sure of +being impregnably fixed in my ideas. After hearing one, I would retire +to my cell and sit down with the purpose of figuring out the want of +conclusiveness in his arguments. But the more I figured, the more I saw +that I was in the wrong and not he; that, from what we see all about us, +there must be a God, whom I am convinced I ought to love and obey." This +man became altogether changed in his habits and entered upon a really +hopeful course. Nor was he alone among those thus yielding, who had long +been accustomed to shut their eyes against the true light. + + + + +15. _Effect of the prayer meeting on prison order._ These meetings had +now continued a number of weeks with no abatement of interest, having +gained the reputation of being the best in the city. But it became +needful for us, at this time, to suspend all our chapel exercises for a +while, to give place to the proposed enlargement of the room. Hence, at +the close of the last meeting previous to this vacation, the warden +said, in substance, "We have been holding these meetings several weeks. +At first I thought them wholly impracticable in the place, but am truly +glad to find I was so greatly mistaken. As an act of simple justice, I +feel that I ought to bear testimony, before you all, to the influence +they have exerted on the morals of the inmates. Since they commenced, we +have not had a single case for discipline in this institution, a fact +without precedent in the past, so far as my knowledge extends, for so +long a time. And I most devoutly hope that this state of things will +continue and the meetings grow more and more powerful in their influence +for good." + +Such a result of our efforts was in advance of what I had dared hope +for. Though fully convinced that the influence must be in that +direction, I had not realized so clearly that we were setting in +operation what would prove so effective an aid to order in the prison. + + + + +16. _The new chapel._ At length the chapel was completed and made a gem +of a room, as it seemed to us, in comparison with what it previously +was, having been enlarged to nearly double its former size, extending +the whole width of the building and taking in the windows on both sides, +thus giving us great improvement in air and general comfort; the +painting also was neat and cheerful. We all felt truly thankful for so +great a blessing, thankful, too, for the opportunity of meeting again to +resume our worship. As the poor fellows entered, one after the other, +and cast their eyes about upon the beauty and neatness before them, I +could see the joy flash over their countenances. The singing sent a new +thrill to the heart, and it seemed much easier to speak to them. +Everything appeared more hopeful for good. + +During the recess, I had been assiduous in visiting the prisoners, +Sabbaths and other days, and endeavoring to influence them in the right. +But now that the meetings had commenced, we could rationally look for a +greater success to our efforts. + +Nor did we look in vain, for soon some professed a full determination to +forsake their ways of sinning and seek to become what God required. +These indications, as is usual in the outside world, tended to give the +general moral tone, in the prison, a deeper impressiveness. + + + + +17. _Prison repairs and mistakes._ Previous to the enlarging of the +chapel, general repairs and important alterations had been made in the +south wing, consisting of a new French roof, a great improvement in +appearance and utility, new cells for the female prisoners, and other +rooms fitted for the officers and general prison use. The mechanics +worked most diligently, and the money appropriated by the State was, no +doubt, most economically laid out. The agent, one of the council, +evidently felt no little satisfaction in having it said that he could +accomplish so large amount of work with so little money. + +But either he, or some one else, made at least two grave mistakes. One +was in locating the cells for the females, which are in the third story, +requiring the occupants, in going to and from their meals, and attending +to much of their work, to pass over two, and sometimes three, flights +of stairs. All understanding minds know that this must prey most sadly +on female health, and that apartments for this class should be as near +the ground as can be. + +The other mistake was in the stairs. In the old arrangement the females +had their private stairway, where they could pass unobserved by any +except their attendants. But in the change, that private way was laid +aside and the women required to use the public stairs, subjecting them +to great inconvenience. I called the attention of the agent to this +matter, but to no effect. + +Another thing of trifling expense should have been attended to. The +female wash-room should be arranged so that those laboring there, in +turning out the waste water, should not be required to lift their tubs +as high as, and, in some cases, higher than their heads; and, while +washing, they should not be obliged to stand on ice so much. Blinds, +also, should have been put to those large hospital windows to prevent +almost broiling the sick in hot weather. + + + + +18. _Profanity attacked._ Profanity appeared to be a common evil in the +institution, not only among the convicts, but also with many of those +who were over them. A prisoner said to me one day, with no little +emotion, "Chaplain, I am in a hard case. Swearing is my besetting sin. +If I become vexed with my work, or anything else, that is my resort at +once. In the meetings, I hear preaching, prayer and singing, under the +influence of which, I feel a strong impulse to leave my sinful ways, and +seek to become good and live an upright life. Almost resolved on this, I +go to my work and am there forced to hear more or less profanity. They +will swear at me, and I fall to swearing, too. Thus I am in a hard +case." The deputy said, "There is swearing enough here daily to sink the +whole concern clear down out of sight." + +Thus assured, it seemed important that a move specifically against that +sin be made. True, we might not reach those who most indulged in it, as +they never attended our gatherings, but we could work for the prisoners. +Hence, one evening, after speaking of the folly and sinfulness of the +habit, an appeal was made direct to the men, soliciting all who would +wholly abandon the practice to rise in their seats, to which some forty +responded. At the next meeting, on requesting those who had succeeded in +keeping their pledge to rise, the largest part signified their success. +The next day as I passed about, some told me that, the past week, they +had failed once or twice, but felt determined to struggle on and +conquer. Subsequently one and another would assure me of their full +triumph, that they had not been overtaken since that first week. How far +the reform went, I shall never know, but it was in the right direction, +such a reform as should be carried out everywhere, for no gentleman will +take God's name in vain. It is a vulgar, mean practice. + + + + +19. _Efforts for a son, from a mother's plea._ During the spring of '71 +and, while our religious interest was progressing, a mother visited her +son in prison, having a temporary home with a lady friend in the city. +We will call the mother, Mrs. A., the son, B., and the friend, Mrs. C. + +Mrs. A., witnessing the subduing influences pervading our meetings, and +feeling a strong desire that her son might be benefited thereby, +determined to do what she could in that direction. This son was a youth +who might have stood high, had he followed the right, but he had gone +deeply into crime, causing his parents and friends untold sorrows. +Still, this mother clung to him as only a mother can, hoping and praying +for his rescue from his downward course. + +The two families, here represented, had previously lived in near +proximity and in happy union, when B. was an innocent youth, just +emerging from childhood, a mother's pride and a father's hope. +Considering this circumstance, and knowing that Mrs. C. had a class in +the prison Sabbath school, and was an intelligent Christian worker, of +good standing in the community, Mrs. A. conceived the idea that she +perhaps might now essentially help her son, and solicited her to make +the attempt. She replied, "I have no objection to attempting what I can +to reclaim your son, with the warden's assent." This assent obtained, +the two met in his presence. For a time B. appeared averse to talking +directly of his convictions concerning the soul's interest. But she at +length secured his confidence, thus leading him to speak of his feelings +and desires to reform more freely, perhaps, than he had to the chaplain +or warden. She referred to the past, what he once was, what his parents +had done for him, what he might have been; to his fall, what he had +lost, his present condition, his mother's agonized feelings in his +behalf. The recital cut him keenly. Like Peter of old, he wept bitterly. +She then pointed him to the Saviour as the only means of hope and +relief. Thus she met him a few times and to good effect. He had been +really interested in his religious welfare for a long time previous. But +these efforts helped him greatly to decide fully to follow his +convictions of duty. He became more alive to his true condition, +perhaps, than ever before, would mourn over the heinousness of his sins, +and evidently appeared to be drinking the bitter cup of repentance. He +would be at times in real agony of mind at the view of himself. + +While in this state, the warden invited those especially interested in +the subject of religion to meet in the chapel, from twelve to twenty in +number, for an inquiry meeting. We conversed with them severally and +then proposed a season of prayer in which each should engage, which they +did, B. among the rest, after which he appeared more calm, as if he had +obtained a measure of relief, though he did not feel satisfied that he +had really experienced a change of heart, but seemed decided about +pursuing the right. + +We encouraged him to press on as he had begun, and to take part in our +meetings, to the latter of which he replied, "No, I will not attempt +that. Should I, they will say, 'I am playing good with the hope of +getting out.' That I won't do. I despise hypocrisy, however bad I may be +in other things." Thus he took his stand, still interested in daily +reading God's word, prayer, Sabbath school, and the general religious +exercises. Other prisoners noted the change in him and would say, "He +has been converted." But he was called to meet sore trials in the +prison, trials hard to bear, of which we will speak hereafter. + + + + +20. _Warden's efforts for a young man._ This young man, here called E., +from the middle walks of English society, parents well to do, with a +good trade, superior mental powers, commanding high wages, came to this +country to seek his fortune, fell into bad company, bad habits, and +finally the State Prison. The warden became deeply interested in him, +found that he was anxious about his religious state, and seeing the +success of Mrs. C.'s labors invited Mrs. D. F., another prison Sabbath +school teacher, resembling Mrs. C. in efficiency, character and +standing, to make an effort with him for his good. She assented, and met +him in the presence of the warden. She first took measures to satisfy +herself that he was sincere and truthful with her, and proposed numerous +questions about his home affairs, his history, &c. He answered her +inquiries with apparent frankness, said that he was then under an alias, +not wishing by his wrongs to disgrace his friends or real name, +purported to give his true name, which she was not to reveal, the name +of his minister and thus on. Mrs. D. F. had been acquainted with this +minister, wrote to him, as she thought best, and in due time received an +answer conclusively showing that E. had been truthful in his personal +statements. She then conversed with him concerning his religious +interests with about the same results as in the former case, except that +he did not give so clear an evidence of a thorough work as did B. + + + + +The warden was particular to have the prison visits of these ladies in +his presence, and sometimes that of the chaplain, too, not only that +there should be no deviation from the rules of strict order, but also as +a safeguard against evil reports. He well knew that there were +ill-disposed persons who were ready to distort and misrepresent all his +efforts at reform; and had a lady been admitted to private interviews +with a prisoner, it would have given them just such stock to work with +as would have delighted them. + + + + +21. _Experience with noble appearing heads in prison._ + +Facts have shown that, in meeting an assembly, whether in prison or out, +we can not always judge correctly in regard to the mental caliber of +those composing it by the view of their heads. The apparent superior +development may be deceptive, the work of disease. Among the "noble +appearing heads" alluded to on a previous page, a part were of that +class, or at least contained diseased minds. We will look at two cases, +using substituted letters for the names, as previously. + +H. is of good form, head finely proportioned, forehead high, eyes +bright, all indicating, at a little distance, that he might possess no +small share of intellect. Occasionally he will make pertinent, well +timed remarks, but is greatly wanting in mental ability. I have been +informed that his mother was intemperate, and had the delirium tremens +just previous to his birth. He, also, years before, had at times +appeared as though Satan himself possessed him, and was evidently +insane, which, passing off, would leave him all right for a season. He +has some remembrance of learning to read a little, can count almost one +hundred, but has no power to combine numbers otherwise, at least none +that I could find after persistent labor in drilling him almost daily +for some four weeks on the same figures; thus, in addition table 8 and +1, 8 and 2, &c., ending where we commenced. Ask him, "How many are 8 and +2?" and he would as quickly answer, "11," or "9," as anything. Still he +appeared earnest to learn, and was about twenty-four years old. He would +detain me with him as long as possible to help him catch the idea, and +would often say, "When I go out, I mean to find a good place where I can +go to school, for I intend to obtain a good education." At times he +would appear very religious, and talk and pray in our meetings; but, +should anything irritate him, he perhaps would fly into a rage beyond +all self-control, in which, if he could, he would kill a man as quickly +as he would a fly. Still, an officer of the needed prudence and skill, +by studying his infirmity and managing with due discretion, would have +but little trouble with him, and he would readily earn his living. He +would be an unsafe man to go at large, as dangerous, if fired with +anger, as any raving maniac. He should ever be under firm control +somewhere, with proper treatment and labor. + +It would be difficult for us to determine how far moral responsibility +can be affirmed of this man. God alone can decide that. + +J. was another fine looking man of some twenty-eight years, gentlemanly +appearing, with a good education, kindly disposed, usually of good +habits, honest, so far as known, except in two cases, and those in much +the same way. He would hire a team for a ride, go to a hotel and put up, +exchange or sell the horse, or harness, or carriage, or all together, +wander about awhile, and then return home for his father to help settle +the matter, making no effort to escape arrest. The first time he was +arrested, but not convicted, as neighbors pleaded in his behalf. The +second time he was sent to prison. On this trial neighbors urged the +father to put in the plea of insanity, but he refused, as so many were +resorting to that. Still, all said that he had the best of reasons, as +his own brother, or the young man's uncle died in an insane asylum, and +those exceptional acts of his must have been performed through an insane +impulse. Receiving a pardon previous to the close of his sentence, he +went into good employment, worked steadily about a year, and took the +same step again, when the court put him under guardianship, instead of +sending him to prison, which was no doubt the most judicious course; for +if kept from that horse hiring, he will doubtless be all right, as he +has never manifested any inclination to wrong except in that particular +point, and that only when his mind was evidently unhinged. + +There were others who exhibited each his peculiarity. Some of these, +could we look within their mental structure and there take a just +survey, would perhaps be found possessed of such a native taint, or +bias, or disorder, that their wrong doings, for which they were in +prison, would be regarded in the light of misfortunes rather than +crimes. + +This subject of hereditary mental taint or disorder, in connection with +wrong doing, opens to the phrenologist a wide and important field for +investigation. But when he is forced to the conclusion that the one has +acted from a disordered impulse of mind, uncontrollable, and he +therefore not responsible for his acts, it can make no difference with +the fact that the wrong doer must be restrained and put where he can not +trespass upon the rights of others. It will rather lead to the questions +of where he shall be confined, how employed, after what manner treated, +and in what light regarded; perhaps showing clearly the need of +important modifications in our present system of prison management. + + + + +22. _The Warden admits presents to prisoners from friends outside._ He +would permit friends outside to send soothing dainties to the sick, or +packages of fruit or home comforts to the well; or florists of the city +to send bouquets to stand upon the speaker's desk on the Sabbath, for +the prisoners to admire, and each received a flower or sprig to carry to +his cell as a memento of innocence and purity, and a stimulus to love +the Author of such beauty. It was really gratifying to see what cheer +to the fallen these remembrances from the outside world would bring. All +packages thus sent to prisoners were most carefully examined by +officers, that nothing wrong should pass. + + + + +23. _Warden decides to resign._ He had not found his place a bed of +roses. Certainly it possessed its thorns, and these, at times, largely +predominated. His efforts for bringing the prison, in all its +departments, to what it was, had cost him a great struggle, many anxious +hours of planning, and at times perplexities in executing. But his +greatest vexation came because of opposition, from certain ones without, +to what he felt assured was for the best good of the institution, and +from the misrepresentations of those opposed to all prison reform and +improvement, who think it an outrage to the State to treat a prisoner +better than a brute. He says one complained of him thus: "You give the +prisoners too good fare, and make things too comfortable for them, on +account of which they will wish to return. Whereas, the prison is a +place for punishment, requiring you to keep the inmates on poorer food, +and food so prepared that it shall be a punishment to eat it, and make +everything around them a source of discomfort, that, after leaving, they +may thereby be deterred from crime through dread of being returned." + +From all considerations, the warden resolved to resign at the close of +the year, yet, while remaining, to continue the usual prison rations and +efforts at reform. His wife also heartily joined in his efforts, having +from the first done much towards the excellent fare of the prisoners, +and seeing that the sick were properly cared for. Hence, on one +occasion, finding a man gradually wasting away with consumption, the +skin wearing from his emaciated limbs by the hard prison couch, she +sent in her own feather bed, that he might pass the remainder of his +days in what comfort he could. + +But what shall we think of the assertion that "the food should be so +prepared that it shall be a punishment to the men to eat it?" Can it be +possible, that one in New Hampshire, at this late day, uttered a +sentiment like that? So the warden most positively asserts. To say +nothing of its inhumanity, common worldly policy would repudiate such an +idea. Of food thus prepared one at first would eat as little as possible +to live, his powers for labor therefore depart, his appetite gradually +fails, and he goes down to death. + +All who use horses or oxen, except the worst of men, would scout such a +practice. They say, "To have teams work well, feed well." So it must be +with men, whether in prison or elsewhere. Power for muscular labor can +be furnished only by generous food. + +Then the fear that good prison fare would induce the prisoners to return +purposely on recommitments, must have been expressed without due +consideration, or being taught by prison facts. Statistics show that, +where the prison is the most cruelly managed and the inmates are kept on +the poorest fare, the greatest number return on second or third +sentences. Then as to our own prison, the very year this complaint was +made, more pardons were granted, I think, than had ever been before in +one year since the founding of the institution. And most surely none +refused to accept of the offer and depart. Besides, nearly all who had +friends, except those soon to go out by commutation, were constantly +importuning them to intercede for their pardon, while those who had +none, were persistent in their pleadings with the warden, chaplain and +other prison officers to help them in efforts for the desired boon. Why +this, if good fare would be an inducement to return? Would the utterer +of that sentiment have sanctioned the idea of leaving the prison doors +all unlocked and unbolted for one night? What a skedaddling there would +have been, old or young, sick or well, the infirm and decrepit, hobbling +off as best they could, leaving their good fare behind and their cells +"to let." + +What an idea! The good prison living, which at best can not be made +equal to the comforts in our most common families outside, lead men to +desire to be locked up in those gloomy cells for its sake and subjected +to the general prison regime! That man may fear it who will. + + + + +24. _Prisoners' anxiety at the rumored resignation._ This rumor soon +spread through the prison, not however to bring joy, but sorrow. I had +not imagined that the prospect would cause the prisoners so much +anxiety. Probably the slave of former days on the auction block, about +to be struck off to a new owner, and all uncertain as to his future +fate, would experience feelings allied to theirs. Their first anxiety +seemed to be about their educational and religious privileges, lest +these might be cut off or largely curtailed. Said one, "I have served on +board of a whaleman and been accustomed to the most rigid discipline +found there. I fear nothing in the line of strictness of rules, but can +not bear the idea of being deprived of our school and meeting +opportunities. I would do almost anything for the sake of enjoying +these." This was the feeling. + +Then, they were deeply anxious about the character of the man to be put +over them, whether he would be humane, or the reverse. And no wonder, +when we consider how completely they are left to his control. Probably +no other state officer is so irresponsible as the warden of our state +prison,--that is, in a position where those under him are so completely +at his mercy, and where he can exercise real cruelty, if disposed, and +cover it up with a fair outside show. None but a man of humane +instincts, one especially qualified for the post, should be put in that +position. + + + + +25. _Governor and Council memorialized by the prison S. S. teachers and +chaplain._ Sustaining the relation we did to the prison, we thought it +appropriate for us to set forth our views and desires to the Governor +and Council touching the appointment of the warden; not respecting who +should be appointed, but the principles to be secured. Hence, by a +committee, we drew up a paper to be laid before them, giving account of +the religious and educational privileges we had been laboring to secure +to the inmates for the purpose of throwing around them all the +influences possible for securing good order in the prison, and a +preparation, on their part, for going out reformed, and duly prepared to +act the part of good citizens, and also soliciting their honorable body, +that they would so recognize these arrangements and labors of ours, in +their contemplated appointment, that they should not be curtailed, but +permitted to go on, gathering around them such improved facilities as +might be devised from time to time, thus securing the best discipline in +the prison and the highest ends of imprisoning. + +We were treated on the occasions with due respect, and permitted to +speak freely on the points as we judged best. Some of the gentlemen +responded in most commendatory terms at what we had been doing, +regarding the influence as highly salutary in regard to order and +general good in the prison. + + + + +26. _Prison funerals._ The methods of procedure at the interment of the +prisoners had been various, at times not very complimentary to a +professedly Christian people. But more recently the custom had obtained +of having prayer and remarks appropriate to the occasion, the men being +arranged in the prison yard, after which they were to retire to their +work. In this way we conducted our first funeral after my entrance. At +the next, we observed this form: Had all things ready when the men were +had eaten, say at twenty-five minutes past twelve, and then took them to +the chapel for the usual prayer and remarks, which ended, we conducted +them in file through the reception-room for leave-taking of their +lifeless comrade, the body being there laid out with some little taste, +and then they passed on to the shop. This method is chaste and +appropriate, hinders nothing about the shop labor, and manifests due +respect for the occasion. + +The matter of funerals has ever been held as of great importance by all +civilized nations. Nor is it any the less important to a well conducted +prison than elsewhere. Proper funeral observances will tend to the good +of the prisoners as well as to that of others, and help impress upon +them the idea of their own mortal career and accountability. How much +more like men they will cause the inmates to feel than would putting the +body in a rough box and hauling it off the back way, in a cart, like a +dead dog. + + + + +27. _Educational and S. school summing up._ The year closed upon our +educational efforts with a good measure of success, though of necessity +limited in comparison with what ought to be accomplished by a like +number in our public schools outside. For, it will be borne in mind, +that all our pupils had to perform their daily tasks at manual labor +from early morn till night; that their cells are not the most +advantageous rooms for study; that what they obtained they had to gain +in these pent up places, in the odds and ends of their time, as best +they could. Then, again, we could have our school only when the guards +could be spared from their common prison duties. Still, with all the +drawbacks, a number of the inmates made commendable proficiency. They +did what they could. They had become inspired with the idea of putting +themselves earnestly to the task of cultivating their intellects and +hearts, so far as they could, and thus be prepared, on leaving prison, +for common business. Some had really waked up to what they had lost by +their sinful courses, and now appeared determined to do their best, in +the future, at making amends. Thus spurred on, they were diligent. And +it was truly a pleasure to be permitted to help forward these minds, +arousing, as they were, to a higher and better life. Sordid indeed must +be that heart which would not fire up with energy for encouraging such +to go on. + +Some forty of the young were among those who were striving in this +direction, a very few others of that class not possessing sufficient +mental capacity for learning. Then others had obtained a good education +previously, and chose to spend their time in reading from the library, +except that some would wish a better knowledge of arithmetic, and +perhaps other branches, when about to close their term. + +We had been favored with a few interesting lectures from outside +gentlemen, with three readings by lady elocutionists, and a number of +drill exercises in singing. A gentleman also gave us a number of lessons +in penmanship. + +We had repaired the books of the library, added nearly two hundred +volumes, obtained a new catalogue, two large blackboards for drill +exercises in arithmetic, &c., a set of charts on penmanship, a set also +of outline maps in geography, purchasing likewise such books or material +as appeared needful to the school, expending in all $260.45, being +allowed to use in this way the money gathered from the admission fees of +visitors, all of which we did not use. + +We endeavored to do what we could towards beginning what we confidently +hoped would soon become an institution duly established by the State +with all needed provision for security. The Sabbath school continued +with unabated interest from the first, numbers varying but little, +seldom falling below eighty, average, eighty-six. + + + + +28. _Religious success._ From my first day at the prison, the religious +state had been encouraging, nothing to mar the interest transpiring. +True, there had been no revival at any time, but a steady, healthful +drawing in the right direction, that from which the most is ever to be +hoped. A goodly number had, at different times, become professedly fixed +in the determination to a thorough reform, while the others had, to +appearance, largely lost their prejudice against religious truth; and +entered more freely into conversation upon those subjects, many +admitting the justness of their claims. And, taking all things together, +our prospects had never appeared better than at the end of the year, +indicating that, should our rulers possess wisdom enough to select the +right man for warden, still more cheering results might be anticipated +from subsequent efforts. + +But we could not presume to judge correctly as to how much of this +profession was well founded. That we had to leave for God to take care +of. We had one important certainty, however, connected with this +matter,--the certainty that all true good is found with just such +surroundings as we had at the prison, the love of prayer, interest in +God's Word, delight in attending meetings, desire for mental culture and +a professed seeking for holiness; but not with the contrary, such as +swearing, contentions, hatred of God's truth, and the like. + + + + +29. _Fourth of July at the prison._ The Fourth came with no new warden +appointment. Therefore, the incumbent determined that he would celebrate +this at the prison as his own yearnings prompted, and as it would be +observed at some other prisons. Hence, at early morn, he announced to +the men that he was about to give them a real Fourth, causing their +hearts to leap for joy. + +At 9 o'clock they met in the chapel for the reading of the Declaration +of Independence, singing, &c., after which they marched into the prison +yard, where were tables beautified by floral decorations and spread by +fair hands, with picnic dainties, lemonade being prepared expressly for +the prisoners. The blessing asked, the men having done ample justice to +the good cheer, and the tables having been removed, speaking by a number +of distinguished gentlemen from various towns followed. This ended and +prayer offered, the sports followed as various as the different tastes +could devise. Nothing rude, boisterous, insubordinate, or unkind +appeared from any. One standing outside the walls would not have +supposed, from anything heard, that a real, live Fourth was being so +greatly enjoyed within. And probably the pleasures of the day were +never more keenly felt anywhere, in prison or out. One and another would +say, "This is the happiest day of my life." A somewhat large delegation +of ladies and gentlemen from various parts of the State was present, who +seemed delighted with the occasion. The female prisoners partook of +their picnic dainties in their own room, but were permitted, with their +attendants, to witness the yard scenes from the chapel windows. +Everything passed off satisfactorily. The speaking was excellent, just +fitted to the occasion, showing the need of laws and prisons, that those +present were here for crimes, yet that they could reform, for which they +should strive, that numerous willing hands were reached out for their +encouragement and aid. + +The time at length came for separating, when each man went to his cell +with a cheer of heart which he had never carried there before. And this +cheer long pervaded their minds, leading them to obey with greater +alacrity. Nor did I hear of a case of a contrary character. They would +afterwards often refer to the occasion as that _happy day_. + + + + +30. _The true principles of imprisoning and prison-managing on the idea +of reform in the convict._ For the sake of brevity these principles are +here set forth mainly by questions and answers. + +What is the object of imprisoning? + +This object is fourfold: + +1. To prevent the criminal from injuring the public. + +2. To deter from committing crime. + +3. To punish the wrong doer. + +4. To reform the erring. + +On the first two of these two points there is no dispute, while some +will not admit the third, and others proscribe the fourth. Let us, +however, admit the four. + +Who has the right to imprison and assign the terms and conditions to the +imprisoned? + +The State alone, or society organized in a body politic, has this right, +and that is to be exercised by due process of law, in which exercise she +is, first, in her legislative capacity, to point out clearly, by her +enactments, for what a man shall be imprisoned, specify the terms of the +imprisoning and the conditions to which the imprisoned shall be +subjected; second, in her judicial capacity, assign the wrong doer his +merited doom; and, third, in her executive capacity, to carry out in him +the decisions she has made, no individual having a right to interfere +with this in any way, except as specially authorized by State +enactments. + +Hence, the criminal, when standing at the bar and hearing the sentence +of the judge, can understand exactly what lawfully and justly awaits +him, provided that he demean himself uprightly in his new condition. + +Suppose the sentence, in a given case, is this: "You are to be confined +at hard labor in our State Prison for five years." In this all that can +lawfully be inflicted upon the convict is involved. So say the judges +themselves. Hence, should any man, or party of men, bring upon him +additional infliction during that time, the imprisoned would, just so +far, become the sufferer of a wrong, and those making that infliction +would be the wrong doers. Let us, then, analyze this sentence and thus +ascertain its elements. + +Being confined in prison for the term, all admit, involves the idea that +he is to enter those walls and not be permitted to pass out till his +time is ended. + +As the term, "hard labor," is not defined, it must be determined by the +common custom of workmen at the same or similar business outside. So say +the judges again. To illustrate: if ten hours constitute a day's work +with these, so with the prisoners,--not twelve or fifteen. Again, if, in +bedstead making, turning one hundred posts, in the one case, is required +for a day, so in the other, not one hundred and fifty or two hundred. +This laboring day after day, during the specified number of years, +constitutes the "hard labor" in the meaning of the court. + +The law assigns no further punishment to the imprisoned, if duly +submissive to wholesome prison rules. But, should he be stubborn, +refusing to perform his task, or obey the regulations generally, or +should he rise in rebellion, of necessity discretion must be left with +the officers to use such means, even to taking life, as shall be +essential in bringing the delinquent to subordination. These means, +however, may be limited by law, as they are to a great degree in our +State, and are ever to be used as humanity dictates. + +What rights does the State take from the criminal in imprisoning? + +She takes from him the right to live and act outside of prison walls, to +be a master to himself inside, and to receive his earnings as his own. +These constitute the sum total. As he had used his liberty and the +mastery of himself to the public damage, she justly steps in, deprives +him of the one and takes upon herself the other, thereby assuming the +guardianship over him during the specified time. She takes his earnings +as a compensation, so far as they will go, for his damage and expense to +community, and as an important element in his punishment. She becomes +his guardian for the purpose of so educating him that, on going out, he +shall live an upright, harmless life. + +What rights remain to the imprisoned? + +There is a wide range, a long list of these, which the State does not +pretend to cut off or interfere with, such as the right to suitable +food, clothing, lodging, ventilation, drainage, care in sickness or +infirmity: in a word, to what will tend to corporeal vigor; the right to +means for mental, moral and religious culture, or what will tend to the +development in him of true manhood. If this is not so, which right is +cut off or curtailed? and where is the law that does it? + +What duties does the State take upon herself in thus imprisoning? + +These are of two classes, one relating particularly to herself, and the +other to the imprisoned. + +Duty to herself is done, 1st, in protecting society from the crimes of +the imprisoned, which she does by imprisoning; 2nd, in keeping the +criminal diligently at work, thereby obtaining pecuniary compensation, +so far as can be, for her trouble and expense on his account; 3d, in +using all feasible efforts for rubbing off the rust of sin, washing away +the corruption of iniquity, found in those taken in charge, and making +of them true men,--good, industrious, honest, upright citizens. + +The latter part is of the highest moment, far exceeding all +considerations of mere dollars and cents, drawing as much real manhood +as possible from the material put in her hands. If she takes one who is +dangerous to society, and works in him an entire reform, she +accomplishes a work in comparison with which gold and silver will weigh +but little. Making men is the high mission of the prison, and the State +can not be regarded as having performed anything like her whole duty, +till she has used every feasible means to this great end. + +The duty of the State to the prisoner is performed by securing to him +what he needs in his corporeal, mental, moral and religious departments. + +If she withholds in any of these, so far she becomes delinquent towards +the imprisoned, a violator of his rights just as really as he had been a +violator of others' rights when in his wild career of sinning. + +More than this. In such withholding she becomes chargeable with real +cruelty. For she has put the man in a state where he can not supply his +own needs, and, if she neglects them, he must suffer. This is surely a +grave matter, one which should be looked to with the utmost care;--a +place where the State can afford to be highly generous rather than +expose herself to a suspicion of such a wrong. + +What are the proper means of reform? + +Among these will be found, the State guardianship, the labor system, +strict discipline, kind treatment, stimulating hope, mental, moral and +religious culture. + +The State guardianship will tend to form in the convict the habit of +duly regarding the rights of others and of looking up, with respect, to +wise and beneficent direction; the labor system, that of uniform +industry, of profitably employing the time instead of in idle +indulgencies; strict discipline, that of cheerful submission to +wholesome rules, regardful of the principles of right. Kind treatment +will tend to inspire the recipients with confidence in the sincerity of +the reform efforts used, trust in the proffered friendship, and an +assurance of success in struggles for good. Stimulating hope will rouse +the better nature to action and secure confidence in overseers. +Cultivating the intellect will prepare one intelligently to conduct +himself in the affairs of life, and open to him sources of satisfaction +far above those of his former life. Moral culture will arouse +controlling ideas of the bounds of human rights, and the importance of +observing them. The religious cultivation, having been made through deep +conviction of sin, resulting in a hatred to wrong and a love for good, +will lay a broad and deep foundation for a life of right. + +Let these means be honestly and efficiently used, and they will most +powerfully influence to ways of goodness. None of them can be spared. +Each is a link in the chain which will be mighty to elevate the fallen. +And if one can not be reformed by them, it is proof positive that he +ought not to be at large. + +What kind of prison officers are essential? + +They should be of good moral character, ever setting proper examples +before the prisoners, humanely disposed, capable of complete +self-control, alive to efforts for reforming the inmates. Those more +especially charged with the administration of affairs will need, in +addition, to be good disciplinarians, studying the peculiarities of each +and endeavoring to heal the weaknesses of mind. + +The warden should possess great breadth of mind and force of character; +be capable of bringing to his work large heart power; patient, yet +decided; abounding with humane instincts, yet capable of using sterner +means when essential; ever keeping wisdom at the helm, using true +discretion, and be controlled by a strong desire for the highest good +of all. He will be intent on studying how to address reform means to +each with a view to the greatest success. At the same time he should +look well to the true pecuniary interests of the institution. + +The chaplain should be truly a man of God, enabled to bring large +mental, moral and religious force to his duties, and alive, heart and +soul, to the great work of raising up those under his care and +presenting them to the world redeemed and saved. + + + + +31. _The commutation system._ This is a system established by +legislative enactment a few years since; on condition of good behavior +and a faithful performance of duty in one, to grant him a specified +shortening in his term of sentence, and complete restoration to +citizenship. + +It was really interesting to witness the effect of this provision on the +convicts, stimulating as it did their hope, and leading them to do the +best they could to obtain this much coveted boon. The case of one will +illustrate this feeling. He had been in the solitary, but did not seem +to mind his sufferings there in the least. His great anxiety was whether +he should lose his commutation. He suffered no little in mind in this +respect. Indeed, every day gave us a clear exhibition of the influence +this system had over the inmates' minds for good, helping the officers +greatly in keeping order in their efforts at reform. + +Now, if hope could be thus stimulated, and that to such great advantage, +by this simple provision, what might not be accomplished by following +more largely the same line of policy, that is, the hope-stimulating +line? + + + + +32. _Chaplain's proposed attempt at tobacco reform._ + +The chaplain made this proposition to the governor and council: "Put the +prisoners on their option as to tobacco using with the condition that +any who will disuse it, receive, once a month, or quarter, as the case +may be, the amount thus saved in money, to be kept funded in the bank +for him to receive, on certain conditions as to time, &c., after his +release." + +This proposition was made with at least four prominent objects in view. +The first was to convert as many as could be from tobacco using; the +second, to give an additional stimulus to hope among the prisoners; the +third, to create an interest in the men in looking after money matters, +a care for small items; and, fourth, to help them form the habit of +saving and laying up. + +This privilege was, of course, to be granted on condition of good +behavior, and therefore as effective as could be toward prison order. + +The proposer conceived that here was an element of great power for good +to the prison and State. This forming a habit, in the former careless +one, of looking particularly into the smallest items of money, with +carefully saving and laying up, might work an entire revolution in more +than one, leading them to habits of honest industry and thrift, an +immense gain to the individual and the community. + +But the rulers did not see fit to heed the proposal. If they had, no +doubt quite a large number of the prisoners would have adopted the +plan. + + + + +THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY + +PART II. + +Under the Punitive and Money-making System. + + +1. _Warden chosen, and new arrangements for the chaplain._ Some weeks of +the new year had passed, when the warden's place was filled by the +choice of J. C. Pillsbury, of Concord. Report said that the delay had +been by reason of a division of sentiment on the case in the council +chamber. + +I directly waited on the new incumbent, at his office, to arrange for my +duties. He seemed to feel that he had been put there for correcting +important abuses that had grown up in the prison management, in what +particular department I did not learn. But he laid out my work as +follows: + +"Chaplain, we will have the meetings held in the chapel as heretofore; +that is, the males assemble Sabbath mornings at nine and enjoy the same +exercises as usual, none else to be admitted except at my special +invitation; Sabbath school continue Sabbath afternoons, and I will +select such teachers as I think best. Wednesday evening prayer meetings +to continue, I inviting in some of the religious men of the city to help +carry them on, and not a prisoner be allowed to open his head in them. +These fellows are here to be punished. They must not be called men, but +criminals, for such they are." + +Such in substance was my programme, on which this colloquy followed +between myself and warden: + +"Warden, you did not speak of admitting the female prisoners to the +Sabbath worship in the chapel." + +"No, I don't purpose to admit any females to that service."[1] + +[Footnote 1: I understood his objection to be, that the sight of a woman +is demoralizing to a prisoner.] + +"But we can have a screen so arranged, that the women can not be seen by +the men, though assembled as formerly, and I will be at the labor and +expense of fitting it." + +"No, I won't have a woman in the chapel." + +"But do not the rules require the warden to assemble the females as well +as males in the chapel Sabbath mornings for worship?" + +"Oh, I call the women's work-room their chapel." + +"But, if I am to hold a service with the women in their work-room after +the chapel service, it will double my labors, and then not be as +interesting and useful to them as if hearing the discourse with the +speaker fresh and unfatigued." + +"I don't ask you to hold a second service with the women, for giving +them a sermon. Only go into their room any time in the week, some +evening if more convenient, and offer prayer, and that will be all +sufficient." + +"How about commencing the school in the chapel?" + +"Oh, I can't have anything to do with that, we are so tired, when night +comes, with our other duties." + +Thus matters were before me. What a cutting off! The question would be, +"Is this cutting off a part of the proposed correction of prison +abuses?" No secular school, no religious instruction of note to the +female prisoners, and the screws put upon our prayer meeting so tightly +as to render them of but little account to the prisoners. + +As to the latter, I felt that, could the prisoners enjoy the privilege +of taking part in them as previously, having only the warden, guards and +myself present, it would be preferable to the new plan. This I proposed, +to which the warden finally assented, and that from the fact, as I +supposed, that it would rid him of so much outside attendance. This then +was gained, though the other points remained immovably fixed. + +I understood the warden to remark, "It is of no use for the chaplain to +preach and labor with a hope of reforming these prisoners, for they +can't be reformed." Then this expression, as of his saying, was told +me,--"I will break up that Methodist camp meeting at the prison." What +did the assertion mean? Was it a slur on our previous religious efforts? +Or was it indicative of a shortening of our religious privileges? We +had, at no time, any rush at our meetings, but few being admitted for +want of room. A small number had attended and helped in our prayer +meetings, more in the Sabbath school. All denominations were alike +interested in the matter. Indeed, we had no denomination about it. + +I brought the matter of the school and that of the females assembling in +the chapel for worship to the notice of the governor, but the warden +prevailed. + + + + +2. _Chaplain almost resolved to resign, but decides to continue and +arrange his work._ Thus things put on so forbidding an aspect in every +way, that it did not seem that I could accomplish any further good at +the prison. True, I could draw my salary with almost nothing to do, the +name go out that the institution had a chaplain, but being expected to +drift on with the current, whichever way it might set, and at the end +make up a glowing report of the prison doings and success, no matter +what the facts might be. But my feelings rebelled at such an idea, and I +thought, for a time, that I must resign, and almost resolved upon the +step. Then the question would arise, Is it right to leave those who have +appeared so earnest to improve and reform? Something said, "No." +Friends, too, learning my feelings on the subject, said decidedly that I +must remain at the post. + +I was in a hard place. There were the sentiments as uttered above, then +the general spirit manifested, speaking louder than words, that "reform +moves are all interlopers in prison, having no sort of business here." +After looking the ground carefully over in my mind and thinking of all +the connections, I saw that, by a greatly increased amount of labor, I +could furnish the prisoners with a partial substitute for the chapel +school. I had a right to visit them in the privacy of their cells, from +morn till the hour for retiring in the evening. I could therefore hear +their recitations there separately. No one could justly complain of +this. Hence, I decided to remain, and laid out my work thus:--Sabbath, +usual service with the men from nine to ten, and services in the women's +work-room till eleven; then in the hospital with Jones, the murderer, +and others as their cases allow, till twelve; Sabbath school services in +the afternoon, besides visiting cells as much as possible; on other +days, to spend noon and evenings visiting the cells in turn, hearing +recitations and imparting instruction in the common school branches; +besides changing the books Saturdays, as already, to change them at any +other time when called for. + +Thus I voluntarily undertook three times as much real hard work for the +prisoners as my duty had previously demanded. The new order seemed to +render it imperative, for I could do nothing in the educational line +without it. + + + + +3. _Cells cleared of trinket-making and tracts._ The former warden was +accustomed to distribute tracts among the prisoners. He also, by the +assent of the government over him, had allowed the men, who desired it, +to employ their otherwise idle moments by making small trinkets, as hair +chains, paper folders, tooth-picks and small fancy boxes in imitation of +what was done in certain other prisons, thereby, as was supposed, +securing greater contentment and better order among the men. The new +warden condemned all this as a great violation of good prison order. The +candles, also, were condemned, and everything of the kind, with all the +writing material or waste paper found in the cells, was removed, the +spoils carefully measured, and the number of bushels sent the rounds of +the papers as an evidence of the former abuses in this prison and of his +labors to correct them. + +I asked if the prisoners did not need to have the waste paper, at least, +remain. "Oh," said he, "they will look out for that themselves." I could +not then see how, but subsequently learned, much to the cost of the +State. + + + + +4. _Necessity for the chaplain's undertaking what he did._ This +necessity arose, not simply from the demands of the inmates for +educational and reformatory means, but also from considerations of good +prison order. True, the warden had the vanity to think he could control +the men in whatever way he might undertake. The show of his cane would +be sufficient for any emergency. But there was human nature in the +prison as well as out, and, from the circumstances, it would be strange +if it did not show itself. By taking away the prisoners' educational +privileges, and the various articles referred to, much idle time would +be left. How would this be employed? These men would naturally feel +angry at being deprived of what they had enjoyed so long, and prized. +This now unemployed time would give them ample opportunity for studying +means of revenge, and some would no doubt turn their acumen in that +direction. If a prisoner had any smartness, he would feel, from the +circumstances, almost impelled to give vent to mischief, and thereby +make as much trouble as possible. + +But, could I step in, and, by dint of effort, keep those minds agreeably +occupied, I should do so much towards helping the warden to the desired +subordination and order. No previous time in my prison experience seemed +to demand so great efforts in that direction as now. Hence, duty +appeared calling me to step forward, as I did. + + + + +5. _New phase at the prison, and the chaplain's efforts._ The first +Sabbath morning came for chapel worship under the new order, and a +sadder appearing company I never met, their countenances being +expressive of anxiety and gloom commingled. The singing dragged, the +instrument standing voiceless, as the one who had usually made it speak, +was of the sex here proscribed, and the warden had not found another to +take her place. It was hard preaching, for these once earnest hearers +seemed to have hearts too full for hearing. But I endeavored to give +words of hope, and to direct their minds to a heavenly Father who will +ever carry his trusting children through the scenes they are called to +pass. Of course I could make no allusion to present circumstances, or +appear to recognize any change in the surroundings; but somehow I could +not call the hearers "criminals." I pursued the usual course, addressing +them as _men_, or _friends_, or perhaps _brothers_, for I was +occasionally guilty of all that; but the word "criminal" never hung on +my lips when addressing the inmates on subjects of improvement. In my +view, such a course would have been like attempting to light a fire by +applying the match with one hand and dashing on water with the other. + +At the close of our services, as the warden, in his peculiar way, was +giving some of his orders, I could see the crimson flush on more than +one cheek, indicative of the feelings stirred within, the character of +which I could only conjecture. One of his assertions was, as I +understood it, thus: "I am warden here now. The days of bouquets and +flowers are played out here," and more in the same vein. + +In the women's room the countenances were not so anxious. They rather +liked this part of the change, for it would free them from the task of +preparing, Sabbath mornings, to appear in public. Still, anxiety was not +entirely wanting. Sabbath school was this day omitted, as the warden had +not obtained his corps of teachers. + +On going my rounds for private counsel to the men in their cells, I +found, in most cases, gloom and discouragement, they having generally +heard of the warden's disbelief in their reform. It was really wonderful +to witness the change a few days had wrought in the moral aspect of the +prison. A frost in June would not make a greater change on the face of +nature. I could but ask myself, "Why are things thus?" "At what are our +rulers aiming?" + +I went to each with all the cheer I could, exhorting them not to indulge +in these downcast feelings, but to look upward with hope, and gave them +the assurance that their educational privileges, as well as religious, +would be continued, only with some change in their application, and +pointed out in brief the manner, saying that each could advance in study +as rapidly as in his power. + +If any referred to their cell amusements being taken away, I met them +with the remark,--"Don't trouble about that. You shall be furnished with +all the books you can read and study, and I will hear your recitations. +In this way, your time can be pleasantly and profitably occupied, +perhaps making you the gainers." A few of these former trinket workers +became more interested in their studies, but the most could not, by +reason of their sight, thus being left to endure their privation as best +they could. + +When one would refer to his discouragement on account of the warden's +disbelief in reform, I would meet him thus, "You are to look only to +yourself and your God in this matter. What a fellow mortal believes or +disbelieves concerning you is of no account. You have the power to go on +in the right and be a good man. I know you have, and others who are good +and true, men upon whose views we can all rely, also know it. What +matter if the warden does think as you suppose? It is only his opinion. +He wishes you to do well, and will be glad if you succeed in the right. +But, should you turn back, it will confirm his views that you can not +reform. You will meet with harder things than this in life, yet must +not think of yielding the struggle, let what will arise." + +These efforts tended materially to lift the cloud from the prisoners' +minds, and give them more hope. It really gladdened the hearts of many +to learn that the privileges, which they had come to love so well and +esteem so highly, were still to be theirs. + + + + +6. _S. school commences._ The next Sabbath the S. S. was resumed. Nearly +the usual number were present. A few Christian gentlemen from the city +were teachers, a sufficient number to guard each prisoner and see that +nothing contraband passed. These were good men, some having long been +laborers in the school. On the whole, things appeared more encouraging +than on the Sabbath previous. That frosty appearance had in a measure +departed, though it was by no means wholly gone. + + + + +7. _The warden's views considered._ The idea that "prisoners can not be +reformed" is contrary to Scripture, history, and experience. The former +gives the assurance that the vilest, the chief of sinners, those whose +sins are as scarlet or crimson, may be saved. Then history deals in +facts where such have been radically reformed, and have become good men. +Some who were once in prison are now upright, industrious citizens. +Hence, the assertion shows lack of confidence in Scripture assurances +and historical knowledge. + +But one asks, "Do you think it possible to reform all, or a large +proportion of prisoners?" We can assume it of those here as of the world +in general. Whether out of or in prison, we are to sow the seed, and +some will germinate. We must work, use all right appliances, and leave +the event with God, not knowing "which shall prosper, this or that." + +Again, the objection comes: "Prisoners will be often hypocritical, +profess goodness from sinister motives, pretending to have reformed for +a time, and then become as bad as ever." + +Admit all this. But are not just such traits found in the world all +about us? Where are there more wicked wretches than some outside the +prison, who have "put on the livery of heaven to serve the devil in?" +What meaner men inhabit God's earth than some who have succeeded in +working themselves into the church, and can boast of coming to the +communion regularly? How many profess and fall away on every hand, yes, +sink deeper in corruption than before! The fact is, this pretended +argument to the disadvantage of the prisoner is all a sham. + +The prison, if rightly conducted, possesses certain means of reform, +which can not be had outside. To illustrate: Here is a young man, who +has never entered a school-house, or a place of worship, but has spent +his time with vicious companions and in vicious habits. He falls into +prison, where his home is a cell and silence his constant companion. +Here he is removed from his former surroundings and opportunities for +sinful indulgence. The loneliness and tedium of his condition soon +become unendurable. He must, in some way, have relief. But no means lie +within his reach except those connected with reform appliances. To these +he is forced, by the pressure of his nature, to resort, simply for +self-gratification, which he can find in hearing the human voice and in +the connected exercises. He hears truth which he had never heard before, +but which is permitted to fall on his mind with its full weight. He is +thus led to reflect, repents of his sins, and becomes really a reformed +man, a brand plucked from the burning. + +The tendency of things, then, in a properly conducted prison, _is_ +reformatory. Therefore, let ours be managed on that principle, and all +in our State, worthy of such a place, be there assigned for the +requisite time, and, no doubt, one good, devoted, wide-awake man could +do them more good than they now receive from all the religious means and +labors outside put together. + +"The sight of a woman is demoralizing to a prisoner." The reader will +readily understand in what respect. If this be true, what a demoralized +class must be our grown up, unmarried sons, our bachelors and widowers, +with women constantly in sight. Then how wickedly does the warden +himself proceed in taking certain of his men among the women to work; +and in permitting women and girls dressed up in their finery to +perambulate freely about the shops and buildings in sight of the men. + +"But," it is answered, "the men are not allowed to look at visitors." +True, but not being allowed is one thing, and not looking is quite +another. If any man can make himself believe that, when a woman is +conducted right into the presence of a prisoner, he will not obtain a +sight of her, he possesses more credulity than falls to the common lot +of men. The fact is, visitors about the shops are seen by the prisoners +and thought of and talked about by them, no matter who pretends to the +contrary. Every one knows this, who knows anything of a prison, let him +say what he will. Then why select one spot, the chapel on the Sabbath, +as a place where the sight of a woman is to be branded as a most +polluting sin, and no objection raised to her being seen elsewhere +almost daily and hourly? Consistency is a jewel. + +If the sight of a woman is so demoralizing to a man confined in prison, +how demoralized must he speedily become on leaving and meeting them +everywhere! And what sinners prison managers in numerous other States +have become through admitting women to moral labors in their +institutions! What egregious sinning on the part of that State which +employs a woman as chaplain of its prison, and she permitted to go +freely from cell to cell in her ministrations of mercy! + +In the army, in hospitals, or whatever place men are found needy and +dependent, true women are freely admitted as ministering angels, with no +thought of demoralization. Yes, the world lauds the heroism and devotion +of many of these in poetry and song. + +So far as I could learn, the influence of the women in the chapel did +not produce the effect alleged. I inquired of some on this point, at the +time of their leaving, and solicited the real truth. Take the answer of +an intelligent young man, one whom I have no doubt is sincere and +reliable,--"The influence on my feelings were not in a wrong direction, +but wholly to the contrary. I should have been ashamed of myself at +indulging an impure thought towards that lady under whose care I was so +long in the Sabbath school. I rather felt humbled and filled with +gratitude, that she should condescend to take me, a poor, wicked +prisoner, not able to read or write, and labor so patiently and +persistently to help me to what I now am, redeemed, I trust, and made a +different man, largely through her labors. They were her words of hope +and assurance which first stimulated me with the idea of an earnest +effort to rise from what I was." + +The fact is, some men have their passions and will think, whether seeing +any of the other sex or not; and more or less are inclined to deeds of +wrong. But, in the opinion of our best minds, the true course to pursue +is, to admit judicious ladies, those of character and influence, to help +in labors of reform. + +"Motives of safety required the cell clearing." This was the pretended +reason, but could not have been the real one, according to the warden's +own words. One day, in passing along the cells with company, he +remarked, "Gentlemen, vigilance, vigilance, is the only safety here! +Lock me in one of those cells, and I would walk out in half an hour. +There is no safety in this prison but in the watchfulness of the guard." +This being true, the small articles which the warden found in the cells +could make no difference in regard to safety, therefore, their removal +must have been from other motives. + + + + +8. _Chaplain's restrictions._ These were not given at once and in +detail, but were learned by experience. One afternoon, the prisoners +being in the shop, I took the key, as sometimes before, when needful, to +enter the chapel by the south door, where there could have been no +possible danger had the men been passing to their cells; having gone a +few steps, I heard the voice of the warden calling out, +sternly,--"Chaplain, here, what are you doing with that key?" I informed +him, and received the reply, "Bring that key right back. You must not +touch a key." Quietly obeying, I returned the article and never touched +it again, thinking, "If he will speak out to me as an irritated father +to a vexatious boy, what can be expected for the prisoners?" He had a +perfect right to require me not to use the key, and I had a right to a +gentlemanly treatment. I uttered not a word, though I could not help +thinking. Afterwards when needing to enter the chapel, I must ask a +guard, perhaps a mere boy, to go and unlock and lock the door for me, +which seemed really ludicrous. Shortly after, I heard the warden +speaking of his enormous burden in the line of watchfulness,--"I have to +watch not only the prisoners to keep them right, but also the workmen, +overseers, guards, steward, physician and chaplain." + +At another time I asked him to change the position of a class in the +Sabbath school to accommodate the singing, and received an answer not so +insolent in tone as before, but, with the connected circumstances, +equally clear for me to understand that I must propose no move, make no +suggestion whatever about the school, leaving everything in that line to +him. I could open and close the school and hear also those not otherwise +provided for. + +Again, finding a man in his cell with no lesson, he having broken his +glasses, I passed them to the deputy to be repaired. Days passed, and no +glasses were returned. Meeting the warden, I alluded to the matter. He +replied, "Chaplain, I would have you know that when a man needs +anything, he must speak of it to the deputy or to me. You have no +business with these things." To my inquiry, "Am I to understand that +now, after speaking to you about the glasses, and putting them in the +deputy's hands, the man must speak to one of you himself, before they +can be returned?" he answered, "Certainly." Hence, on my next round, I +said to the owner, "Please speak to the warden or deputy about your +glasses, and they will return them, probably, all right," not giving him +the least hint as to how matters really stood, though I could but think, +"Here is red-tapeism with a vengeance; not permitted to speak of +anything in my own department." Waiting for a time, and thinking that +neither law nor gospel would object to my lending him my own, this I +did, which he used until liberated. True, after some weeks, glasses were +brought him, in which, however, he could not see. + +Thus I was effectively taught my bounds, to touch nothing about the +prison but my books, to suggest no change any way, and to bring nothing +to the warden, or deputy, about a prisoner, which bounds I was ever +careful to observe. + +There was an attendant rule to this red tapeism, as I understood it, +that bore hard on the prisoners,--that one must ask for a thing but +once. Some would ask me to help them to an article, when I would say, +"You must go with that to the deputy, or warden." They replied, "I have, +with the promise of it, but it does not come." Or, perhaps, "I ventured +to ask the second time, and received the stern reply, 'Don't you ever +mention that to me, again.'" + +A forlorn condition this,--the State placing her wards helplessly under +a man who is not to be reminded of a request, which had slipped his +mind, perhaps, through the multiplicity of business. Surely, such a man +should be very considerate and particularly careful about attending to +the needs of his dependents. + +The lessons taught me, the spirit manifested with all the surroundings, +gave me to understand that I must walk in everything with the utmost +circumspection or be mercilessly dealt with. True, I had ever labored to +do all things in my prison management just as I should, ever acting with +an eye single to the best prison order; but circumstances now evidently +demanded of me a double care, that my every step should not only be +right but appear right, and no shadow of grounds for complaint be any +way found. + + + + +9. _Prisoners' Aid Association._ In the spring of '70, a company of +ladies and gentlemen organized under the N. H. statutes into a corporate +body by this title, to hold its annual meeting in the city of Concord, +the second Tuesday of each June, the avowed purpose being to aid the +discharged convicts by proper advice, and help them to places of labor +without delay, where they may enjoy the needed society privileges, +guardian care, and a general influence in favor of their best success, +paying for them such small bills as may be necessary for this purpose. + +The legislature of that season voted the Association three hundred +dollars, to aid it in its benevolent work, I being appointed agent for +that purpose. + + + + +10. _Complaint of prison hunger._ Late in the summer, a man, leaving +prison, complained that the prison living was not as good as that of the +past year, the rations being poorer in quality, and less in quantity; +that, at times, he had really so suffered with hunger that he could not +sleep at night. I questioned him carefully, and he appeared honest in +his statements, still, this being the first I had heard of such +complaints, I would not form an opinion from this assertion, for he +might be telling the story to injure the warden. But he gave this +account here and there in the city, so that it was circulated widely. A +lady, as she asserts, asked the prison physician if the rations had been +reduced, and he replied that they had to some extent. + +The reader will understand, that while I had no right to converse with +the inmates about their food, and other like subjects, and did not while +they were there confined, yet, when they had been released and become +citizens, nothing lay in the way of my freely conversing with them on +all matters as with others. + + + + +11. _Chaplain's object in hearing from released prisoners and others._ +This object was purely to learn the true working of things, and thus be +prepared to conduct myself understandingly in all my prison duties. I +had served a year under a certain system, studying with care its +workings and effects on the men, and had now entered service under one +that seemed measurably different, the operations of which, also, I ought +to comprehend. I would, therefore, listen to those who were released, +study what might come to hand in this way, from personal observation in +official intercourse, or from reading authors, and use whatever hints +were gained, to the best advantage. + +But one says, "Those fellows from prison will lie." Grant that. Grant +that here are twenty of the greatest liars in the State about to leave +prison in course. But they have no opportunity, while there, for mutual +conversation and planning a particular story to tell on leaving; nor do +they even know of having an opportunity, outside, to talk with me or any +particular one. They severally leave their confinement, each giving +account of his experience, which I put down. On looking these carefully +over, a line of substantial agreement is found running through the +whole. We cut off whatever, in any, seems essentially deviating. But +every judge in the land will admit that that general line contains the +truth. + +This illustrates my course of procedure, and my grounds for believing +prisoners. Then, again, where one voluntarily, without my alluding to +the matter, gave me an account of a subject, part of which I knew to be +correct, I had every reason to believe the remainder was correct, also. + + + + +12. _B. and E.'s request, and the connected abuse._ These men, before +spoken of, had become much interested in the moral and religious +instruction given by those lady friends, Mrs. E. and D., to whom they +had been introduced in the manner already pointed out. Request was +extended to the warden that they might have the privilege of +corresponding, but he peremptorily refused; why, none could conceive, +though some would contend that the reason must be found in the +vindictive, for the correspondence was to go through the usual channel +and be open to his own inspection, that, had anything objectionable +appeared, he could have suppressed it, or stopped the whole +correspondence. Those ladies were capable of writing excellent letters, +letters by which any right-minded man would be benefited, the warden +himself being judge. I have no doubt that should he meet some of their +productions, unaware of their authorship, he would pronounce them of a +superior character, and say that "the more of such writings the +prisoners can have to read, the better." The men did not ask for a +personal interview with those ladies, but simply their words; words +which would stimulate them to higher aims, and enable them the better to +endure the trials of prison life. The warden possessed the right, if he +chose to exercise it, to interdict this correspondence wholly. But I +protest that he had no right to defame those ladies, villify their +character, and speak of them to those men, and to prison visitors from +whatever part of the country, as "those mean women," "those base women," +"those low women." + +As before stated, they were ladies with the best of characters,--earnest +Christian workers, invited to the interviews by the mother and warden, +and always having them in the presence of the latter. These visits were +for a most praiseworthy purpose. If it is ever right for a high-minded, +upright, Christian lady to call on the fallen for the purpose of helping +them rise from their degraded state, those ladies are to be commended +for the efforts they made in behalf of those prisoners. + +But these men were forced to suffer no little abuse in relation to those +visits,--not by fellow prisoners, understand. They were taunted in the +most vulgar, low, indecent language. One day it went so far with one, +that he became aroused beyond endurance, and replied, "You know that is +a ---- ---- lie," filling the blanks with two most profane words as +qualifying "lie." On my next round he told me his trouble, what he had +said, how he was being assailed, and that he probably must relinquish +all idea of being any better. I replied, "Don't you understand what all +this is for? It is the work of Satan, for your destruction. They would +excite you to anger and turn you to your old life of profanity and +wickedness; if possible, sink you as low as ever. You have but one +course to pursue, and that is, to pay no attention to them. Let them say +what they may, give it no more notice than the idle wind. Be sure and +not suffer yourself to become irritated, or say a word in return, and +they will probably leave you. But if not, endure it patiently, and pray +God to forgive what you have done amiss and keep you in the future." In +following this course, he succeeded better. + + + + +13. _Alleged prison conspiracy._ The next one who left made no complaint +of the living, he had been sick and received all the food he desired, +but he asserted that trouble was brewing at the prison; that they were +planning to kill the warden. I made light of the idea as something of +his own conjuring up, that the prisoners would not undertake such a +matter. Finally he said, "Mark my words, Chaplain, there will be blood +shed over there within a month." This man was a singular genius, and I +thought he might wish to start such a story to nettle the warden. +Besides, they were as vigilant as possible at the prison, and the +inmates would find them alert, should they attempt to rise. From all +considerations, I thought it not worth while to speak of the case to +any. Still, it would do no harm to prepare and deliver a discourse from +the text, "Vengeance is mine and I will repay, saith the Lord," +designing to show the impolicy of attempting to take vengeance into +one's own hands, and that vengeance should be left for God to +repay.--The discourse was given, and things passed on as usual, no +signs of an outbreak appearing, and I finally gave the matter up as one +of the man's imaginings. + +But, the next spring, one of the prisoners, when leaving, alluded to a +combination of a number, the year previous, and said considerable +preparation for the work had been made, but after hearing that Sabbath's +discourse, so many abandoned the project that the leaders had to +relinquish their effort. This was repeated in substance by another. +Hence, after all, it appeared that what the first man said may have been +true, and that, possibly, my poor labors may have been of service to the +warden, perhaps saved his life. Certainly, I did what I could. + + + + +14. _National Prison Reform Congress._ In October this body assembled +for deliberation at Cincinnati, O., it being the first gathering of the +kind. Delegates were present from a large number of the United States, +also from the British Provinces and South America, but I was the only +one from New Hampshire. The great, central ideas pervading the body were +the finding of the best method of prison management and how to introduce +this to general and uniform use. All the subjects so earnestly grappled +there, would hinge around these. The field was somewhat widely examined +and much discussion awakened,--discussion earnest, though courteous. The +religious element largely predominated, and great harmony prevailed. +True, an atheist attempted to throw in a firebrand by making a cat's paw +of the Jew, but wholly failed, not exciting a single remark in reply. A +U. S. judge was present, several State judges, a number of governors and +ex-governors, lawyers, clergymen, philanthropists in private life and +prison officials, showing that the move had taken strong hold of that +class, especially, which will push it forward. + +Those prison officers present who had ever persisted in the knock-down +argument of former generations, were moved forward many years. I thought +of N. H., and wished that some of her fossils could have been present +and become vitalized. What a blessing it would be to the State! + +The points considered and settled, so far as that body could settle +them, were drawn up in thirty-seven articles for general distribution. +One set forth reform as the paramount object of imprisoning, another, +that kindness and humane treatment should prevail in all prison +management. But the reader would be well repaid by sending for the +"Transactions" of the body, a work of some seven hundred pages, and +carefully perusing it. It will cost three dollars, and is to be had of +Rev. E. C. Wines, D. D., No. 48 Bible House, N. Y. + +The convention was not only pleasant in itself, but also in its +surroundings. The city extended it a welcome through an excellent +address by the Mayor, inviting the body to a dinner and visit to its +public institutions and places of interest, and furnishing coaches to +convey the members. It also provided a convenient hall for the sittings. +A number of the city societies also invited us to their gatherings. + +This Congress arranged for its perpetuity by becoming an incorporate +body in some State and holding its sessions biennially. This has been +consummated by obtaining a charter in the State, of New York, +Ex-Governor Seymour being President, and Rev. E. C. Wines, Cor. +Secretary. It also took incipient steps for an international congress to +be held in London, England, choosing Dr. Wines also as Commissioner to +carry the proposal into effect. + + + + +15. _Money-making and punishing, the paramount objects in our prison +management._ For a time, I had been at a loss about the real objects of +the present manner of conducting prison affairs, but it had become +evident that money-making and punishing were those objects. To the +former the prison agent and warden seemed bending their united energies +as best they could. They would make a better exhibit of gains than ever +before, a great compliment to the one as a financier and to the other as +a prison manager. To this end, they would bend their efforts in +purchasing and disbursing, having, to appearance, left all moral +considerations out of the question. I was informed that the warden said, +"I will clear five thousand for the State this year, if I have to use up +every man in doing it." + +Then punishment was to go hand and hand with this gain making, as the +warden was reported as saying to the prisoners, "I mean to use you so +that you will not wish to come back," meaning, of course, usage beyond +what the law and courts contemplate. + + + + +16. _Waste paper in the cells._ The warden's clearing the cells of this +has been spoken of and a connected point, I could not comprehend. In the +course of months, all became clear. The fly leaves of the library books, +and some of the other leaves, were gone, which told the story. + +Had it been the season previous, I should have detected the matter +sooner and stopped it, but now I could not. Then, when the general +repairs were made to the library, I found that many of the books had +been lost, to avoid which, in the future, I adopted a new method here, +of charging every book let out and crediting its return. But this +required no little increase of labor, in consideration of which, the +former warden furnished me an assistant in the book charging and book +inspection. On two Saturdays after the new warden came in, I asked for +the usual assistance, but, from what passed, I found it best to ask no +more for aid, and decided to do the work myself as best I could, +continuing the account keeping, however, though with no possibility of +the former inspection. + +I supposed the warden desired me to curtail the book changing, for, +passing the table one day, loaded with books ready for the hall, he +said, "Why, chaplain, the men don't need all those books." My reply was, +"They called for them all." "Well," said he, "they can not read them;" +meaning, as I took it, that I should not furnish so many. But I was +particular to give out all called for, a more generous supply, it is +true, than formerly, for the purpose of keeping the men engaged and +quiet under his peculiar management. + + + + +17. _Defective beds and bedding._ Those iron cross bars to the bedsteads +cut the straw, hence the former warden made it a point to refill the +beds once a quarter, but the latter filled them perhaps once in six +months. Indeed, some would be neglected till nothing could be found in +the bed-tick but a mass of chaff-like substance to which the straw had +been reduced, thus leaving the occupant with little besides the bare +slats on which to sleep. Men would at times complain that, from that +cause, they could obtain but little rest at night, and were in the +morning so sore and stiff that, for a time, it would be difficult for +them to move. + +During the fall they did not attend to the needed general mending and +refitting of the old comfortables and bedspreads, though some were +ragged and filthy, or worn so thin as to be but little better than so +many strainers. The cells on the lower floor were exceptions. But few of +these were used. All the beds were kept well filled; having good +spreads, sheets and pillow cases. They made a few comfortables for these +unused beds, and indeed all these cells were kept in good order, nicely +dusted, &c., and the doors were set open by day for visitors to admire. +Hence, I would hear them crying out, "How nice you keep things here! +What comfortable beds! How neat!" I would think within,--not aloud, for +that would not do,--"O that you could look into those higher up. You +might cry out, 'Pig's nests!'" These new comfortables were made only +two-thirds the usual width, answering well for an unused bed. Still I +did occasionally see one on a bed in use. + +As I was informed, a gentleman from outside had a view of those upper +cells, the warden saying, in excuse for their condition, that he put the +more slovenly in them, those who would not keep their cells in order. +But the real truth of that matter is, some of the neatest men occupied +those higher cells intermingled with those not so neat, the men being +located as to their cells according to their position at work in the +shop. + +The sheets were so scarce as not to afford a full change for washing, +requiring some to use dirty sheets, for a time, from another's bed, +though less dirty than their own. + +The former warden had been aiming to have, so far as could be, two suits +to a man, a common, every day suit, and one better for Sabbaths, &c., it +being thought that this would tend to refine and elevate the prisoners. +Hence, he left them with a generous supply, well fitted up. But it would +need more or less renewing and refitting in the fall, which it did not +receive, but was made to answer by patching. Hence, patched and ragged +clothes would be of no uncommon occurrence, as all became thin from long +wear, the under-clothing, especially, much needing repairs and renewing. + +The main seamstress left the next April, and told me that after this +warden came in, up to that time, they had made one new suit and one +other jacket, the new suit for the Newmarket murderer, who was too large +for any they had on hand. + + + + +18. _Cracked wheat dinner._ In the fall, there was much complaint among +the prisoners that their Monday dinner, which they formerly prized as +the best in the week, had been changed to a dish that few liked and many +could not eat. It was boiled cracked wheat with a little meat chopped +in, no sauce or other relish upon it. I mentioned the case to the +doctor, who said, "They purchased a quantity of potatoes, half a peck of +which I took to my house and cooked, finding only one or two, among the +whole, fit to put into the human stomach. Hence, I looked over my army +dietary, found the cracked wheat answered a good purpose, and proposed +it here." The potatoes were watery. + +My attention had now been so loudly called to the prison living by the +complaints of those liberated, that I determined to observe for myself, +so far as opportunity might offer, keeping my own counsel in this as in +all other matters, that I might be the better prepared to judge of the +truthfulness of their stories. Notwithstanding the cracked wheat, those +potatoes were set before them. If not at this meal, they were at others, +but largely returned untouched. The substituted dish would also be +regularly returned by a large number. But why purchase these potatoes +"not fit to be put into the human stomach"? True, many such were in the +market, but there were good ones, too, though costing more money. +Families in the city found no difficulty about obtaining a good article. +These, of course, came at a low figure, favoring here, as did everything +else, this money-making idea. + + + + +19. _Bad fish, &c._ In the fall, the agent informed me, he had made for +the state what he considered a great bargain, in the purchase of between +one and two tons of fish. He said, "I found this in the hands of a man +who had attempted to prepare it after a certain patent, but had, some +way, missed his point and could not sell it. Had he succeeded, it would +have brought thirteen cents a pound. He offered it to me for three. I +took some to the prison, and they said that they could use it, hence, I +purchased the whole." He further remarked, that the article was covered +with a reddish mold. This, I was informed, is a sign of decay in fish. +He also alluded to the great reduction in price he obtained on his +prison supply of molasses.--It should be understood that this is used at +all times in prison, on bread, as a substitute for butter. + +After this, those leaving prison had these additional grounds for +complaint. They complained, also, that the tobacco was very bad in +quality and scant in quantity, the very cheapest article. One said that +the scent of the fish carried into his cell at noon, would not be gone +on his return at night. A woman, a waiter on the prison family table at +the time of the purchase of the fish, informed me of its ordeal there. +Nothing having been said to call her attention that way, but of her own +accord, she said, "They bought a lot of bad fish at the prison, and the +warden would have some prepared for the family table. He ate of it +himself, pronounced it good, and wished the deputy, guards and overseers +to eat of it also; but they would not, though he offered one a dollar, +if he would." Now, as this woman's story was true as to the purchasing +of the article and its quality, we have every reason to suppose it true +in other respects. One said of the cracked wheat, that he could not +force it down; it would made him sick; that others about him were +similarly effected in their attempts to eat of the article. + + + + +20. _Prison suffering from cold during the winter of '70 & '71._ From +the character of the food and clothing, the one not fitted to generate +the needed supply of warmth within, nor the other to give the requisite +protection without, the men, to pass the rigors of winter, especially +such as that of '70 and '71, without suffering, would need an unusually +generous supply of artificial heat in the hall and shop. But instead of +that, they were forced to experience the biting reality of a cutting off +here, too, the place being too important for money-saving not to be +used. True, it would cost something, but the custom had been to keep +the hall comfortable through cold weather. Early in the morning they +would let the steam into the shop and have that warm when the men were +ready to commence their work, and keep it so during the day. But a +different policy had now been adopted. + +The present fall had nearly passed and no steam had been admitted into +these apartments at all, the cook-room and reception-room drawing from +the waste steam and engine boilers. People outside had long been using +fires constantly and freely. At length, a remark of the warden to +company, revealed the theory he was pretending then to act upon. The +temperature, at the time, was low in the hall, and some excuse evidently +appeared to be needful. The remark was this: "I have not let the heat +into this hall yet, for I think it best to do with that as people ought +to do with regard to under-clothing, keep it off as late as possible in +the fall, and it will do them more good in winter. And, besides, these +stones were so heated up last summer, that they have not become fully +cooled yet." "What a happy thing for the men, when shivering here, as +they do with the cold, could they find some of that stored up heat," +thought I. But they could not, and hence were called to experience a +severe foretaste of what lay before them in still colder weather. + +But at length the hall boiler was set to work, bringing warmth and +gladness to the men. And how cheerful and thankful they appeared! It was +really a comfort to witness their relief, as I went about my labors. +This, however, was only for a few days, for a great drain was being made +upon the wood-pile, incurring too large a draft upon the prison gains to +be endured. The boiler was stopped, to be run no more for the winter, +dependence for heat here, in the future, to be had upon the steam, waste +or otherwise, from the shop boilers, and even that but sparingly. + +The custom adopted was to let the steam into the hall pipes just before +the men were to enter from work, could it be spared from the cook room, +sometimes perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, and then turned off early in +the evening. That, of course, could do but little good, and hence a +really keen atmosphere would at times be felt in the hall, causing much +suffering there. How great the contrast to that of the office, which was +so warm that the occupants would be at work with coats off; or the +reception room, where I would perspire in labor upon my books, and enter +the hall to find it much like going directly out of doors. Twice I thus +took severe colds, after which I usually wore an overcoat to this +apartment during the severe weather. + +When those keen nights came on, some of the men would beg of me most +pitiably for more bed-clothing, asserting that they were suffering +alive, it sometimes seeming as though they must perish. I could only +direct them to the warden or deputy for this. One said, "I have asked +the warden, who replied, 'You have more clothes on your bed now than you +ever had at home,' and passed on." This man had one of those +strainer-like spreads and another somewhat thicker, doing well enough +for early fall, but not a suitable protection in such weather. Another +said, "Suffering so with cold that sleep is out of the question, I +arise, dress, wrap about me what bedding I have, and walk my cell for +the night, in that way keeping as much as possible from suffering." + +The first evening after hearing these earnest pleadings, I met the +steward and asked if he could not furnish these men with more clothing, +with the answer, "The fact is, these fellows are down on the warden and +determined to keep asking for something." To which I replied, "They very +much need more clothing, and must greatly suffer without it." He +answered, "Oh, our soldiers in the army suffered a great deal more than +these fellows do, and you thought nothing of that. The fact is, you have +too much feeling for these men." I left, with the remark, "I think we +ought to have some humanity about us." + +Thus was the attempt made to plaster over this outrageous cruelty by +alluding to events which could not, in the very nature of things, be +avoided. I say outrageous, for there was bedding enough on those unused +beds, such as it was, to have done something towards relieving this +suffering, but they would not permit them to have that. Then New +Hampshire possessed wood and water enough to keep that room comfortable. +If the boiler needed repairs, workmen for doing that were at hand; or, +if it needed renewing, that could have been easily accomplished. Or they +might have set large coal stoves at work. + +But all did not thus lack for bedding. Some, by oversight or favoritism, +had a surplus, using comfortables as a substitute for straw. A man thus +supplied sent one of his extra number to the relief of another, as this +sufferer subsequently informed me. + +On those cold Sabbaths, the men would wrap their bed clothing about +them, sit reclining on their beds, and read. The warden would not allow +the shop to be warmed at all. Those cold mornings and those cold days it +was excessively severe. The overseers had to bundle up with extra +clothing to prevent suffering. One day the men had become too much +benumbed to work and the foreman stopped the machinery, let the steam +into the shop, thawed them out, and then went on again. + +Having heard the warden say that the water in their reservoir was low, +causing him fears of its failing, and meeting the governor, to his +inquiry about our prison affairs, I alluded to the coldness there and +the warden's remark, and received the reply, "Why, it won't do to let +the men suffer with the cold. If need be, he must haul water from the +river," and he sent the warden a letter to that import. But no water was +hauled, and no amelioration had from the cold till, at length, when the +severest weather had nearly passed, one of the council visited the +prison and ordered a coal stove to be placed in a part of the hall, +which gave a measure of alleviation. Still the men continued to suffer +more or less till the change of weather brought the desired relief. They +will ever look back to that as a suffering winter. + +The women probably suffered less from the cold than the men. Still, they +were put on short allowance and were obliged to carry their wood up +those two flights of stairs, taking it from quite a distance out of +doors, some of it being very large. One of those cold Sabbaths, entering +their room for meeting, I found it so cold as to endanger my health, +and, not then knowing the restrictions, I attempted to kindle the fire, +but found only a few coals in the stove and one large stick in the box, +which I placed with the coals, but with little effect. We had short +exercises, and I left them to endure this temperature as best they +could. + +The women would watch the warden and steal a little extra, when he +stepped out of sight, thus occasionally enjoying the genial warmth; if +detected, however, to receive a gratuitous lecture. Finding, at length, +that this extra labor was preying sadly upon their health, and having +repeatedly importuned the warden for relief in vain, they turned to his +wife, who informed him of the real effects being produced, with the +assurance that the continuance of this drudgery would shortly bring the +sufferers upon beds of sickness, requiring him to hire outside help, to +care for them and perform the tasks in which they had failed. This +gained the victory, but not till great injury had been done to the +victims, the strongest, on whom the burden of carrying the largest had +fallen, having thus laid the foundation for weeks of severe sickness and +leaving prison an invalid, though previously a robust, healthy woman. + + + + +21. _Lighting the hall._ The candles having been banished from the +cells, the gas was set at work when evening arrived. But at length the +men began to complain of the great strain upon their eyes, and finally +of failing sight. Advising them to lay aside reading and study till +relief could be had, I reported the matter to the doctor, and, I think, +to the governor. Not seeing any remedial move, however, I resorted to +the dollar and cent consideration, and, on investigating, found that, +while they were paying $50 per month for that poor light, I could light +the cells with candles, three a week to a cell, probably for fourteen +dollars. I offered to obligate myself to do it for twenty, and receive +only the actual cost whatever it might be below; also to see that no +additional trouble came from the melting of the tallow. This argument +prevailed, and the warden was ordered to furnish the candles, though he +allowed only two a week to a cell. Some of the men were amused and some +provoked at the manner of his announcing the change: "I have concluded +to furnish you with candles, for your good, and hope you will use them +as such;" for, it seems, they knew by what means the relief had come, +though how I never understood. + + + + +22. _The aid of the Association to released prisoners, and warden's +course._ The Association proved itself as advantageous to the discharged +prisoners as the most ardent laborer for its establishment had hoped. An +unusually large number left prison the present year, forty-two. In warm +weather many would not require pecuniary aid, while others would. Thus, +one required cooper's tools to the amount of six and one-half dollars; +another, a railroad pass to Ohio, for twelve dollars; a third, a pass to +Wisconsin, at thirty-one dollars; a fourth, carpenter's tools at six +dollars; then smaller sums, here and there. + +The Wisconsin man left prison sick, and must have been a public charge +here, while his friends would give him a home, if with them, though +unable to pay his fare thither. + +The Association had not arranged for furnishing the men with clothing, +supposing the State would properly attend to that, as previously, +through her warden. But as the winter now approached, the society found +itself driven to the necessity of helping in this, too, by the fact that +the present warden would furnish the men with only the same outfit as in +summer, the under-clothes they might happen to have on at the time, +added. And, in making out this summer suit, he would construe the letter +of the law in the superlative degree, which says, "A suit of cheap +clothing,"--he obtaining the cheapest, the most miserably poor. To +illustrate, a man left prison in one of those suits, and, before walking +a mile, was obliged to call and borrow sewing implements to repair them. +The day after, another left, and had worn the shirt furnished him about +one day, when, taking him to a shop for the purpose of trying on a +coat, I found that one sleeve of the shirt had wholly parted from the +body, and the other about half. Another man had worn his pants less than +twelve hours when they needed mending. + +I went to the shop-keeper and lectured him for such dealing, to which he +replied, "I have to be governed by the price the warden will pay. He +will not pay for anything better. If he would, I should furnish a better +article, and prefer that to this method." + +At almost every turn I was met with this money-making system. Well, this +could be endured in warm, balmy weather, though truly annoying to the +poor fellows; but in the full rigors of the winter of '70 and '71, it +was cruel, to say the least. + +Let us take a few specimens of this practice. In nearly the severest +weather of that winter, a man came to me from the prison to be sent +home, some two hundred miles beyond Bangor, Me. As I looked at him I was +perfectly astonished that we had a man among us who would think, for a +moment, of sending away a dependent, human being, and sickly, too, in +such a plight; a rather thin coat, vest and pants that might last him +two or three days; no collar, cravat, mittens, overcoat, or boots, but +brogans, and those not mates, one of which so pinched his foot that he +was forced to remove it shortly after coming in. His person and clothes +were filthy indeed, not having seen water for weeks. I could but +exclaim, "What a condition! The law says, 'a suit of cheap clothing +suited to the season,' and this is such a suit!" + +In addition to all this, as the man asserted, the warden asked him, on +passing out, "How long do you think it will be before you will contrive +to get back here again?" Was not that cool? He himself robbing the +fallen one of his just due, a suit of comfortable clothing fitted to +the season, and turning him away under those circumstances which would +almost of necessity force him to steal to avoid perishing, and then +taunt him with such a question? + +As yet, our Association had not practiced clothing the men, and of +course the warden had no reason to suppose we should. + +Keeping my feelings under calm subjection, I went to the prison and +asked him if he did not purpose to furnish the man with boots, overcoat, +&c., to which he responded in his short, pompous way, "No; when I was +deputy here, the men were sent out in just what they happened to have on +at the time." After talking till evidently of no further avail, I +remarked, "I am a native of New Hampshire, and have some regard for the +honor of my State, and I will never disgrace it by sending a man to +Maine in such a plight as you propose. I shall fix him up." To which he +answered, "I would not carry the matter too far." Well, I did not carry +the matter too far, but took the man to the store, shivering by the way, +and purchased for him the needed articles, cheap but good,--boots $5.00, +overcoat $6.50, and so on,--and returned home with him, where he cast +off his "filthy rags," took a warm bath, donned his new under-clothes +and came out feeling like a different man, though feeble. He took a bad +cold that day by being out in his thin apparel, and passed a hard night, +leading us to fear that he would have a fever. But his anxiety helped +him the next morning, when he set off, the railroad men giving him a +free pass, thus showing that humanity was not all dead in this region. + +Soon another was released in a somewhat worse condition, as to clothing, +than the above, though with better health. His drawers had one leg +wholly minus, the other coming down nearly to the knee, what pretended +to remain being in tatters. + +Two from western Maine were pardoned one evening and went away early the +next morning in the suit given by the warden, without my knowledge. The +severe weather must have caused them no little suffering, especially as +they must end their journey by a long walk through a deep snow, with +their brogans, and one of them was a sickly man. + +Another, liberated without my knowledge, started on foot for Providence, +R. I., to follow the railroad track. Learning the fact in a few moments, +I hastened after him, but to no avail. I heard that his outfit was +similar to those above described. I should have clothed him comfortably +and furnished a pass by rail, had I overtaken him. + +The warden now maintained that he had no concern with the men after +leaving prison, and usually took no pains to inform me of their +departure; hence, if I did not keep a close watch myself, more or less +would leave without my knowledge. My practice usually was to obtain a +list each month, from the deputy, of those who would leave during the +four following weeks. + +The reader will see that I had a good opportunity of knowing the state +of the men's under-clothing, from those thus leaving; and further, I +would find more or less mending their clothes on the Sabbath. One day a +man was at work on his pants, which had become perfectly indecent to +wear. On a week day, finding a man in bed in his cell, I inquired if he +was sick, to which he replied, "No, I am having my pants mended." +Another man brought out the shoes he had been accustomed to wear in +prison. No, he could not do that; but they came out; how, I never knew, +and he brought them to me. It would be difficult to tell which most +abounded, holes or leather. I knew they were his, for I had often seen +them on his feet in the prison; though they appeared much worse on a +near inspection than at a distance. + +An aged prisoner, whose feet were large and lame, wore his shoes sandal +fashion, tying them on with such strings as he could find. When I would +ask him how he did, he usually replied, "Oh, lame and suffering terribly +with my feet." Having nothing but his stockings to protect them from the +cold, this must have been severe in winter, though, when in the shop, +his fellow prisoners would heat bits of plank and pass to him, on which +he could stand and thus be relieved in a measure. I asked him if he +could not wear his shoes in the usual way, to which he said, "No, they +are too small. Had I very large ones I could. I have asked for such, but +they will not obtain me any." The requisite shoes must have been made +purposely for the convict, large and of very soft leather, costing, no +doubt, more than ordinary shoes. But they would have brought great +relief to an old, suffering man. + +But our Prison Aid Association, notwithstanding its efforts for good, +met those who opposed it. Hence, one told me that the concern was +organized for the purpose of running an opposition to the prison, all I +could say to which was, "If helping the men, as above described, be +running an opposition to the prison, it was organized for that very +purpose; otherwise, not." But the man was, no doubt, nettled that the +prisoners were looked after on leaving prison, and not permitted to go +as the warden provided. + +Some, again, pretended that the influence of the Association was in +favor of having the prisoners remain in and about Concord. This was the +very thing we labored against, or one of them, at least. The Agent, and +every active member, invariably used their influence in favor of their +going to other places, and especially to keep them away from their old +haunts and associations. I knew, however, that there were influences +used here, and among prison officers, too, to keep men in the city. +Some, for whom I had provided good places away, were tampered with and +thus influenced to remain. + + + + +23. _Lecturing for the Prison Aid Association._ To widen the influence +of this body and become personally acquainted with places where we could +send our men for suitable employment and care, the idea was conceived of +giving occasional lectures, in favorable localities within the State, on +the interests in question. For this purpose, I went out four times +during the winter. Besides treating upon the objects and needs of the +Association, I alluded to some of the prison matters, such as the +proposition in the governor's then late message for the management of +the institution to be put under a permanent Board, the responsibility of +which the legislature largely shirked, by turning the whole matter into +the hands of the governor and council;--for reasons given, the very +place where it should not be;--expressed the hope that the next +legislature would do its full duty upon the matter; referred also to the +much needed repairs just made, and hoped they would be carried still +further, improving the manner of lighting the prison by having a small +gas jet at each cell, also provide a library room, &c.; but of course I +wholly avoided alluding to the internal management of matters at the +institution. My attention was called particularly to this point, +however, in one place, by the question being publicly asked by a +gentleman, "How are the prisoners treated there?" in reference to which +I begged the gentleman to excuse me from answering his question, as I +wished to keep the mind on other points. That was true, but it was not +the whole of the truth. The question itself was not a proper one to +answer then in that place. Could I have conscientiously said, "Well," it +would have been done in a moment and been all right, but that I could +not do, and besides, I hoped that our rulers would soon get their eyes +opened, or the next legislature put things on a proper basis and matters +pass off without having anything publicly said. Indeed, I knew but +little then of the prison workings in comparison with what I afterwards +learned. + + + + +24. _Prison correspondence under the new rule._ The former warden had +solicited me to assist in the correspondence, and I would write for a +prisoner occasionally, but pass it to the warden for his examination, +till he said, "You need not pass them to me, send them yourself. You +know what to write just as well as I do." Hence, I sent a very few in +the course of a year without his examination. The reader will understand +that all letters, to and from a prisoner, must be thoroughly examined, +that nothing prohibited may pass. They are allowed to speak of personal +family matters, but nothing of general, secular affairs. The prisoner +would not be permitted, of course, to express any dissatisfaction at +prison fare or treatment. + +The new warden put the entire matter of correspondence into the hands of +his deputy, without asking me to do anything about it. Hence, when +subsequently solicited to pass a letter as before, I would answer, "I +have no right to do that, and can not. You must pass your letter to the +deputy." On one occasion, being rather hard pressed to step over the +bounds and pass a line, with the assurance it should never be known, +&c., &c., I gave the decided negative, adding, "It makes no difference +whether known or unknown, the step will be violating the prison rule and +my purpose is so to proceed that at all times and under all +circumstances, I can say with a clear conscience, I have duly observed +every rule." This ended all attempts to influence me in that direction. + +Still, I supposed it proper and nothing inconsistent with good prison +order, for me to speak of a prisoner's health and success to a friend +whom I met outside and to the prisoner of having met the friend and of +personal family concerns; or to encourage the prisoners to write to +their friends, if thus requested by letter; or to write to friends +myself, by request of the prisoners. I did something in this line a very +few times, perhaps not a half dozen in all. + +Meeting a sister of a prisoner out of the city, one day, I answered her +earnest inquiries about his health, and his reform efforts, carrying +back to him also a word about her health and a request that he write and +send to the new place to which she was about to locate. + +A man had a petition before the governor and council for pardon. As +agent for our Association, I inquired of him if he had friends to whom +he could go, if successful, or what arrangement he would need made for +him. He answered that he left friends in England, years before, knew not +whether then living or dead, but he would like to return to them if +living. Writing as he directed, I soon received a reply stating that +some were living, and some were gone, and the earnest desire that he +return home at once to see his father alive, of which I informed him, +and on account of which his pardon was soon granted, and he left. + +Finding a man, who had been here a number of months, in a gloomy and +despairing state because friends had not written him since being here, +thus giving him reason to feel that they had cast him off, in which case +he could not think of living, I wrote to these friends, urging them to +what they ought to have performed before. Soon he addressed me, when +passing, with a tone of cheer unknown in him since entering prison: +"Chaplain, my folks have not cast me off. I have received a good letter +from them. They will stand by me, which makes me feel a thousand dollars +better." Nor has he learned how his friends were stirred to write. + +Thus, in a few cases, I acted in this direction and that for the purpose +of removing anxiety without and securing cheer and quietness within, +though making no allusions to the one about prison managing or to the +other of secular affairs. + + + + +24 1-2. _Chaplain under a system of espionage._ The former warden had +been accustomed to keep his eyes upon the officers, as well as upon the +men, to know that everything was moving orderly. The new incumbent took +the same course, the correct one so far as that was concerned, in order +to keep all matters in the prison perfectly straight. Nor did it lay me +under any restraint, as I wished to do right, for the place, in +everything, even though no eye might be upon me. My only anxiety in the +course would be that I might so walk as to have my steps appear as they +really were. Hence, my conduct there was constantly as though under the +strictest inspection. And, of course, under these circumstances, I would +do nothing but what I supposed to be correct, even if otherwise +inclined. + +Thus, having passed a number of months with our new warden, a prisoner +said, one day, as I approached his cell, "Be careful, Chaplain; they are +watching you to see if they can't find some cause for turning you out." +Asking no questions, I passed on, not knowing what he meant. But it +started a new idea. "Am I under a system of especial surveillance?" I +then recollected having seen the guards frequently about where I would +be hearing lessons, though I had not noticed but that they were looking +after the men. By giving attention now, however, it was plain to see +that they were listening to what I said. + +At length an overseer left the prison, and, on leaving, unfolded to me +the whole matter,--that they were set by the warden to watch my actions, +note with whom I conversed, hear what was said, put it down, and report +to him. He said, "I was set evenings to watch you from the guard-room, +through the spy-hole, but never found anything to report." + +Learning this, I could but exclaim, "Consistency indeed! The warden can +furnish men enough for a system of espionage over me in the hall, when +toiling under such disadvantages and fatigues to help the convicts in +their efforts for knowledge, but will not spare even one to guard in the +chapel, where I could teach with comparative freedom from all these +drawbacks." + +Usually, in this cell instruction, we spoke very low, just to hear each +other and thus not disturb those in near cells, or interfere with the +rule about stillness in the apartment; but, after this discovery, when +seeing the guards hanging about, I would purposely speak loud enough for +them to hear, and also when the warden himself would be listening to my +Sabbath school instruction. And they had the privilege of hearing as +good, wholesome truths as I was capable of bringing out. + + + + +25. _The chaplain's pacific efforts severely taxed._ We are beings of +want, and if locked in a cell unable to provide for ourselves, it is +wonderful to think how many things we should need to have furnished by +others, or suffer. True, we can curtail our wants to a number very much +fewer than artificial life would claim, but, when coming to the +indispensables, they are not a few. Hence, prisoners, under the kindest +treatment and well-furnished with food, clothing, warmth, and all that +nature would seem to crave, will need to call more or less frequently +for attentions, or find themselves lacking not a little. But under the +saving system of this year, calls from the cells must multiply, and, if +unheeded, give occasion for uneasiness, angry feelings and disorder. +Hence, under such circumstances, the chaplain would naturally be called +into the most active service. For, if we can not offer a man food enough +to satisfy the cravings of his appetite, the next thing is to reconcile +his mind to going without, or so engross his thoughts, that he shall not +so keenly feel the gnawings of hunger. Or, if one is cold, and we can +not bring the means of warmth, by presenting a satisfactory excuse or +interesting the intellect, we may do him essential service in helping +him calmly endure what he otherwise could not. + +Precisely on these principles I acted, and engrossed the prisoner's +attention as earnestly and interestingly as possible, always, when +practicable, taking special pains to immediately furnish the thing +called for; or to excuse, when I could; or turn one's sufferings to as +profitable a lesson as could be, to him. Hence, when the cold was +reigning almost unmitigated in the cells, for a few days, I would repeat +to one and another what I heard the warden say, that "the water was low +and he feared it would wholly fail." Among the replies, one said, "Well, +then, we must bear it the best we can, though it is hard." + +One day, coming to a man's cell to hear a lesson, he said, "I have no +lesson, I have been in the solitary. They did so and so to me, at which +I got mad, and would not do as they wished, and they put me in there." I +thought it likely, from the circumstances, that the impatience of an +officer and his irritating course had much, too much, to do with the +matter. But that was not for me to hint at, even. I rather said, "Well, +you say you got mad and have been in the solitary. See what you have +suffered for getting mad. How much better for you to govern your temper. +You know where you are, what you did to bring yourself here. You +understand what is required, and that refusal on your part is of no +avail. Now, why not govern yourself, no matter what they say? If you +really think they bear hard upon you, control your angry passions, and +do what they require as cheerfully and promptly as possible. Thus, you +can become accustomed here to governing yourself, that, when you go out, +you will be the better able to meet the vexations of the world. Now, +will you not try this course?" He replied, "I don't know, Chaplain, it +is a hard case." In a few days he remarked, "Chaplain; I have been +almost constantly thinking of what you said the other day, have come to +the conclusion that your way is the best, and am resolved to attempt +putting it in practice." With most hearty congratulations on his new +resolve, I left him again. Some weeks after I received from his lips +this satisfactory report: "Well, Chaplain, I have been practicing your +method since our last conversation, and find it works like a charm. I +have but little trouble now, and am determined to keep on as I have +begun." Thus he proceeded till released. This man was naturally +irritable and easily angered. He had not previously labored to control +himself in regard to this important point; but now, when summoning all +his better powers to the task, he resolutely addressed his mind to it, +and a noble victory was his. + +There was another man here who also could be easily aroused, but was +perhaps still more stubborn, when angry. He, too, had been an inmate of +the solitary more or less. To him I appealed in a manner similar to the +above, and, after persistent labors, succeeded in inducing him to +earnestly try the proposed course, and with like results. But he was a +man who needed frequent encouragement to help him calmly endure the +vexations and annoyances almost constantly surrounding him. Hence, he +maintained his self-control and kept from trouble while he had one to +labor for his continuance in well-doing, but afterwards he fell into +difficulty again, and would consequently become an inmate of the +solitary. Thus I proceeded, and, by assiduous efforts, robbed this dark +abode of many hours of occupancy. + +There were others not rendering themselves liable to the dungeon, but +who would become filled with angry, revengeful emotions at what they +were forced to endure. I would labor to induce these to use what they +experienced as a means of self-culture, to leave the acts of others in +the hands of God, submit calmly to what they could not avoid, do their +own duties faithfully, and in all things keep themselves strictly in the +right. Thus I was almost constantly called to speak a word here and a +word there to a pacific end, and labored untiringly in that direction. + +In the women's department, also, these efforts were found needed. One of +the inmates, whom we will call K., had often caused them no little +trouble. With all their efforts, she would contrive to keep almost a +constant broil among them. Hence, I decided to see what could be done, +in her case, by moral and religious efforts. Therefore, one Sabbath, +after our usual service, I remained awhile for personal conversation +with the inmates respecting their desires and feelings on the subject of +reform, purposely coming to K. last. After conversing awhile with her on +religious subjects, I came to the direct inquiry, "Now, K., will you not +turn from your former course and seek to become a true Christian?" She +looked upon me as though perfectly astonished at the question, and +answered, "Why, Chaplain, that would be of no sort of use. Here I have +been going on in my career of life these twenty years, and, should I +attempt to turn now and become good, no one would put the least +confidence in me. It is of no kind of use." I labored to assure her that +she was mistaken in this idea, that would she truly repent and turn from +evil, people would see it, and learn to confide in her the same as in +others who had reformed, also asserting that she had the power for +making of herself a most excellent, useful woman, if she would use it +aright. I referred to what she might have been, what she had lost, how +much she had suffered, the condition to which she had brought herself, +and the prospect still before her, if she went on. At length the tears +began to glisten in her eyes; she yielded and said, "Chaplain, I will +try." The next Sabbath I asked her how she succeeded, with the answer, +"Not much, but I am trying the best I can." Retiring from their room, I +asked the attendant how they had prospered the past week. "Oh," said +she, "first rate. We have had a perfect reformation. Everything has been +peaceful and quiet, no fretting and scolding,--a perfect change." And so +it was when I left the prison. But I learned that K., after my leaving, +became discouraged, was thrown from the track and returned to her former +habits. And no wonder, there was so great a lack of prudence and skill +in managing there, so much of a vexatious character. + +My position was one of difficulty, needing all the wisdom and discretion +I could command. The prisoners were looking to me for direction on the +one hand, while jealous watchfulness followed every step on the other. + +Thus I went on, constantly doing what I could for the best good of the +institution in whatever way practicable. No matter what course others +took concerning me or the prison, my duty was to act with fidelity and +in the fear of God, which I endeavored sacredly to do. + +One rule I constantly carried with me, never deviating from it on any +occasion, which rule was, not to give a word, or hint even, against any +prison officer or prison move. This seemed essential to the best being +of the prisoner. For, if really wronged, my deviation from that rule +would tend to impress him more deeply, make him feel his wrong more +keenly, and excite to greater irritability, resulting, on his part, +perhaps, in more disorderly acts, and, consequently, greater trouble. +Then, on my own part, such a deviation must be perfect suicide, so far +as the plan might be concerned, showing the authorities conclusively +that I was unfit for the position, and giving them the most urgent +reasons for putting another in my place. + +A moderate share of common sense would teach one to keep very wide of +such deviation. Then it could be of no avail. If censurable things were +being done in the prison management, the rulers were the parties for one +to approach respecting them, those having the power to apply the remedy. + + + + +26. _Death of Gideon Sylver._ This man had been in the army, was a good +soldier, strong and vigorous; very quiet and obedient; faithful to his +task and never complaining, but seemed intent on doing the best he could +to please those over him and thus share their good will. He was set to +carrying lumber in and out of the dry room, exposed to extremes of heat +and cold, at times perhaps having wet feet from want of proper shoes, +till, failing in health, complaining of distress about the chest, the +doctor ordered him to lighter and less exposed work, when he was set to +running a planer, said, however, to be a very hard machine to run, +though subsequently made easier by rollers attached. Here he grew no +better, but had severe attacks. One day, in his distress, he fell on his +knees, girding his arms about him and groaning repeatedly. The deputy +took him from the shop and returned him relieved. But soon he wholly +failed, was taken away for the last time and kept in his cell, part of +the time quiet and then groaning more or less intensely. To my inquiry +about the locality of his distress, he put his hand over the left lung. +Sabbath evening, Feb. 10th, I think, his distress came on with great +severity, he, making no little ado, said, to my inquiry whether he +needed anything more, "I have a powder to take, which will no doubt +relieve me," and appeared disposed to make the best of his condition. +Meeting the steward, I asked if all was being done for the man that +could be, with the answer, "Yes, I think there is. The fact is, not much +ails him. He is nervous; thinks he is dreadful sick, and makes a great +ado." I passed on, thinking that Sylver must be a very sick man +notwithstanding these views, that, when one naturally so patient and +quiet makes such demonstrations, there must be reason for immediate +assistance. It seemed to me that the hospital was the proper place for +him, and that he ought to be there receiving suitable warmth and close +attention. But understanding that I might say no more, and meddle no +farther, I retired, feeling that the man was in a forlorn condition. + +The cold in the hall was not as severe now as formerly, for the weather +had become milder without, and that coal stove, before referred to, +stood not far from Sylver's cell. This helped in a measure, but came +short of the warmth needful to a sick man like him. Things passed thus, +with more or less of his moaning when I was in, till Wednesday evening, +on which, by reason of the prayer meeting, I did not visit the +apartment. Thursday noon I heard no moaning, but when the men had +retired for their work, I called to visit the sufferer and found his +cell empty, he having been carried to the hospital. I went to my dinner, +purposing to return and visit the hospital immediately after; but, being +detained, at length saw a coffin carried to the prison, and, on inquiry, +learned that Sylver was dead. He died a few minutes past twelve, when I +was known to be at work in the hall, but nothing was said to me about +the event. How my heart sank within me, though, of the events of that +terrible Wednesday night, I then knew nothing. The facts subsequently +came to light in their revolting features. They were gathered from the +steward, overseers, guard and released prisoners, investigated with all +care, and are, no doubt, correct, as follows: + +Sylver grew worse Wednesday evening, groaning often. The steward came, +and, after giving him the usual attention, said, "Now, Sylver, there is +no use in your making such a fuss as this. Dry up and go to sleep." +Sylver replied, "I would, if I could; but my sufferings are so great I +can't help it;" to which the steward responded, "Yes, you can, if you +only think so. Dry up, if you don't want to go into the solitary," and +left, with the groans falling on his ears as he passed from the +apartment. + +At nine the night watch went to his task in the hall, and found the +inmate almost incessantly groaning, with interludes of prayer,--"Lord +have mercy on me; do help me; forgive my sins," and so on, also +suffering intensely with the cold, locked in his cell that none could +approach him in attempts at relief. The watchman's heart was stirred, +for humanity's promptings were not dead in him. He looked about for +something that might afford warmth to the agonized man, and found some +bricks, which he warmed and passed through the grating to the sufferer, +who for a time had strength to take and place them around him for +relief. + +The other prisoners could not sleep. Raps would be heard from one and +another for the watch to go to them and explain. Others would cry out, +"Call the deputy and have that man cared for." At about eleven, the +prisoners began to stir determinedly, when the watch called a guard and +sent for the deputy to come and care for Sylver. But he gave no heed to +the summons, except to send the guard back to the hall, who went to the +sick man's cell, made efforts to still him, and left. Those near said +they heard the word _gag_ there used, and understood that the sufferer +was receiving threats of being gagged, in case he did not stop his +noise. + +As the guard retired from the hall, all hope of relief for the doomed +one came fully to an end, he being now literally left to his fate. He +would still engage in prayer,--"Lord, have mercy on my soul; Lord, why +won't they come and do something for my relief?" + +Had the cell door been left unlocked, the watch could have done much +more towards affording the needed warmth, and been more effective in +efforts for his relief. But that privilege would not be allowed. At +length the man became too weak and exhausted to take and use the +proffered bricks, which ended the offices of kindness the watch was +struggling to perform. Finally, the moaning grew more and more faint, +and was of such a tone as to give clear indication that death had +commenced its work. The sad hours wore slowly away. The morning finally +arrived, and the men were called to their tasks, the now feeble moans +dying upon their ears as they passed out. At length, when suiting his +convenience, the warden went to the dying man's cell. Seeing the result +of their work, he hastened for the doctor, whom he found just starting +on an imperative call. But he hurried to the prison to see the man a +moment and direct the means to be used till his return. He found him +thoroughly cold, as though dead, and ordered him to be taken at once to +the hospital, the most vigorous rubbing to be used by two men, and other +means for restoring warmth. For a time he revived somewhat, but these +efforts, however beneficial they might have been in season, were of no +avail now, for death soon closed the scene. + +The brothers, summoned by a telegram, were present in a few hours. A +post-mortem examination was had, at which one asked, "What was the +matter with the man?" to which the doctor answered, "Probably some +difficulty about the heart." An invited physician responded,--"From what +I hear, I think it a clear case of congestion of the lungs;" one of the +worst cases of which, it was found to be. A consulting physician said +that the case must have been a number of days in progress. + +The reader must make his own comment on this whole affair.[2] My +feelings were never more stirred. We were terribly shocked at Pike's +murder of the Browns, those feeble, old people. But he dispatched them +at once; neither, perhaps, experiencing a moment's sensibility of +suffering. True, the man lived a number of hours, but was probably not +sensible of pain. But Sylver, in his agonies, begging and pleading for +help, was forced to pass that terrible night carefully locked in his +cell, and no heed given to his cries. Had they ended his sufferings with +a single blow, without any threats of the dungeon or gag, he would have +been thereby saved from the piercing agonies of those slowly dragging +hours. Would not that have been compassion in comparison with what they +did? But one says, "That would have been murder." True, and what was +that treatment in reality? With due care and attention the man might +have recovered, but they so proceeded that it was absolutely impossible +for him to live. No man with a lung difficulty could survive such +treatment. The blow of an ax, severing his head from his body, could +have been no surer means of death. + +[Footnote 2: Important facts on this matter are withheld in the +narrative above, as the possessors were unwilling, at the examination, +to divulge them publicly except under the shield of an oath.] + +I know the deputy attempted to exonerate himself from blame before the +governor and council, by asserting that the guard, sent for him, failed +to do his errand correctly, and that he understood himself called to +still the noise among the men, and for this sent the guard back. + +Had that really been the case, why did not the guard go among the men +and endeavor to still them? Why go to Sylver's cell and expend his +efforts there? Or, admitting the deputy's statement to be true, did that +help the matter for him in the least? If summoned by the watch to quell +a rising tumult, was he, as an officer, acting the part of duty by +remaining quietly in bed and sending nothing but a guard to the work, +who could effect no more than the watch himself? All the circumstances +combined in forcing one, understanding the matter, to the conclusion +that they acted knowingly and intentionally respecting the man. + +Do not understand me as charging them with intentionally and +deliberately murdering their victim, for this I do not, but that he fell +a sacrifice to a system of prison management that they were intent on +establishing; a system under which the officers are to be the sole +judges of the prisoners' needs, use them as they may choose, put them in +whatever condition they may see fit, and they in turn not allowed to +utter a word, nor give the slightest expression of feeling any more than +the dumb, driven ox. If they die, "it is of no account; he is only a +prisoner," as an officer said to me, respecting another who had died. + +On entering the hall the evening after Sylver's cruel death, I found the +prisoners greatly excited. One exclaimed, as loud as he thought prudent, +"Murder! murder! They have murdered one of our number." Another +remarked, "Well, we see what the fate of any of us may be, if taken +sick." Marked anxiety was depicted upon all their countenances; and who +would wonder? + + + + +27. _The Sylver case excitement and hearing before the Governor and +Council._ The brothers were greatly aroused at what they could see and +gather about this death, felt that deep iniquity had been practiced in +connection with it, and resolved on a criminal prosecution of the +warden. But, finding, from legal counsel, that they probably could not +make a case in that line hold, they were thrown into doubt respecting +what to attempt. + +Meanwhile the story of the affair spread in the community, carrying with +it exaggerated reports, that "Sylver was really murdered; was gagged and +left to die alone," and thus on. When passing the streets in the city, I +would be inquired of, if such were really the facts, to which I would +respond in the negative, that he died in the hospital with attendants +about him, but could explain no farther. Execrations at the prison +management were often heard. + +Whether true or not, I never ascertained, but report had it, that the +doctor felt called upon to demand an investigation of the affair before +the governor and council, and that the warden favored looking into the +other departments, and so a hearing was appointed to be had at the +council chamber one Friday evening, in the latter part of February, or +in early March. I was summoned to be present, but with no intimation for +what purpose. The Sylvers, when cherishing the idea of a criminal +prosecution, had looked about a little for evidence, and had secured +the statements of an overseer at the prison, when the death occurred, +written out in the form of an affidavit and sworn to before a justice of +the peace, and also those of a released prisoner. These were in the +hands of the lawyer they had employed, or purposed to employ, to manage +for them. This lawyer appeared, but it was understood that the brothers +had become disheartened and ceased to interest themselves in looking up +evidence, preparing for a thorough investigation of the death in +question; why, we know not. None were put on oath, hence the hearing +failed of bringing out important matter, as the men having it, would not +divulge unless under oath. + +I was called on first to testify and asked to state about the Sylver +case, but, as before related, I then knew but little of material value. +The transactions of that Wednesday night, I had, at that time, heard +something of, but to me they were only matters of report, and among the +points requiring the efficacy of the oath to bring them out. Hence, I +could say nothing of them. I was asked some questions about the prison +living, but on points concerning which I knew but little, and then was +turned directly to my own prison management. It seemed by the +questioning that, in this summary manner, with no opportunity to prepare +for defense, I was virtually put on trial for a violation of prison +rules on two points,--the correspondence, and passing information to +prisoners,--and called on to testify against myself. But I had nothing +to cover up, had acted in all cases as I thought to be right, so frankly +stated my whole proceedings in the matters, as near as I could recollect +on the spur of the moment, and also explained my motives, excepting that +I could not, of course, allude to anything of the warden's procedure as +making my efforts especially needful to the best order of the prison. +No one else was called to testify on these points; but I was kept +standing during the narrations and questionings till so far exhausted +that, perhaps between ten and eleven, I had to ask the privilege of +sitting. + +Then I was called on to state about my lecturing for the Prison Aid +Association, whether I had alluded to the prison or not. Having become +somewhat confused in mind, for the time, I could not recollect a single +allusion I had made, and therefore answered unqualifiedly, "I have not," +not thinking to say, "I have not to my present recollection." The +Governor replied, "There must be some mistake in the matter, for I have +received two letters from places where those lectures were given, +stating differently," and he called for another witness. + +As to the Sylver matter, the effort was made to leave the impression on +the mind that the patient really died of a heart difficulty, though he +probably would have died of the congestion, but not so soon. No +pretense, however, was made that any unhealthy condition was found about +the heart, except in the attending physician's assertion, that, on +puncturing the pericardium; a little gas, as he thought, whizzed out, +and that he recollected of having read in two medical works, of cases +where such a gas collection had proved fatal. The physicians whom the +Sylvers employed on the post mortem, were not present, and hence no +light was gained from that source. + +The lawyer presented the written statements of the released prisoner, +referring to the death, the cold, food matters, &c., at the prison, but +this was summarily swept from the board by the testimony of the steward: +"There is not a word of truth in his statement." I happened to know +personally, then, that some of the points in that statement were true, +and what I did not know myself agreed exactly with the general testimony +of the men leaving prison. But I was not referred to on the point and +thus that testimony was useless. The affidavit from the overseer, I +think, was not presented. + +At about two o'clock at night, the hearing was adjourned until the next +Monday evening, after which I arranged with the Governor to see him +Monday, P. M. I saw the letters referred to, which contained the +grossest misrepresentations, uttering sentiments I never thought of, or, +if I had, should not have expressed there, unless demented. + +I went home with a strong conviction that efforts were being made, by +whom I knew not, to turn the whole force of thought upon me and make of +me a scape goat in the matter. I retired, but not to shut my eyes in +sleep for the night. For a time my mind remained in confusion about +those lectures, but after resting awhile, and the excitement had passed +off, all came clearly to view, as given on a former page. + + + + +28. _Preparing for the adjourned session._ Saturday morning I wrote to a +few understanding and reliable gentlemen, who heard the lectures in +question, alluded to the letters and their allegations, and by return +mail received answers, asserting that, as nearly as they understood, and +by inquiry from others who heard, no such ideas were received as charged +in the missives, giving some ideas that were uttered, a very different +sentiment from the letters, and what no one could censure. That day, I +met the writer of one of those letters in the city, and to my inquiry, +he replied, "Oh, I did not hear the lecture, or know anything about +what was said, personally; but my son was present, and gave me what +information I had." I could but think, "A bright son that!" + +In the afternoon, I called on the Governor as appointed, and found him +very much excited over the matter. He talked almost incessantly for a +long time, but occasionally giving me opportunity for putting in a word. +I attempted to assure him that he was laboring under a great mistake +about my acts at the prison, that I had not been guilty of anything he +had in mind, and that he must have been misinformed. But my assurances +seemed to carry but little weight. He finally said, "Mr. Quinby, your +management at the prison has caused me more trouble and anxiety than all +my State business put together." I was perfectly astonished. There were +my incessant and most arduous labors for peace and quietness in the +institution, my great painstaking, with the sole view of leading the +prisoners to do right in every respect, with never a hint from me, to a +prisoner, of disapprobation of any prison officer or his acts,--with +never a word of dispute between any of us as officers, besides my +careful observance of all the prison rules to the letter, as I +understood them, to which I had ever felt impelled by a sense of duty, +and on which, for a long while, I had felt the importance of double and +thribble care. How could my management in these things cause the +Governor such trouble and anxiety? The truth now flashed in mind, that +setting the guards and overseers to watch me, had its purpose. Then, +there must have been a long and persistent course of running to his +Excellency with a tissue of misrepresentations. Had it really befallen +me as it befel the man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho? Things +certainly looked in that direction, and perhaps it was nothing more than +might have been anticipated; for, if one would persistently slander +innocent ladies, it would be natural for him to misrepresent me. If, at +every opportunity, he would defame the character of another, could I +rationally suppose that mine would be any safer in his hands? + +Having left the Governor with the settled conviction that my days of +incessant prison toil were virtually ended, a gentleman of influence in +the place, rode up to me in haste, with the remark, "Step aboard, Mr. +Quinby, you must have legal counsel in these matters. A combination is +formed to crush you, and the really guilty go free. I have volunteered +to engage such lawyers, and they wish to see you at once to learn the +true state of things and how to take hold of the case." Though I +insisted that it would be of no avail, he gave no heed to that, and soon +landed me at the proposed office door. I related, in brief, the general +facts as they had occurred, and the interview just had with the +Governor, to which the eldest of the number replied, "Your case is a +foregone conclusion. It is already decided. You can not do a thing." But +another proposed to consult with the attorney already in the work, and +arrange as thought advisable. + +Returning home, I found a friend waiting to inform me of the proffered +service of still another lawyer. Thus friends were aroused and clustered +around ready to help, as I had not anticipated. No little excitement +prevailed in the place. + + + + +29. _The adjourned hearing._ I went to this with ideas clear, thoughts +collected, mind pretty thoroughly aroused, and feeling ready to attempt +a vindication of the right. Being again called on first, I commenced, +referred to the assertion that I made the previous evening about not +alluding to the prison in my lectures, that I was wrong in this, that I +did refer to it, stating on what points, and the sentiments uttered, +presenting the letters that I had received, showing that I uttered no +such ideas as alleged, and gave a general outline of my reform moves at +the prison and the motives that impelled me to voluntarily assume such +excessive labors, closing thus: "And now, gentlemen, if, after doing all +this, I am to be crushed, it will be a hard case." + +They now referred to the other cases on which but little more was +brought out. Before closing, one of the council, turning to me, +remarked, "Now, Mr. Quinby, if you know of anything wrong at the prison, +not here developed, we wish you to be free and state it, for we desire +to understand the truth." But I did not think it best for me to say +anything farther then, for, if I did, it would be opening a square fight +with the warden, which I by no means desired, and for which I did not +feel myself prepared. It would have been really stepping forward as +leader in the matter, a position which I did not wish. Then, again, as I +supposed, such prejudice had somehow been aroused against me, that, +should I attempt to make further development, it would be of little or +no use, and perhaps be worse for the cause than my silence. Besides, I +hoped that the time would come, and that not far distant, when our +rulers would have their eyes opened, and matters be so effectually +sifted as to find the real truth. + +Thus, the hearing closed, and we left the deliberating body to make up +judgment, which was that "no blame is to be attached to any one," or to +that amount. This was just as I had anticipated respecting the Sylver +case, the food, &c., for the investigation really amounted to little in +those respects. I was truly disappointed, however, concerning myself, +not that any wrong, or even a shadow of it, was brought against me, but, +as I judged from the Governor's remarks and the general drift of things, +that certain ones had worked underhandedly, and so effectually as to +render my removal a sure matter. But they did not succeed. + + + + +30. _Motives for desiring the chaplain's removal._ One asks, "What could +be the motive of any for seeking your removal, if you had uniformly +proceeded at the prison as before set forth?" That was the puzzle to me, +for not a word had been said in that direction, except the note of +warning from the prisoner, till conversing with the Governor, and then +nothing specific; hence, I was left wholly to conjecture. My persistent +effort to keep alive, as far as possible, what I could of the reform +system of the past year, was, no doubt, repulsive to the warden, and in +order to be rid of that, he would need to be rid of me. This might be +one motive. Again, no little stir was being made in the city about +prison usages, prison suffering, &c. Probably he thought I was at the +bottom of that; that I wrote down facts inside, and divulged them +outside. Hence, the nettling that one of my practices caused. +Occasionally, I would be solving a long question in arithmetic for the +prisoner at the striking of the signal for retiring to the shop, at +which I would step aside, sit down, finish my solution, return the slate +to the prisoner's cell, and leave. I also, at times, noticed that the +deputy was watching me far more earnestly than the men. Then the +question was asked at the hearing, what I was writing on these +occasions. + +Now, if he considered me as the cause of this stirring up, he, of +course, would wish me away. This would be a strong motive. But I was +not. True, I wrote the stories of a number of the men, as they came out, +or till all were found telling over and over the very same thing, in +substance. These, however, I laid away in my drawer, saying nothing +about them to any one. But these men would also call on their former +Sabbath school teachers, or other acquaintances they had met in prison, +and relate to them their stories, and thus they spread. Neighbors would +call at my house, and be talking these matters over, I being as reticent +as possible, but would not come out squarely and lie in the matter by +contradicting the accounts. And, further, the points which I had brought +to the governor's notice were, without doubt, unsatisfactory to the +warden. Then, also, my fitting up the prisoners as they left. He perhaps +desired a man for the place, who might wish it so much as to be willing +to pass on with doing but little of what I was attempting. + +For months I supposed these the great motives which prompted that +removal. But the next year I learned of another and perhaps greater than +either of these. A man, retiring from prison, said to me, "Chaplain, how +amused we would feel sometimes, last year, when you were preaching, at +the appearance of the warden, to see him turn pale, and then red, and +hitch on his seat. We understood it." Another, usually present, not a +prisoner, said also that he had noticed the same thing. + +At the time in question, I was treating upon the moral code from Sabbath +to Sabbath, and would, in one discourse, take up lying, and point out as +clearly as I could its influence upon the one practicing it, and upon +society in general; then, perhaps, stealing, or swindling and thus on. +In these efforts, I was intent on discharging my duty to the prisoners, +on leading them from those sins, having nothing to do in the matter with +the warden as to any of his steps in life. If personal applications were +made, I was not responsible for that. I arranged for no such purpose. + +But when the man, on his release, made the remark given, the idea +flashed in my mind that here was a stirring motive to efforts for +getting rid of me, with the hope of obtaining one who might be willing, +on coming to certain sins, to let the plow of truth turn out, and not go +straight through. + +Whether that running to the Governor and that stirring him up so +greatly, was prompted by one or another of the above reasons, or all +combined, or something else, still, I never ascertained. Had charges +been preferred against me openly and squarely, I could have met them +face to face, known what was what, and shown their falsity. But as +things were, I was left in the dark as to how to proceed, and to what +conclusions I should come as to the motives prompting to the struggle to +my disadvantage. + + + + +31. _Chaplain's change of course and the question as to who should +conduct the prison correspondence._ After this hearing, I decided to +change my course in two respects, the one about going out to lecture on +Association matters, the other about writing to prisoners' friends. +These I wholly abandoned. True, nothing was said to me suggestive of +these changes, nor had I taken any wrong step on the points, but, in the +investigation, I was led to see that these were _the_ sources whence +misconception would be the most likely to arise, and where evil-minded +persons might pretend a wrong, with some show of plausibility, without +really any shadow of grounds in truth. I would not only shun every evil, +but every appearance of evil, or what might be construed into an +appearance. + +Great sensitiveness pervades too many minds on the idea of attempting to +show benevolence to a released prisoner, they holding it as a wrong to +society. These will not hear on the subject understandingly, but with +prejudice and a proclivity to misrepresent. Though the class does not +embrace, in its numbers, the more intelligent, worthy citizens, yet it +contains more or less who possess the power of casting mists of +blindness before the well-disposed and honest seekers for the right. + +In this class, we find the ideas of the brutal and vindictive freely +cropping out in their utterances. "Those fellows ought to suffer. They +were put in prison for punishment, now let them have enough of it, so +that they may thus learn to do better, no matter if it were ten times +worse." These persons seem to think that the correct way of prison +management would be to select the most hard-hearted, cruel men of the +State for officers, and deliver the convicts into their hands, for them +to exercise their brutal feelings upon as fully and freely as they may +choose. These points, then, evidently need to be agitated in the State, +by lecturers and through the press, but it were better that this work be +done by others than by the prison chaplain. + +The loss of my occasional writing was severely felt, especially by +outside friends. Thus, on Fast day of '71, a prisoner wrote a letter to +a sister in the West, and asked for an envelope and stamp that he might +send it, but weeks and months passed and none were forthcoming. There +was the idea, "You must not ask a second time." The sister became +deeply troubled at not hearing from or about the brother, not knowing +whether he were dead or alive, and wrote to me, earnestly beseeching to +be informed. But as I was now under the ban, I did not answer her. She +also wrote to the ex-warden, but he was away and did not answer. In the +fall, when that gentleman of Concord was chosen warden, she wrote to +him, but, as he was sick and knew nothing of the matter, he did not +respond. And no doubt she also wrote to the warden himself; but probably +has not heard to this day. + +Formerly, I should have written her something like this: "Your brother +is alive, in usual health, and progressing well. Don't be over-anxious +till he may write you." In this way I could have satisfied her, +measurably, at least with no reflection, in any way, on prison +management. + +This neglect of the deputy seemed the more cruel from the fact that the +man was a most faithful, obedient prisoner, and that this sister had +previously furnished him with ample writing materials, that he might +write frequently with no expense to the State, which materials the +warden had confiscated on coming into office. + +In connection with this matter, the important question comes up, In +whose hands, really, should the prison correspondence be placed?--in +those of the warden or chaplain? The correspondence, to be well managed, +requires no little labor, especially if the inmates are permitted to +write as they should and receive answers in return. If, in the warden's +hands, it would tend to crowd other business too much, or itself be too +much neglected, the latter having been the fact. + +To avoid all this, in various places, they put the management in the +hands of the chaplain. This would seem the more appropriate, being +rather in his line of duty, and more easily performed by him. A schedule +of the points of information, which should be allowed to pass, could be +marked out by the competent authority and laid before him for his +guidance, that matters might be correct in that respect. + +This question ought to receive the careful attention of our law-makers, +for proper letter writing should not be restricted in any degree in the +prison. Good letters from home and friends will bring with them no +little reformatory power and influence to quietness and order. Indeed, +the privilege, by proper management, can be made a great force in +disciplinary efforts among the prisoners. + + + + +32. _Change, for a time, in the warden's management._ Shortly after the +death of Sylver, a man, occupying a cell near by, was taken sick, but +could sit up the most of the time. As he said, the warden went to him +and remarked, "I am warden here. Be free, and ask for whatever you need, +and you shall have it." He permitted this man to sit with his cell door +unlocked, and to go to the stove when he chose, and, to all appearance, +properly cared for him, giving reason for much commendation. True, he +was shortly to leave prison, and his statement would go towards +counteracting the reports of prison cruelty circulating outside, and +some were uncharitable enough to contend that this was the object of the +better treatment. + +One evening, about this time, I found a prisoner in his cell appearing +as though he could live but a few hours, and perhaps minutes, unless +immediately attended to. He had been in the hospital a number of weeks +with a lung difficulty and, though he had not recovered, was +transferred sometime that day, I think, to his cell,--to a colder +atmosphere. Here, he found it difficult to speak or breathe. I hastened +to the warden for him to attend to the matter. He hurried for the +physician, who soon arrived, and had the sufferer returned to the +hospital, where he died some weeks after. This was one of my only three +requests or suggestions that were granted or favorably attended to by +the warden while I was under him. True, I was not denied many times, for +I early learned not to propose anything or make any request, except when +absolutely needed. + +This changed course in the warden, however, did not continue many weeks. +That hearing and its acquittal had passed, and the Sylver affair was +dying away, when, at length, I thus found him returned to his former +spirit. Though early in the season, on a warm day, he had divested the +sick of their flannels, and I suppose all other prisoners. Soon the +weather became cooler, and I found a sick man in the hospital suffering +greatly for want of his flannels, which articles, as he asserted, he had +not previously been without, summer or winter, for twenty years. He was +trembling with the cold, which much enhanced his distress. Going to the +warden, I presented the case, and received the reply, "If he wants his +flannels, let him ask the doctor." He could meddle in the matter enough +to divest the man of the needed articles, but would not move to put them +on, and thus mitigate his sufferings. It was then early in the +afternoon, and the man would have to suffer till the next forenoon, the +usual time for the doctor to make his visit. When he came, as I was +informed, he lectured them severely for removing the flannels at all. + + + + +33. _The fate of Henry Stewart and others._ Henry was said to have been +exceedingly unfortunate in his parents, they having been largely +chargeable with his proclivities to evil. He was highly excitable, +easily thrown into a perfect phrensy of passion, insane at times, and, +on the whole, very difficult to manage, requiring a large amount of +patience and skill in those over him. They needed to study his +peculiarities and accommodate their treatment to his particular case, +much the same as would the driver of a vicious, balky horse. The former +managers had so treated him, that he had really improved, and his +condition was appearing more and more hopeful. But in the new order, +where officers were not expected to bother themselves over +peculiarities, it was different with Henry. Though laboring with +faithfulness generally, what was bred within would appear in outward +acts. When a spell came on, they would "shake him up," as the deputy +said (the import of which I did not fully understand), and put him in +the solitary. At length his insanity, or whatever had impelled him, +would pass off, and he come out in his right mind. Confinement to his +cell would probably have been just as effective in securing his good +deportment and less injurious to his health. Whenever I visited him, he +would appear hopeful, tell what a good boy he proposed to be, how he +meant to live, and not get into any more trouble; that he should soon be +out, and would then strive to be a good man. Many air castles the poor +fellow thus built, but to see them fall. The prison fare and general +management was now highly unfavorable to his proclivities, tending +constantly to make them worse. Men repeatedly told me that the officers +would severely beat him, and that he was sadly abused. One day, in a +freak of insanity or anger, he struck his overseer to the floor with a +bed-post, coming within a hair's breadth of ending his life, and was +aiming a second blow, which a fellow prisoner arrested, and thus saved +the overseer. Henry was put in the solitary, and I know not how long +kept there, nor how used; but when, at length, I found him in his cell, +he was greatly changed. I was perfectly astonished! He was not only +insane, but changed in physical appearance; shrunken in flesh and with a +strange expression of countenance. For a time, I could hardly believe it +was Henry, but finally had to admit that it was really he. I have seldom +seen one with a fever change more for the time. Soon his insanity took a +boisterous turn by night, keeping the other prisoners all awake, which +induced them for a time to confine him to the solitary during these +hours, and keep him in his cell by day. But his howls so disturbed the +prison family, that they next resorted to keeping him in the shop by +night, lying upon his back, his feet chained together, with a post +between them. + +Thus, they continued for a season, but finally, the governor sent him to +the insane asylum. Shortly after, I was speaking to one of Henry, in +hearing of the warden, as being insane, to which he replied, "No, he is +not insane. He is ugly, of which I could have cured him, had his time +not been so near out." I thought, "You _would_ have cured him by death, +and were very near it." + +As he was taken to the asylum, the warden said to me, "Chaplain, I wish +it understood that he is taken out to be tried for attempting to kill +his overseer," thereby expressing the desire, as I understood it, for me +to give that version of the matter to the prisoners. "What an idea!" I +answered in my mind, "the chaplain going about lying for the warden!" + +Fisher was naturally of a low order of mind, but still possessed +knowledge enough to work well at many things under the direction of +another, was to come out the early part of March, but whom I missed from +his cell a while previous, and, from his long absence, began to suppose +they had sent him off unbeknown to me. But the day previous to the +expiration of his sentence, I found him again in his cell, completely +demented. I was told by more than one, that his overseer, attempting to +direct him in a certain way about his work and not succeeding, seized +him by the collar, plunged him head foremost to the floor, and then +jerked him about, he probably now uttering some disrespectful words; +then the deputy was called and took him to the solitary, I was also +informed, and plunged him against the outer prison door, on the way, +with such force as to push it open. + +When first finding him in his cell, as stated, I asked where his father +lived, and he answered, "Enfield," as I understood it. But after that, I +could not obtain even a sound from his lips. He kept almost constantly +spitting, would frequently laugh to himself, but I could learn nothing +about his legal residence. I was expected to care for him, and would not +turn him loose to suffer and perhaps perish; but I found that I should +be liable for damage, should I send him to another town. True, the +State, by her prison management, had reduced him to this wretched +condition, and ought to bear the expense of maintaining him, but there +was no law or provision for that. Hence, finding it my only safe and +legitimate course, I obtained a decree from the probate judge, took him +to the insane asylum, and notified the commissioners of that county, of +the same. + +No doubt, with proper prison fare and treatment, both of these men +might have come out able to earn their living, under proper guardians, +which they would have needed; and that the fate of both was directly +chargeable to the prison treatment. + +There was one, also, who left after my departure from prison, belonging +to another State, who had become nearly as demented as Fisher. Hence, +they obtained for him a railroad pass, and put him on board the cars +with a label fastened upon his arm, directing him to be transferred to +such a State and town, where his friends were supposed to live. He, too, +I doubt not, was reduced to that demented condition by the prison +treatment for he was far from such a state at the beginning of the year. + + + + +34. _Warden's want of courtesy to prisoners' visitors._ By rule, no +friend is allowed to see a prisoner except in presence of the warden or +a subordinate that he may hear whatever is said. The time allowed for a +visit is usually short, and the parties, of course, wish to make the +most of every moment. But no little complaint was made, that, when the +interview was in the warden's presence, he would engross much of the +time in recounting his exploits in prison management, the disorders he +found, the corrections he had made, how they would deceive his +predecessor, but could not deceive him, and the like. No matter how far +one had come, or at what expense, he would, perhaps, be treated thus. +Some, on going away, having had an opportunity of saying but few words +to the prisoner whom they visited, would utter remarks which were +anything but complimentary to the man thus imposing upon them, as they +regarded it, and to the State for allowing such things to occur. + + + + +35. _Effects of the new order upon the prisoners._ The mental effects +have been spoken of in three cases. These were the most marked of that +type. The effects on the physical system were also very apparent. It +could not be otherwise, for the men lost no little flesh. One man said +he weighed himself about the time the order in question commenced, and +found his weight some one hundred and eighty pounds. He left after being +under the system a little more than six months, and had lost some +twenty-five pounds in weight. And I should judge this to be a fair +general average, according to their appearance, of the change in most of +the prisoners.[3] + +[Footnote 3: The Bill of Fare at the prison for this year can not be +given, as it was not, to the writer's knowledge, published.] + +And why not this result? A large number did not pretend to eat any +dinner on Mondays, and many more ate but little. There was such a +general carrying back of the food at this meal, that I decided to count +particularly and see exactly what the facts were. On two consecutive +Mondays in April, I think, I did this and found a dozen or over, not +even taking their dishes to their cells, so had nothing to eat; +thirty-two each day, returned their basins, all, I think, with the bit +of bread gone, a large number not having touched the wheat part, some +having eaten a very little, and others more, but all returning more or +less of that; then the dishes of the remaining prisoners would be empty. +Those were the only days I counted so carefully in the spring, but +judged them to be fair samples for that time of the year. But the number +was not small who did not pretend to take this meal while the cracked +wheat appeared. Then, as informed, they would pursue a similar course +with certain other meals, for instance, when the fish was served. Some +would not take the soup meal. The Sabbath morning repast of baked beans +was ever spoken of as good, satisfactory both in quality and quantity. +One man said his custom was to save some of the beans as a relish for +his meals early in the week. The peas were complained of as bad. One +overseer said to a prisoner, who was making his dinner of these, "I +would as soon take so much shot into my stomach." The lack of vegetables +was severely felt, especially that of onions, though I was informed they +purchased a bushel, or so, in the winter, of very small onions, or +scullions, as many call them. In the spring, I found a man in his cell +sick, who said he was having symptoms of the scurvy, a difficulty he had +in the army, that he was suffering much for the want of vegetables, and +that he knew of others also suffering from these scurvy symptoms. + +The warden, of course, well knew of this dislike of the food, but the +men must take what he allowed or go without. A man asserted, on leaving +prison, that the warden said to him, "All I have against you is, that +you would not take your rations better." He replied, "I purposed to obey +the prison rules, but did not feel myself bound to eat what I could not +relish." One who was sick in his cell with a dispeptic difficulty, said +he could not take brown bread as it soured on his stomach, but could eat +white bread, for which he had asked, but to no purpose. I mentioned the +matter to the steward, asking if he could not have the white bread. He +answered, "No. They indulged him in that under the former administration +and he thinks he must continue to have it, but now every one is to fare +alike, so he must take his chance with the rest." + +But the reader will ask, "Did not this warden allow the men who chose, +to take anything extra?" Certainly. The former custom had been to place +brown bread, cut in slices, near the rations, each man having the +privilege of taking as many slices extra as he might choose. Or, he +would convey dishes with extra rations to certain cells afternoons if +requested, or when the occupants were to work extra evenings. This +warden allowed any, desiring, to take of the brown bread extra, but only +one slice each. I would now, also, though very seldom, see dishes of +cracked wheat setting on the beds as extra rations, or basins of +hash-skins.--The reader understands that, in making hash, more or less +will dry, or burn upon the sides of the kettle, leaving a thick skin +when all the eatable part is removed.--This skin, scraped from the +kettle, composed these hash-skins, perfectly dry as husks. This was to +save everything and have nothing wasted.--The reader will understand +again, that when distributing books to the cells, and looking after the +books, I could not avoid seeing these things. + +With the failing flesh also went the strength to work. A man described +the effect on himself, thus: "On first going into the shop after eating, +I feel quite vigorous for my task, but soon a peculiar goneness comes +on, and finally becomes so that what I do is through fairly driving my +system." He had been very vigorous, able to go through almost anything, +but what he had passed here proved sufficiently powerful to bring him +down. + +An overseer told me, that the men in his division became so weak that it +required great effort on his part to keep some of them at their task, +they being hardly able to stand up by their machines. But his duty +forced him to keep them there as long as they could do anything, though +a part became unable to accomplish more than one quarter of their +ordinary work. His heart would really ache for the fellows. + +It should be recollected that everything in the shop, but tending them, +is done by machines, each operation having a machine for performing it, +the business of the prisoners being to pass the articles to and from the +respective workers. Hence, the amount of work turned out did not, of +course diminish in proportion with the failing strength of the workmen, +as must have been the case in the old method of hand planing, sawing, +&c. + +I subsequently learned that food would be carried into the shop for the +suffering men, but I know not to what extent. At first mentioning, I +thought that it could not have been done, and expressed the doubt, but +my informer explained how, showing a perfectly feasible way. + +The effect of the new system was plainly visible, too, on the health of +the men. This, of course, could not be avoided. A man, who was very +healthy, and vigorous to work when it commenced, ran through the winter +into early spring when he began signally to fail, said he could not eat +the rations any longer, and went without food of any amount, still +constantly performing his task, till his system entirely broke down, and +he was taken to the hospital for a drugging course, the doctor remarking +to me that he had "failed with no apparent cause." I think the want of +food was sufficient cause. Had he received proper care and suitable +aliment, he would, doubtless, have been spared this sickness. I was +informed that, when he was near death's door, he was pardoned, to die +with his friends. + +Another, who had fallen a victim to prison treatment and was in the last +stages of consumption, said to me, "Had they used me as well when I was +in health and able to work as they now do, I should not have been here +at this time." Calling the next day, I learned that he had received +pardon and been carried home, that he might die there. His stay, I +learned, was very short. + +How many of these pardons were granted in view of death, I never knew. +They were gratifying to friends most certainly, but would make the +prison mortality appear smaller than it really was. For, surely, if a +man sickened in prison and received pardon as above, his demise should +of right be set down as among the prison deaths. + +A man came out in the spring, having been a prisoner one year; was well +and robust when entering, but the ordeal of the winter brought on a +rheumatic difficulty, so that towards its close he was really sick, and, +as he remarked, solicited the warden for the privilege of laying off and +doctoring a little, with the answer, "I know what the matter is with +you, you wish to get rid of work; you can go to the shop;" and he was +given no respite, nor was anything done for him while there. He went +home so used up, that, as his father asserted, it did not seem that he +could have lived at the prison but a few weeks longer. He revived, +however, with home air and home treatment, worked considerably through +the summer, but, as fall came on, had a return of the rheumatic trouble +contracted in prison, with which he suffered many months, and died. A +number of others, too, on their leaving, I found completely broken down, +who were sent away to friends, or places of their usual abode, to be +maintained by relatives or at public expense. A man, when leaving, said +that he had there sometimes been forced to work, when so sick that five +dollars a day would have been no temptation to him for thus laboring. +One was reported to me as having been kept to his machine till fainting, +and then carried to the hospital. One, with a consumptive difficulty, +not able to work in the shop, was put in the cook-room to do what he +could there, and kept at his task till, one Sabbath eve, he was taken to +the hospital where he died the next Tuesday morning. + +But why pursue this dark recital? All such management, of course, made +the prison sickness appear less in the physician's account than the +reality. It seemed fortunate to the men that the term of sentence to +many so expired as to leave them under this rule but a comparatively +short time. + +In conversation with an overseer here, who had large experience, the +idea was started as to how long time would be required for the system +reigning at the prison this year to use up completely the number it +commenced with, could all have been kept truly under its influence, with +no respite or mitigation. His conclusion was some two years. Nor could I +think he was much out of the way, that is, take the case as it bore on a +large share. + +The system left its legitimate effects on the minds of the inmates, +aside from driving to insanity and idiocy, namely, irritability, angry +feeling, or moroseness. Under the former rule, the men, when leaving, +would generally express much gratitude towards officers and friends for +the interest taken in their welfare, apparently filled with a hope and +inspiration here gained, prompting them to strive for their own best +good, from which no little advantage, to them, might be hoped. But under +this rule, how different! Men fully admitting the justice of their +sentence, and having come with the purpose of serving it out +submissively, and with not a word of fault-finding, would go away +complaining of the wrongs done them in the general prison fare, their +hearts filled with bitter feelings, prompting them to execrate those +from whom they had suffered these wrongs, and curse the State for +putting such men in power over the prison. One who was so reduced that +he found it a task to walk about, remarked, on leaving, "I have some +accounts to settle with them over there" (meaning the warden and +deputy), "and if I recover, I shall return to Concord and settle with +them. I will have my pay unless they are the strongest." Some would +leave with the feeling of _don't care_ as to what course they should +take. + +What was said above as to losing flesh among the prisoners, should be +taken with some exceptions. The cooks could manage to satisfy their +demands of appetite. So also could those doing common chores. Some were +naturally very small eaters, and some would eat all furnished them, +however prepared. The females had such food as went to the warden's +table, and, so far as I learned, what they needed, and ever appeared in +good heart, except when sick. + +A female prisoner, for some offence, was condemned to her cell for a +week and to feed on the rations from the other part, which was held by +her probably as a God-send rather than a punishment, for it gave the +females the very opportunity desired for really seeing on what the men +had to live. After this, when a woman left she was not slow in her +declamations against the miserable fare of the men, and how they must of +necessity suffer. + + + + +36. _Comparative prison order for the two years._ Some represent that +the present warden found great abuses in the prison, all of which he has +corrected. No doubt, this idea has quite extensively prevailed, and that +interested parties have taken no little pains to extend the impression +as widely as possible. Let us, then, look to the point with care, and +give full credit for whatever has been gained in that direction. + +The warden banished from the prison all bouquets and flowers, and talked +of them in the most sneering manner, contending that the practice of +presenting them to prisoners was the most outrageous wrong. He has put +an end to all attendance, from the city, upon prison meetings of every +class, except when he may give special invitation himself; has abolished +all lecturing to the inmates by outsiders; and would have abolished the +secular school, but for the persistent efforts of the chaplain; has +ended the custom of having the female prisoners assemble with the males +in the chapel Sabbath mornings for worship, requiring all moral efforts +made for them to be put forth in their work room. He has also ended all +funeral observances at the prison, cut off all distribution of religious +tracts to the prisoners, and all trinkets or trinket-making in the +cells, and has forbidden the receiving of presents from friends, +excepting tobacco, &c. + +If there were prison abuses in any or all of these, he has effectively +corrected them, and should receive the full credit. + +Then there were those two orders which he established in the shop, and +he should be credited with whatever good they secured. The one was, that +a man, meeting company in a door or pass-way, must turn and face the +wall till they had passed, thus professedly not seeing them, though, +before turning, he must have enjoyed the sight of all. The other rule +was, that the men, when waiting for work, must stand at their machines, +and by no means sit down. + +In respect to account-keeping, no comparison can be made, for, previous +to the service of this warden, the arrangement had been entered into for +him to have no concern with that, the financial matters being attended +to by an agent. + +We come next to the behavior of the prisoners, the great point really to +be looked at,--the one which outsiders, no doubt, always suppose to be +meant, when reading or hearing about gains in prison order. In the +chapel, with the most critical observation and careful weighing, I could +not discover the slightest difference. The behavior was good, equally +good at all times, in both years. So, also, in the hall, as far as my +knowledge extended. As to the shop, I could not pretend to judge from +personal observation, but an overseer, who served under both, gave me +all needed information. He said, that he found it more difficult to keep +order in his division the second year than during the first; that some +were more excitable, revengeful, inclined to vent their spite on their +machines, if nothing else; to throw those out of order and break things +generally, costing him far greater effort to manage them. The uniform +testimony of the men leaving prison has been in the same +direction,--that they were more inclined to watch their overseers and +take the advantage to commit little misdemeanors, as would naturally +arise from this increased prompting to vent their ill-feelings. + +So far as I learned, more contraband information was smuggled in during +the second than the first year; certainly I heard it often alluded to. +They would hint at outside matters that I knew nothing of, and in a way +that showed considerable knowledge of them. Take an illustration: The +day after Pike's nomination as governor, a prisoner said, half +inquiringly, "Well, it seems that Pike is nominated." I could not say +"No," in truth, and, from my position, was not allowed to say, "Yes." +Hence I answered, in a joking way, "How much you think you know about +the outside world;" to which he replied, "I do know. I had a paper +brought me that very afternoon, before it was dry, giving an account of +the whole proceedings. He will be elected, too, and we shall have +different fare at the prison."--What one knew would be communicated to +others, so, of course, this fact was generally understood among the +inmates. + +I have since learned, that, during the second year, a somewhat regular +correspondence was carried on between the two wings, three couples, I +think, thus making their arrangements for marriage, to be consummated +shortly after their release. And the enjoyment to them was, that some of +these letters were passed directly before the warden's face and eyes, +without his notice. + +One letter from the south wing was miscarried, and fell into his hands, +for which the sender was locked up and thus gained the knowledge, above +referred to, of the men's rations. But, nothing daunted at the fate of +this missive, she prepared another and sent it before her release, or +very soon after, which passed in safety. Besides this irregularity, +parties in prison corresponded with those even out of the State, giving +a pretty full account of the prison management, a friend of mine being +shown quite a pile of these letters. + +Hence, taking all things into account as to the deportment of the +prisoners, we are forced to the conclusion that no improvement was +secured the second year over the first, but rather a loss, that is, so +far as I saw or heard. + +The warden, of course, did his best towards preventing all prison +abuses, for he considers himself a very smart prison officer, so shrewd +that no prisoner can get the advantage of him. But he sometimes found +more than his match. Some thought it not a very hard matter to "pull the +wool over his eyes." The question has more than once been asked, "Is it +possible that he can be so befogged?" Why not? He is an old man, between +seventy and eighty, of great self-esteem, perhaps entering his dotage. +If such a man be placed in so responsible a position, what may we +expect? + + + + +37. _Good traits in the warden for prison service._ He possessed two +most excellent and important traits for a prison officer. He was usually +at his post, would be but seldom away and then only for a short time, +but once, I think, for a few days, during the year. He would also be +almost constantly looking after things himself, not leaving matters +altogether to subordinates. True, some would complain of finding him in +unsuspected and rather out-of-the-way places, but it taught them ever to +be on the alert, ready for inspection at all times. + +While, however, these traits, with a moderate share of judgment, would +qualify one for running a steam engine, other and still higher and more +important qualities are needed for managing a prison. + + + + +38. _Chaplain's inability to prevent knowing more or less of the +prisoner's troubles and the prison management._ If the chaplain is alive +to the prisoners' moral needs, their sorrows of heart and intent on +affording the requisite advice, in searching for knowledge how to +direct his words, he will often, of necessity, learn more of things in +general than he desires. The case of the young man spoken of in Sec. 25, +who had been in the solitary and gave this as an excuse for no lesson, +is in point. He was making no complaint, but simply excusing himself. +This plea, however, brought with it an idea that no little lack of +prudence may have existed in a point of prison management, but of which +I could not judge without knowing further circumstances. Thus there are +numerous incidental ways by which knowledge will come to mind unbidden. +Men, thinking themselves ill-treated, or who see others wronged, will +speak of these things before he can stop them, and thus some knowledge +of wrong, perhaps, is gained. For example: A man in his cell, no little +excited, commenced: "How my blood boiled this afternoon at seeing them +throw S., that sick man, on those timbers, and hurt him so." But just as +soon as I saw his drift, I called out, "Hold on. You know I must not +hear about that." Before I could stop him, however, enough was in the +mind to raise the supposition that the feeble one was being abused, +which idea subsequently received confirmation from the fact of his +death. + + + + +39. _Secular school success._ My course was to commence at No. 120 and +call at every cell in succession, where the inmate would engage in +study, till arriving at No. 1, and then over again in regular order, +being able, to "go the rounds," as we called it, about twice a week, +each receiving my attention only so often. + +I had quite a variety of exercises. Two commenced their alphabet, +although some twenty-four years old. A number took reading in easy +sentences, with spelling. Some thirty took arithmetic in its various +stages, a few, as in the year previous, taking it up in review a while +before leaving. A number in this branch made good proficiency, +considering their disadvantages. Two took book-keeping, one doing but +little, the other obtaining such a knowledge of the science as to +prepare him to keep books passably well. But this was under +difficulties. Having no blanks for practice, I obtained for him three +large slates, one for day book and so on. But soon I found him with +blanks all ruled. True, they were made of brown wrapping paper, on which +he would write with a pencil. Asking no questions, I looked to his work +as he pushed on with all energy and determination. No one could be more +diligent. + +One, having been a machinist, expressed a desire, a while previous to +his liberation, for an opportunity to practice somewhat on mechanical +drawing. I obtained some patterns, carrying him one at a time. He would +copy them with great exactness, and had been called on occasionally to +draw working patterns for machinery in the shop. How lamentable that a +man of his talents should go into service. + +One took Latin, went through the grammar, and became able to read +somewhat in the reader. He expressed a determination to obtain an +education, when released, for which he was striving, when last heard +from. + +One, a house painter by trade, took arithmetic, and English grammar. He +was quick to learn, and a keen, smart fellow. He frequently expressed +the wish that he could learn something of ornamental painting, and thus +be able to work on signs and fancy carriages, when liberated. I, of +course, could do nothing for him at that, directly. But it occurred to +me that perhaps I could, in a measure, indirectly. I could perhaps start +him somewhat in penciling, thus leading his mind to a practical +knowledge of making the sketches and outlines of what he would wish to +paint. This idea he grasped with avidity, commencing, in a drawing-book +that I furnished him, on simple outlines, thence to shading, and finally +to foliage, showing as good improvement as is usually found in our +schools. And this exhibited the more talent in him from the fact that I +could give only a few general hints at the work, from what I had +gathered by hearing teachers when directing their pupils. Hence, when +coming to difficulties, he was left to work upon them as best he could, +till conquered. + +Having a work on Perspective, from which I had gained a few ideas, I +gave him some hints on that. But we had nothing to practice upon but the +inside of the prison, the walls and windows. He labored somewhat on the +idea of the vanishing point, and that of the diminution of the angle of +vision as distance increases. + +Thus, the reader will see, our school took a somewhat wide range. I +would interest the mind, so far as could be, in what would profit, and +thus beget a love for truth and turn the attention away from wrong. With +the wholesome ideas gathered in these studies, I would also inculcate +the moral, to elevate the thoughts and heart to the truly good. Here, I +constantly kept in view the idea of the best interest of the prisoner +and the State. + +This labor was most fatiguing. Standing there at the cell doors with no +means of sitting, I would, at times, become so completely exhausted as +to be obliged to retire to rest a while. Then, taking the air from the +cells would occasionally be most repulsive and injurious to health, the +whole weakening to the system. + +I attempted to have a short school exercise with the females twice a +week, but word soon came that they could not be spared for that, and the +effort was abandoned. The pupils did as much, perhaps, as could +rationally be expected, under the circumstances. Could we have had the +school in the chapel, greater results would have crowned our efforts, +with much less labor. + +Though I was wholly cut off at first from having an evening school in +the chapel, near the latter part of January, the warden informed me that +I might have one there on Thursday evenings, if I would give up the +prayer meeting, but not to begin till warmer weather. I could not harbor +the idea, for a moment, of relinquishing the prayer meeting, and +supposed I must wait for the proposed Thursday evening effort till the +warden moved. At length, I found that he was waiting for me, when it was +too late to move in the matter at all. Indeed, had we attempted the +effort when first spoken of, it would probably have been more trouble +than benefit. + +As to the penciling, nothing was said by any in disapprobation of it, +yet, after that hearing, with the thought that possibly this might be +one of the points of offense, I took from him all the materials except, +perhaps, the slip on perspective, which he greatly regretted. + + + + +40. _Sabbath school success._ The prison year commences the first of +May. The former warden continued some ten weeks into the second year, +during which time the Sabbath school attendance remained as usual, +averaging eighty-six. + +On the first Sabbath of the new order nearly the same number were in +attendance. But many had no teachers provided, and I could have nothing +to do about arranging for the school's best interest.[4] The following +Sabbath brought a great falling off, still greater the next, and so on. +In a few weeks the warden peremptorily dismissed one of the teachers he +had invited, telling him that if he would call at another time, he would +give his reason. + +[Footnote 4: In speaking of the Sabbath school teachers employed, page +69, the author intended to say, such a number that each teacher could +have a guard stand by him and see that nothing contraband passed.] + +At first, a prisoner would occasionally ask a question, as usual, and a +little discussion spring up; but the warden at once crushed all this, +requiring the teachers simply to put the questions as in the book and +the pupil to give the answer and nothing more. The number continued to +fall off until it went below thirty, giving me fears that none would +attend, all my efforts for their continuance being of no avail. No +excuse would usually be given. But one said, "I won't attend with such a +warden," and I judged this the general reason. At length I found +uneasiness pervading the teachers, one having determined to resign; but +I entreated him to remain for the sake of the prisoners and the Sabbath +school, for, if he left, his class would follow, dropping the number to +twenty or under, and all would be likely to take the same course. He did +not feel satisfied with laboring under such circumstances, with a guard, +may be a mere boy, at his side to watch him, and he, perhaps, turned off +as unceremoniously as the other. He preferred going of his own accord. +But my plea prevailed, and he remained. + +The average attendance after the advent of the new order was +forty-eight; for the whole year, fifty-seven. + + + + +41. _Religious success._ The contrast between the religious element of +the present year and that of the past was painful. Still, among those +who at first gave up all hope of struggling against the tide, a few were +induced to forsake that ground and struggle on; thus we hope something +of the past was saved. + +In my discourses I felt impelled to dwell more largely on the moral +code, to which the inmates gave respectful attention. The prayer +meetings were well attended, though but few of the inmates would take +any part. One of the Sabbath school teachers was usually present, and +labored with good effect. We took up more of the time in Bible +exposition, which would occasionally seem to awaken some interest. + +As to our true religious success this year, or the real good +accomplished, none but that Being who knows all things can decide. One +thing is certain, much earnest, prayerful effort to that end was made, +much hard labor performed. But it is difficult rowing against wind and +tide. Still, we probably shared in as large success as could reasonably +be looked for under all the circumstances. + + + + +42. _Lack of truthfulness at the prison._ We are often told that no +confidence can be placed in the word of a prisoner. But in my experience +under the new rule, I was taught the sad lesson that I could place no +greater confidence in the assertions of some of the officers. A +complaint of this character had repeatedly been made by released +prisoners. Still, it required personal experience to enable me to +appreciate its full and lamentable force. Hence, the shock I felt at the +virtual request of the warden for me to join in the falsehood course, by +telling the prisoners that Henry Stewart, when removed to the insane +asylum, was taken out to be tried for attempts to murder his +overseer.--Then, again, there were the assertions I repeatedly heard the +warden make to prison visitors, on passing through the cook-room. "We +give the prisoners good food and enough of it. We purchase the best of +articles the market affords, and have the food well prepared." He would +repeat this in earnestness and apparent sincerity, as though he really +believed it himself.--Subsequently, a gentleman of the city, of +undoubted veracity, being about to visit the parents of a prisoner, +called and asked the warden how he was, with the answer, "He is all +right; you may tell his folks that he is all right." In a few days +after, it was found that, at the very time of this assertion, the man +was so sick that the doctor had nearly given him over to die. + +Then I would sometimes smile and sometimes feel sorrowful at his +changeable appearance; perhaps if one of influence and authority came +in, he would put on peculiar airs of suavity, and expatiate upon how +things were and should be in prison, while one without that influence +might enter and receive entirely different treatment. I here see how our +rulers may have been led on at times, unaware of the true state of +things in the institution. How easy to cover up! + +Then in the female department, I called for a convict in order to +arrange for her disposal on leaving prison, and was told, "The assistant +is in the city with the key to their apartment, therefore you can not +see the woman." But how was I surprised shortly to learn that, at the +moment of this assertion, the assistant was in the kitchen at work, and +known to be there by my informant. + +Is it any wonder that such people disbelieve in prison reform? + + + + +43. _Reported quarrel between the warden and chaplain._ The idea has +been circulated, how extensively I know not, that the warden and +chaplain had a quarrel between them at the prison. It seems to have +pervaded some minds in the legislature at Concord in '71, being used to +the disadvantage of a bill before that body in regard to the prison, the +fate of which perhaps was made to turn on that. No doubt a certain +Concord gentleman, who had an ax of his own to grind in connection, +knows very well how this report was made so prevalent. Whether he or +another started it, I know not. + +But that idea had not the slightest foundation in truth. The +circumstances of our official intercourse in all that passed, have been +faithfully set forth in the preceding pages, and the reader can see for +himself that there was no quarreling. When the warden told me to "bring +the key back and not touch it any more," I did as required, without +uttering a word. When I told him what I should do about fixing up the +Maine man before sending him away, his remark was in no fault-finding +tone. When he pointed out my work at first, and in our connected +colloquy, all our words were civil and courteous, no unpleasantness in +tone; and when he informed me on the point of the man's glasses and the +sick man's flannels, I gave him no unkind answer. And where was the +quarreling? Nowhere. It did not exist. He taught me my bounds after the +manner he did, and I accepted them and conformed my moves thereto with +not a lisp of fault-finding. He never spoke a word in disapprobation of +what I was doing, but that all was agreeable to his mind. Again, where +was that place of quarreling? Not in the prison between the warden and +chaplain. Whenever we met, it was on the most civil terms, we invariably +passing the compliments of the day. + +True, we each had our notions on prison reform, he thinking that +attempts in that direction are useless, that, when one has fallen into +prison we can not reform him, that punishment is _the_ great mission of +the prison, and thus on; I, supposing that reform is practicable, that +we should faithfully use all available means for it, and make it the +paramount object of imprisoning. On the question of prison order we were +exactly alike in sentiment,--perfect order, strict discipline,--though, +perhaps, varying as to the ultimate results, he securing that as a +deterrent to crime; I, as an important and indispensable element in +reform, leading the once erring to that state of mind in which he will +hate wrong and love right. + +Then, as we had not a word of debate over our differing ideas, so there +was no clashing in carrying them out. The warden established his line of +policy, as he had a legal right, then I surveyed the ground and decided +to go on with my reform efforts, so far, with respect to time and place, +as I could consistently with his arrangements, at all times looking to +the best prison order, and at no time to interfere with any of his +moves. + +This was our prison quarreling, and the whole of it; a very peaceful +affair. How happy, if all quarrels were of this character! I felt +assured that, though what I was endeavoring to promote in our prison was +held by those at present in the ascendant as being an interloper in such +an institution, and wholly out of place there, truth would at length +prevail. Prudent labors, persevering efforts, patient waiting and firm +trust in the great Leader, would now, as ever before, result in the +triumph of the right. With such views I daily toiled in quietness, +interfering with nobody around me. + + + + +44. _Prison Report for '71._ I had looked for a pretty free use of +whitewash in this, but it goes immeasurably beyond my anticipations. I +really expected to find some regard for truthfulness in the statement of +facts. But, in my astonishment at reading, I would inquire, "Have I +fallen into a general confusion of names? Is black indeed white?" + +Let us read, p. 13,--"He [the warden] ... spends his whole time in and +about the institution, not having been absent to the value of half a day +since he entered upon his duties." + +Thus we have it. Sum up the time spent by the warden during the year in +going to the P. O., or in calls out on business, or errands, or +attending meeting on the Sabbath, or journeying to New York even, and +the whole does not amount to "the value of half a day." This prepares us +for any statement we may find. If we admit that, we can anything. + +Let us, then, look at the food question. + +On page 6. we have,--"The food furnished the prisoners has been +selected with more than ordinary care and great pains have been taken in +having it well cooked and served. We have a regular weight from which +the rations are made, and any man, wishing for more than the regular +allowance, is always furnished with an extra quantity." P. 13,--"The +warden is not only valuable as a disciplinarian but is economical in his +management of the affairs of the prison, at the same time allowing to +the prisoners liberal rations of food of the best quality, but none to +waste." + +This can be admitted just as easily as the quotation preceding. How +rejoiced the prisoners would have been to realize the truthfulness of +this assertion one short week,--"Selected with more than ordinary care!" +"Regular weight!" "Liberal rations of food of the best quality!" That +will do,--decaying fish, potatoes "not fit to put into the human +stomach," and all. + +But when the Report comes to the chaplain it uses a black wash with +quite as unsparing a hand, thus, (P. 13) "But the warden has not had +that sympathy and assistance from the chaplain, which should be mutually +rendered to each other by officers of the prison. The chaplain, for +reasons best known to himself, has not acted in harmony with the warden +in the discharge of his various duties, a matter very essential to the +discipline of a prison. He has on the other hand, manifested +peculiarities of his own which have been very detrimental to the +discipline, and, we have reason to believe, have caused some uneasiness +among the prisoners, which has made it more difficult for the warden, +and, in some instances, causing punishment which would otherwise have +been avoided." + +But let us read what the warden says (P. 9),--"In conclusion, I desire +to express my thanks to all the officers connected with the +institution, for the prompt, cheerful and efficient manner in which they +have discharged their several duties." + +The chaplain was one of those officers. What, then, shall we believe? +Who tells the truth? What has become of straightforward dealing? Where +is that trait once called honor among men? The reader, having fully +informed himself of the real facts, will pronounce the above charge +against the chaplain as unqualifiedly untrue from beginning to end. + +But one says, "That first assertion must be true. The warden could not +have shared your sympathy in his acts." No, that first assertion is not +true. It is equally false with all the rest, that is, in the sense of +the writer, which evidently is that the chaplain did not sympathize with +the warden in his desires for order, and labor with him to that end. +Order is the first thing to be sought in prison as everywhere else. It +has my fullest sympathy and for the very purpose of helping towards it, +under this warden, I voluntarily undertook what I did. + +"The warden has not had that assistance from the chaplain," &c. The +reader has seen the chaplain putting in a pacific word here and there, +doing all he could to interest the mind in its privations, helping men +keep down their angry passions, robbing the solitary of its occupants, +excusing, entreating, helping to order in every way possible, and is +held up in that light. + +"Not acted in harmony." Not a discordant word or step is the truth. + +"Manifested peculiarities of his own." Peculiarities! What were they? +Honest devotion to duty and not an eye to personal popularity; most +arduous toils engaged in for helping to the best interest of the +prison; patient efforts for reforming and elevating the fallen. All I +said or did there would come within some of these points. Were those +peculiarities? What then must be the character of the prison management? +If the chaplain's moves were held as peculiarities it could have been +only from contrasting the animus and acts of those who ruled with his. +They would hold the prisoners as so many "dumb, driven cattle;" he, as +human beings, with instincts of reason to be addressed and emotions of +right to be stirred; they, in all cases, would move their brute fears, +threaten, scold, drive; he, a part of the time at least, would appeal to +the manhood sentiments, persuade, entreat, expostulate; they would +regard them as morally hopeless, to be cruelly treated, and made money +of; he, as those for whom hope lives, and on whom redeeming influences +should be used, and efforts made for coining from them gold purer than +earth affords. + +Nor are these moves of the chaplain peculiarities in many other States, +if in N. H. Nor are they original with him. Other minds had brought out +such ideas and pushed them somewhat widely into public acceptance, and +he was only attempting to introduce something of their benign influence +here. + +"Detrimental to discipline." What gross darkness! + +"Made it more difficult for the warden." Change "difficult" to "easy" +and the truth would be told. + +"Causing punishment." What an idea! + +The chaplain saw the changes attempted to be brought upon the prisoners, +and thought he understood something of the effects which the move would +produce on their minds and the results likely to follow. He knew that to +some extent he had the confidence of the men, that they were looking to +him as their friend, and as working for their best good; that, +therefore, he could, by carefully using his influence in a quiet, +unassuming way, help slide the matters round the very sharp corner which +was being turned, and thus, on the one hand, make things more endurable +to the inmates, and, on the other, easier for the rulers. With an eye +single to this purpose he acted, and has the satisfaction of possessing +pretty clear evidence that he prevented a measure of trouble in the +prison, and thus rendered the warden some aid at least, and made his +task somewhat easier. Indeed, he did what he could in that direction, +though with no blowing of trumpets. And, after doing all this, to be +held up in this light by the agent is a pretty hard cut. + +Now, one of two things is true in regard to all the quotations above +made. The assertors either believed they were telling the truth or they +did not. If the former be taken, if they really thought they could +purchase the articles they did and from them make the best quality of +food; if they really supposed the chaplain's moves were as deleterious +as they represent, what does it show in regard to their judgment as +fitting them for place and trust? or, if the other, what of their +character as to truth and veracity? Let them take which horn of the +dilemma they may choose. + +One perhaps says, "The writers were so informed about the chaplain." +Could that be any extenuation of their wrong? If such insinuations had +been made to them, why did they not first give some intimation of it to +him, thus giving him the opportunity of showing their falsity? Why did +they not have the parties face to face, and thus learn the truth? But, +instead of this, they published what they did, and that to the injury of +an innocent man, so far as their influence could go. + +But what could have impelled the assertors to such a course? The author +does not pretend to know, but it looks as though the object was in this +way to push the chaplain to resign, and they thus be rid of those reform +efforts. Hence p. 13,--"The prison is a penal institution, and is +intended for punishment, not primarily as a reformative one, as some +people think." Here is, undoubtedly, the key to this raid on the +chaplain. But what is its full import? These reformers fully believe +that the sentence of the court must be strictly carried out, and that, +too, as an element of reform. The above sentence must mean that the +prisoner is put there to be punished as the State directs by its laws +and courts, and, in addition, for the managers to "use him so that he +will not wish to come back," or to punish him as they may choose. If the +sentence means anything, it must mean that. This being the true way, let +us have it so understood, and, next summer, let the legislature +recognize the idea by a specific act, and then let the judge change his +sentence accordingly, putting it, "Your sentence is, that you be +confined at hard labor in the State Prison at Concord for ---- years, +and that you there be further punished at the discretion of the prison +officers acting for the time being." Let this be announced to all +evildoers; and, further, let the warden, agent and all, give a true +account of the severity of their several punishments, to be published +yearly, that the prison may thus appear as deterring to crime as +possible. Away with this covering up and pretending to the best living +and best usage generally, thus making the institution appear so +attractive. A lady visited a friend there and returned, having been +made, by the warden's palaver, perfectly reconciled to the friend's +condition, remarking, "They are kept so well there, and used so kindly, +that one can not feel bad at all about a friend in the prison, except +from the fact that he can not have his liberty to go out as he chooses." +I protest against such proceedings. But let the truth stand forth, just +as it is, that the wicked may really know upon what they must depend. + +Why not put out the sentiment squarely that reform moves have no place +in the prison? Let us be truthful in this, too. Then dismiss the +chaplain and save that expense to the State, for he can be of no use. + +It is made evident that the writers would banish from prison all reform +moves from this assertion, p. 13,--"We think, sometimes, the matter of +reform or sympathy for the prisoners is carried so far, in attempting to +reform, as to lead the prisoners to believe that they are injured +persons instead of transgressors, which is, in our opinion, wrong, and +has a bad tendency." Is not the writer here a little muddled? or would +he hold up these reformers as so absurd a set as to think of reforming +men by making them believe they are good already and really sinned +against? Indeed, would not the labors of such men of straw be bad? True, +the writer pretends to found his objections to the reform efforts on the +fact that they are carried too far, not perhaps, feeling exactly ready, +at this late day, to come out squarely against efforts to raise the +fallen, and to induce the erring to become good citizens. No, but it is +"carrying the matter too far." Just as though we could go too far in +efforts for saving the drowning man. Away with such a sham! + +This indirect charge must have been aimed at the chaplain, for he was +the only prison officer, that year, who could rightly be accused of such +a crime as attempting reform moves. + +We are again told that Mr. P. had brought the institution to where it +was "with firmness, but with kindness and a Christian spirit," which +unfolds the writer's views of "kindness" and the "Christian spirit." No +doubt the prisoners were just wicked enough to say, "Lord, deliver us +from all such 'Christian spirit.'" + +We are further assured, that Mr. P. "has accomplished wonders in this +direction, for, in our view, there is now no better disciplined prison +in the N. E. states." + +That is a very comfortable feeling, very much more so than the emotions +of some, who, going into others States, are made to blush at the taunts +thrown out about our prison management, that "such things will do for +you N. H. folks, for those so far on the background." + +But let us turn to the financial part of the Report. Long before the +document made its appearance, it had been heralded far and wide in the +papers that those now running the prison had made it produce a clear +gain of over five thousand dollars in nine months. Of course, making +this announcement was for personal popularity. Let us look at the +figures after the Report comes to hand. Number of prisoners, 85 males +and 6 females. Profits reported for nine months and twenty days, +$5173.51, including $396.65 paid on roofing shop. Without deducting this +item, we have $5570.16 gain over the real running expenses, which, for a +whole year, would amount to $6914.67. Let us compare this with the gain +of the Massachusetts State Prison for '72, that Report being at hand. +Its number of inmates were 543. If our 91 prisoners gained what they are +represented, then 543, in that proportion, would gain $41,260.06, +without considering the advantage in larger numbers. Reckoning that in, +it would raise this gain to some $45,000, no doubt, the gain of +Massachusetts in proportion to ours. But what was her gain? It was +$14,635.23, ours being, in proportion, more than three times as much as +hers, we thus leaving her all out of sight. + +The writers say, p. 11, in regard to Mr. P., "His management has been +perfectly satisfactory to your committee. The results of his +administration are the most conclusive proofs of its efficiency." Do any +wonder that the committee should be satisfied with such showing, if +looking to nothing but to the dollars and cents? + +But does not the announcement itself show an aggravated wrong to the +prisoners, or a false representation? It must be one or the other, if +not both. There is no possible way to accomplish all this by honest +shrewdness in financiering and rightful treatment to the convicts. All +articles of food have their market value. If really suitable for use, +the value is fixed for the time being, from which no material deduction +can be had. Things have their wholesale and retail prices. True, these +vary more or less, from accidental causes, such as the abundance or +scarcity of the article, the state of the money market, or the season of +the year. Buyers, by watching these accidental influences, may purchase +more or less to their advantage. And one can look to these points, and +profit from them, as well as another. Prison providers, especially in +large establishments, will purchase, of course, at wholesale, and those +at Charlestown enjoy quite as good advantages, to say the least, for +sharing in these accidentals as those at Concord; and they no doubt look +out quite as shrewdly. If, however, one is willing to turn from articles +fit for use, he can find those as cheap as he desires, going down from +thirteen cents to three or one, if he likes. + +Then this boast of great gains at our prison gives a suspicious look, +to say the least. If we allow for all that cruel cutting off, previously +depicted, and even more, that would not bring the accounts to what would +appear probable. The agent, in purchasing legitimate articles, +manifested no skill beyond others. He certainly ran behind on wood as as +I happened to learn by experience. The man who furnished the prison with +this, agreed to supply some for me, of the same quality and price, but +failed to bring it at the time, which forced me to look elsewhere for +what I needed and which I found, with no extra painstaking and at a +bargain, reckoning price and quality, better by one dollar at least per +cord. + +But if this withholding from the prisoners what they so greatly needed +and what was their just due, will not bring the accounts within the +region of probability, to what source shall we look for the discrepancy? +Let us examine the accounts carefully and see what we thus find. True, +it is said, "Figures won't lie," but men, when disposed, may so use them +as to lead wide of the truth. In our examination we find the same +dealing as before pointed out. Important items of expense in running the +institution are deliberately omitted in reckoning. Thus, there is the +warden's salary of $1000, the chaplain's, $750, printing the Report, +$121,98, appraisers', $78, amounting to $1949,98. Subtracting this from +the pretended gain, $6914,67 - 1949,98, gives 4964,69. Let us see what +this would be with the Charlestown number of men, $29,625,56, over two +times the comparative gain at Charlestown, a very large margin to be +accounted for in our withholding. + +Certainly we can not afford to boast very loudly over these figures, but +should rather blush. The reader should bear in mind, that the prisoners +are let at both places on contract, ours at ninety cents per day, and +those in Massachusetts for over one dollar, so that her prison managers +enjoy an advantage over ours for rolling up gains. And when we talk of +gaining more than twice as much as she, we have reason to fear that +those hearing us will say, that too many of those dollars were ground +out of the flesh, and blood, and sinews, and life even of the +prisoners,--not a very welcome sentiment. + + + + +45. _Efforts of the Prison Aid Association for legislation in favor of +the prison._ The Governor, in his message of '69, proposed that the +prison be put under the management of a Board especially appointed to +that purpose. But, instead of this, and in connection, making such other +provisions for the institution as were really needed, the legislature +simply passed the whole matter over into the hands of the Governor and +Council, as this Board, an improvement somewhat, no doubt, over the +former system, but an arrangement, which, in the views of many of our +best citizens, carries with it grave objections. + +The Board, thus constituted, is a changeable body, the members never +remaining in office more than two years, and sometimes but one. As a +result, the prison must necessarily be managed largely by the +inexperienced, for the men, generally, no doubt, come to the office +without having given any special attention to the subject. This is much +like setting a company of untaught landsmen to navigate a ship. + +Again, the prison is liable to no little changeableness in its mode of +being directed, a great detriment to its welfare, unless it be from bad +to good. Men will possess their varying notions, and some, though +lacking a knowledge of the best prison interests, will persist in +having their peculiar views put in practice, however conflicting and +contradictory. It is also now liable to be left largely in the hands of +the warden to be run as he wills, besides being exposed to the +unfavorable effects of political party influence. Finally, the +institution can receive only its part of the largely divided attention +of its managers, and thereby, at times, be liable to inconvenience. + +But the best interest of the prison evidently demands the control of men +especially adapted to their task, men who shall form a body with all +possible permanence, possess ripe experience, be free in their rule from +partisan control, who shall make the institution their speciality, and +manage after some fixed policy involving the most enlightened +principles, principles of true reform. + +The Association took up these matters, and for the purpose of obtaining +legislation looking as undividedly in this direction as possible, +appointed a committee, of which Rev. Mr. Sanborn of Concord served as +chairman, who should, after due investigation and correspondence with +other States, prepare the requisite bill for legislative consideration. +After much labor, the following, as subsequently amended, was presented +to the legislature at its session in '71. + + STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. + + IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND + SEVENTY-ONE. + + + An act in relation to the Penal Institutions. + + _Be it enacted by the Senate and House of + Representatives in General Court convened:_ + + SECTION 1. There shall be a Board of directors of + Prisons to consist of five persons appointed by the + Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the + Senate, who shall hold office for five years, except + that the five first appointed shall hold their office + for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years respectively, the commission + of each designating his term of office. Thereafter one + Director shall be appointed annually in the month of + June, to hold his office five years. Such Board shall + have charge and superintendence of the State Prison, + and shall have such power, and perform such duties in + respect to County Jails, the Reform School and other + penal and reformatory institutions within the State, as + the Legislature may by law impose upon it. The Board + may, from time to time, elect from its own members or + otherwise, a Secretary, who shall perform such duties + as the Board may prescribe, and shall receive such + salary as the Legislature may determine. The other + members of the Board shall receive no compensation, + other than reasonable and other traveling expenses, + while engaged in the performance of official duty. And + the limit of such expenses shall be in amount ---- to + each individual, which shall not be changed except at + intervals of five years. + + SECTION 2. Such Board shall have power, + + I. To appoint the Warden, Deputy Warden, Chaplain, + Physician and Surgeon of the State Prison, and shall + have power to remove either of such officers, for cause + only, after opportunity to be heard in his own defense + upon written charges. All other officers and guards of + the prison shall be appointed by the Warden thereof, + and shall be removable at his pleasure. + + II. To define the powers, duties and compensation of + such officers, except the compensation of the Warden. + + III. To establish by-laws for the government of the + prison. + + IV. To provide for the purchase of all articles + necessary for the use of the prison, or the health and + comfort of the officers and prisoners. + + V. To provide for the sale of all articles manufactured + in the prison or not needed for the use thereof. + + VI. To make contracts, if expedient, for the support + and employment of the prisoners or any portion of them. + + VII. To make all necessary additions, alterations and + repairs within the prison or its inclosure. + + VIII. To provide such books and instruction as may be + considered necessary for the convicts. + + IX. To draw its warrant through its Secretary upon the + State Treasurer in favor of the Warden for all + appropriations made by the Legislature for the State + Prison. + + SECTION 3. Such Board shall visit the State Prison at + least once every month, and oftener, when thought + necessary, for the purposes of ascertaining whether the + laws, rules and regulations are faithfully observed. + + SECTION 4. The Governor may remove either of the + Directors of the Prison for malfeasance or misfeasance + in office, after having furnished him with a copy of + the charges against him, and giving him an opportunity + to be heard in his own defense. + + SECTION 5. All acts and parts of acts, inconsistent + with this act, are hereby repealed, and this act shall + take effect from and after its passage. + +This bill was presented and went to the judiciary committee of the +House, a body composed of two ex-judges and other gentlemen of +influence, all of whom favored it, some saying to me, privately, that it +was the very thing needed. The committee reported it unanimously. It +passed the House with no opposition, and so also the Senate, the final +vote having been taken when some private interest in Concord started up +to defeat the measure and induced a member of the Senate to move a +reconsideration of that vote. His move prevailed, and the bill was +referred back to the Senate committee, before which this interest +appeared in objection to the measure, while friends were present in its +advocacy. The committee again reported unanimously in favor of the +passage of the document, but on taking final action it was postponed to +the next session of the legislature. + +Here was the point where the story circulated of the warden and chaplain +quarrel, that this bill was the embodiment of certain peculiar notions +of the latter which he was pushing to the disadvantage of the former, +muddling some of the Senate, and thus leading them to think it not best +to be "mixed up in the matter," and so to vote that the measure be put +over. + +It is wonderful to think how slight an influence will sometimes thwart +an important measure in passage at the legislature. A mere whisper of +some whim, a little prejudice against another, perhaps may put it all +aside. How little attention is given to merit! This is true even of Hon. +Senators. To one of these I spoke about his vote within ten minutes +after he had given it, and he replied,--"I don't know, I am sure, how I +voted, for I did not care anything about it." + +The fact is, this bill did not originate with me. I had nothing to do +with it, not being on the committee who framed it. But, as Agent of the +Association, I spent more or less time at the State House, looking after +the interest of the measure. + +The next session the bill came up in the Senate again, and, through the +same interest as before, probably, it was indefinitely postponed and +another put on passage in its stead, which went to the House committee +on prisons. But they did not think it worthy of being reported, and that +died. A member of the committee remarked that it appeared to be a scheme +started by one for the purpose of making a comfortable place for +himself. And he, no doubt, had the right of it, for the prominent +provision was that the Board should consist of three, one of whom must +be a resident of Concord, and not be allowed over four hundred dollars. +That would be a nice thing for the Concord man. Thus matters stand at +present so far as legislation is concerned. + +If the reader will give attention to the bill above presented, he will +see that it is very comprehensive, and might easily be carried out. It +contemplates the needed permanence, each member being in long enough to +obtain large experience in prison management, yet changing sufficiently +often to avoid the ill effect of remaining in office too long. It +further contemplates small expenses, as each member of the Board is to +charge nothing for his time. + +It has been suggested that the bill be further amended, by striking out +the words "and other instruction," in Article VIII., and inserting the +following Section after Sec. 3, thus, Section 4: This Board shall +consider the reform of the prisoners the paramount object of the prison, +and shall secure to them such secular, Sabbath school, moral and +religious instruction as, in their view, shall be most conducive to this +end, but not therein to conflict with the labor interests of the +institution. + +One objects to the above bill, that, as it proposes no compensation for +the time spent by the members of the Board, men of efficiency can not be +found to act upon it. If the concern is to be run simply for +money-making, that would be the fact; and of right should be. But, when +we come to labors for raising these fallen ones from their crimes and +degradation to uprightness and a higher life, in a word, to make true +men and women of them as we ought, it is quite another thing. In that +case we have men, good and true, men fully qualified for the task; men +who, while carrying out the primary objects of the prison,--good order, +good discipline and true reform every way,--would also present the best +truthful show of legitimate gains in dollars and cents. Certainly it is +demeaning to our State to think otherwise. We have men among us, of +noble minds and large hearts, who, by honest industry and true integrity +of purpose, have raised themselves to that position in the public +estimate where they deservedly share the fullest confidence of their +fellows, for ability and fidelity to the highest and purest aims, and +who feel that they owe it as a gratuity to society to lend a measure of +their talents in managing her public interests. Hence, no difficulty is +found in obtaining men to act with the highest efficiency as trustees to +our colleges and seminaries without compensation. So, too, enough can be +found really fitted to run the prison as proposed. + +Another objection to the bill has been, that it does not make it +obligatory for one of the Directors to reside in Concord. As the object +of the legislation is for the special advantage of the prison, rather +than to make a place for a certain Concord gentleman, it was not thought +needful to insert such a limitation. Then, again, railroad facilities +are so great as to do away with the need of such an enactment. That +whole matter can be safely left in the hands of the appointing power, +who should look for the best men to the position. + +But the bill, with the connected ideas, is here placed before the +reader, with the ardent hope that it will be thoroughly studied by him, +improved where it can be, or a better one substituted, and thus the best +system of prison management practicable be hit upon and made a law as +soon as may be, thereby running the institution on principles +commensurate with the prevailing intelligence of our people, the genius +of our Christian civilization, and in keeping with the times in which we +live and what is being accomplished in other States. + + + + +46. _Experience with the new government._ In June, '71, the Democratic +rule gained the ascendency at Concord. When the new rulers became +established in their places, and were able to give attention to prison +matters, the Governor sent for me to call at the council chamber, which +I did. His desire, as well as that of his council, was to know really +about the state of things at the prison. It seemed that statements had +been made to them tending to show something of their true character. I +gave some general intimations as I understood matters, but could not, +from the circumstances, enter into particulars as on the preceding +pages; and, indeed, had not then so learned some of the facts that I was +at liberty to speak of them. They professed a determination to have the +prisoners properly treated, with enough to eat and of good food, though +the Governor said he had not posted himself on prison matters at all, +not thinking it worth while from the circumstances. It will be +understood that he was elected, not by the popular vote, but by the +legislature, and, previous to its assembling, he could put but little +confidence in his election there. + + + + +47. _Chaplain determines to have an investigation into the charges +against him in the Prison Report, but relinquishes the idea._ On reading +the Prison Report for that year, I felt not only shocked at the +character of its general statements, so far as the warden and committees +were concerned, but also determined on having an investigation into the +charges against me. Touching one's character in that way is no trifling +matter, and I did not feel like sitting quietly down under +representations so entirely false. Had I been guilty, I would have borne +the deserved rebuke without a murmuring word. Some proposed that the new +Governor and Council make a general investigation of the prison matters, +and I put this in with the rest. But they were not inclined to that +unless parties preferred charges, in which case they would hear and +consider them. Hence, I decided to call for a hearing on those +allegations, and prepared the papers according to legal advice, but +thought best, before sending them in, to consult certain influential +friends in the place about attempting the move, and received a decided +remonstrance against it; they arguing that the step would stir up +strife, make divisions and party alienations; that, in the uncertainty +of things, I had no assurance of obtaining satisfaction, and the like. +Supposing this to be given in sincerity, and that, perhaps, it might be +for the best, I gave the matter up, and threw aside my papers. + + + + +48. _Anniversary of P. A. Association for '71 and remarks on our jails._ +This was held in the Representatives' Hall, at Concord, the second +Tuesday evening of June. Ex-Gov. Smyth, President in the chair. +Attendance not large. The Agent gave a full report of the past year's +doings, showing that good success had attended their efforts, and that +the enterprise was taking hold of the public mind in a measure, though +with some opposition. It had been a year of planning, commencing and +going forward as a new struggle in the State; the object of the +Association being to aid those released from prison by furnishing them +with good, immediate employment, under proper influences and with +suitable surroundings, helping with money only as indispensable, and +then not intrusting it to those aided to disburse. An important +beginning had been made, much hard work performed, and a measure of good +evidently accomplished, giving favorable indications for the future, +with the needed energy and effort. Only $100.50 of the $300 appropriated +by the State had been expended. + +In preparing this Report, the Agent had written to all the jails in the +State, proposing over thirty questions for answers, in order to develop +the state of crime and the penal working in our commonwealth. Only a +part responded, but enough to furnish us with important subjects for +study and effort. The good of society, the welfare of the State, loudly +call for our better minds, our more influential workers to give most +earnest attention to these matters. We should here make a great effort +for improvement; an effort entered into by ministers of religion and +those of justice, legislators and all. Woman, also, should come to the +help. + +As now managed our jails are prolific schools of crime. The old, +hardened offender and the young, in comparative innocence, are huddled +together, the latter to be taught in deeds of wrong and adroit methods +of performing them of which he had never dreamed before; instruction +that, perhaps, fires his mind to enter these ways of sin as a business +for life. Does not this look to the need of a classification, in these +institutions, that we now have not? + +In some cases the women's cells are in the same wards with the men's, +and they can freely talk together, though locked in separately, and +probably never allowed to associate further. But there is a living +remembrance of wrong, daily seen in Concord, which should cause us to +blush, in the person of an unfortunate boy, who had his birth in jail, +the mother having been in durance there one year previously as a +candidate for State Prison,--another sad lesson for comment and remedial +labors. + +Our jails are cultivators of indolence. Men, women and children are +locked in there with no useful employment,--except in that at +Manchester,--nothing to do but to impart and study lessons of crime; and +some manage to remain there the most of the time, preferring this to +honest labor. These all go to swell the burdens of the tax-payer. Why +not have some sort of industries connected with these places? Set these +fellows at work on something. Keep them out of idleness, so far as can +be. If the employment does not bring in largely of dollars and cents, it +will, in what may be better. And are not some of our jails themselves +nuisances, a disgrace to the State? + +We need, at least, two work-houses. They may not be of great expense at +ornamenting, but appropriate, substantial, fitted every way to their +use. Then fill them with this vagabond population now floating back and +forth between the establishments catering to vice and the jails. Give +them really corrective sentences. Modify essentially this +short-time-sentence system. If one's wrong habits are not corrected by +one sentence, let the next be longer, or till thoroughly reformed, +reform being the object aimed at. Then should we take the keepers of +these rum-shops, billiard-saloons, gambling-dens and houses of ill-fame, +with those of their frequenters that need be, and put them here at work, +too. This would be a wonderful purifier of society. Give each a dose, +say of six months, when, if that don't cure, repeat it till the work is +accomplished in them also. + +Then, here are numerous other connected questions for us to study, +discuss and settle in regard to securing a general punitive system, a +system in advance of what we now possess, more corrective of crime. And +what shall be done for those children coming up in idleness, ignorance +and vagrancy? + + + + +49. _Fourth of July at the prison in '71._ The observance this year was +in exact contrast with that of last, the one bringing gratification and +pleasure, the other, gloom and punishment. The workmen and other help +desired prison work to cease that day, for their enjoyment, which was +granted. But, instead of studying any means for giving a moment's +pleasure to the inmates, they were locked in their cells for the day. +But I spent the hours with them, going from cell to cell, and making +efforts for removing the intolerable tedium, not unfrequently hearing +the contrast between the last Fourth and this, alluded to with deep +sighs. It would have been great relief to them could they have continued +their work in the shop for the day. Hence, the remark of one and +another, "How cruel to keep us shut up here!" "Oh, how much more +agreeable to be out at work!" "I would rather work four times as hard as +usual than be confined here." Thus, they expressed themselves. If +punishment was the purpose, that was effectively obtained. + + + + +50. _Chaplain's removal from office._ The custom had been for the +chaplain to remain in office till resigning, or for an indefinite +period. This seems to be needful, if he is the right man, for it takes +time for him to become acquainted with the inmates and establish himself +in their confidence. Frequent changes in this office is bad policy. +After serving in the place a while and finding so much interest +connected with this department of labor, I decided to throw my whole +energies into the work for a time and see what fruits could be gathered +therefrom. I was also at no little labor and painstaking in a change of +location, moving near the institution, to be in close proximity to my +work. Things progressed till, a few weeks after the March election of +'71, a Democratic neighbor remarked that, should his party come into +power, I should have a competitor, the next summer, for my office. It +was understood that the competing gentleman's plea was, that, more than +twenty-five years previously, he had been appointed to the place and +served nine years, but when the Democratic party lost the power, he was +set aside; yet he had been living all these eventful years true to those +principles, and now on the party's return to power he should be restored +also to his former place. It was understood, too, that he had received +the promise of the position on this contingency. The new Governor +obtained his election, after which Democratic friends of the city and +elsewhere assured me that my place would not be disturbed, especially as +I was doing so much for the prisoners; and one of their leading men +undertook to attend to the matter when the Governor and council should +come to the prison questions, and present the general wish from all +parties that I remain. I proceeded with my usual work for six weeks, +when, just at night, one day, I received word that I had been dismissed. +Directly referring this to that gentleman, "Why," said he, "that is a +mistake. This very afternoon, not two hours ago, at the council chamber, +they assured me they should not act on the prison offices till their +next meeting some two weeks ahead." But notwithstanding his assurances, +the step was taken just on the heel of their adjournment. + +On inquiring of a councilman, if, in this dismissal, they had been +influenced in any measure by the aspersions in the Report, he said they +had not; that they did not doubt but that I had been faithful in my +duty, assuring me that the reason was wholly political; to which I had +no excuse to offer, as I had been guilty of voting the Republican +ticket; and if I must be dismissed on that ground, of course no more +words were needed. But there did seem a lack of straightforwardness for +them to move as they did in the matter without giving this gentleman the +opportunity of presenting what he wished. + +The gentleman appointed was a good man, but feeble, and acknowledged to +a friend that he could not do what had been done for the prisoners the +previous year. But the idea seemed to prevail that he could do what was +desired by the warden. Hence, as is understood, the secular school is +largely a thing of the past, and finally the Sabbath school is given up. +Now, this is a very nice place for him in his advanced years, he being +over seventy, where he has no care, and but little labor. + +But what of the effects upon the inmates thus left with so much idle +time on their hands? Anything but good. A young man, the previous year, +was quiet and orderly, closely attentive to his studies, making good +advancement; but, when left with all these unemployed moments, he turned +his thoughts to planning an outbreak, was arrested in the execution, and +for months condemned to the ball and chain. Whereas, had his mind been +kept employed as formerly, no doubt he would have continued quiet. Does +it pay thus to cut off educational and moral privileges and share such +results? + + + + +51. _Prison fare under the new government._ I did not serve under this +government for a period sufficiently long to enable me to learn from +personal observation very much as to what would be gained in the fare of +the prisoners, but thought some steps were being taken in the right +direction. The cracked wheat dinner was abolished for meat and potatoes. +The evening after, I found the prisoners rejoicing over it. One +exclaimed, "_Didn't_ we have a good dinner, to-day? They have put away +that wheat stuff, and now give us good meat and potatoes. Oh, _isn't_ +it good?" A woman, leaving prison, gave us an account of the warden's +scolding, that Councillor ---- "was about poking his nose into +everything." This, if true, gave signs of a determination to know and +remedy matters. But they had to work under difficult circumstances. They +did not begin sufficiently near the bottom. + +As informed, they went quite thoroughly into fitting up the clothing and +bedding,--a welcome move, for no set of fellows ever needed it more. The +next winter, however, I said to a man who was leaving, "You fare better +over there this year than last, do you not? You are kept warmer, are you +not?" To which he answered, "I don't see much difference." Certainly, I +was looking for a different answer from this, and did not know what to +make of it. + + + + +52. _The warden question._ It was supposed and reported that the warden +would be removed; then we learned that the political muddle prevented, +some contending for a straight, out-and-out Democrat, others, for a +Labor Reformer, the party with whom they had bargained and thus gained +the power. Then there was another element which seemed largely to +prevail, and which some thought acted more powerfully than all +others,--the fear as to how the prison accounts would stand at the end +of the year. They had found out the condition of things in the prison, +and learned something of how they had been run the previous year, and +had every reason to suppose that they could not possibly make so large a +show of gains as was then made. A highly important matter to them, for, +should they run behind, their opponents would, of course, use it to +their party disadvantage in future political campaigns. What could they +do in the matter? Of course, the most feasible way was to keep the same +warden, with the hope, by his manipulating, of a less falling off; or +the fact of their having made no change here, would blunt the force of +the falling-short argument materially. Hence, party interests would +prompt them, on the one hand, to remove the chaplain for a partisan; and +on the other to retain the warden for his aid to them politically. Thus, +it seemed that party considerations ruled the whole matter, and that the +rulers, instead of rising to the true dignity of their position, and +inquiring about the real interests of the prison, the best man for the +place, bowed obsequiously to the shrine of party. True, late in the +fall, or in early winter, they moved in the matter by appointing a +gentleman of Concord to the wardenship, but under such circumstances, +that he could not, for a moment, think of accepting, though doubtless he +would have improved matters had he done so. + + + + +53. _Experience at the prison subsequent to dismissal._ This experience +was limited, but sufficient to open another dark chapter in the history +of poor human nature. I still acted as agent to the Association. In +August, a man was to leave, concerning whom they started the story that +an indictment was made against him, ready for his arrest on leaving +prison; but they promised that if he would leave within a half hour +after his dismissal, he could go safely. I had a place for him near a +friend with whom relatives had deposited money on his account, but whose +locality I supposed he did not know. Very early, on the morning of his +release, I, by a message, solicited the warden to forward him to me, so +that I could send him on the five o'clock train. But seeing nothing of +him, I at length went to the prison office and asked the warden if he +would please let the man out, as I could send him by the next train. He +answered, "He has gone, Sir; went this morning at five, for New York." I +now turned to the deputy as usual previously, and asked, "Will you +please furnish me with a list of those going out this month?" He +answered, "No, Sir;" when the warden said, "You have had enough to do +with the prisoners, already. You are not to have any more concern with +them." I answered, "Very well," and, turning to go out, remarked to a +man about to leave, for whom I had a place in readiness, "Come to me as +you leave here, and I will give you directions as to where to go." The +deputy followed me, indulging in a tirade of most abusive language. As +he finished the words, "You had better not be over here making a fool of +yourself, but keep away lest you get kicked out," I had arrived at the +top of the stairs, where I stopped, supposing he proposed to kick me +down, remarking, in a subdued tone of voice, nothing frightened or +excited, "Here I am. If you wish to kick me down stairs, you can. I came +in civilly on business, supposing, as a citizen, I had a right to that." +The deputy ejaculated, "A d----d poor citizen," the warden also having +followed, and joining freely in the vituperation. Seeing no active signs +of putting the threat in practice, I started on and came safely away, +but was subsequently informed by one then standing at the foot of the +stairs, that he kicked towards me, when I had taken a few steps. But he +did not hit or injure the object of his rage. In this experience I was +more fortunate than a guard, who, as he asserts, when leaving service +there, was followed to the front door and kicked down the steps by the +warden, upon the ground, the foot hitting his back and causing such +lameness that he had not then, after four months, recovered. He was +purposing to prosecute the warden for damages. + +Thus, while they have smiles and words of suavity for some, they can +deal freely in such abuse to those who doubt their highest perfection. +Now, if they would treat me and others thus, what would they do to the +prisoners? One will say, "They were irritated towards you, for you had +told the Governor and Council about the prison management." That was no +doubt the fact. And they will become irritated with the prisoners also, +who are helplessly in their power, where they can treat them as they +please. + +As to the two prisoners, whether the one pretended that he would go to +N. Y., and took passage accordingly, or was forced to that, I never +knew. But he would have taken passage to any place the warden proposed, +in order to escape from his hands, as, through his influence, he +doubtless feared the arrest. For the ticket, the warden expended the +man's five dollars allowed by the State, and advanced him five more, +probably supposing that it would be paid him by the Association. The +man, as I learn, rode until he felt safe from being seized, when he left +the cars, traveling on foot for lack of means to go by public +conveyance, and, at length, arrived at this friend's, in as bad a +plight, probably, as any before spoken of. He said he had been sick, +confined to his cell for weeks, was neglected, and sometimes was not +furnished with water to wash for days together. + +The warden, himself, accompanied the second man to a place in the city, +and put him to work as he had previously arranged. Soon hearing of his +locality, I called, found his new pants with a bad rent, after only part +of a day's wear, and furnished him with suitable clothing, pointing out +the place also of my arrangement to which he could go, or remain where +he was. + +Another leaving prison, and calling on me, remarked, "I asked the warden +where you lived, to which he answered, "I don't know;" an additional +specimen of the truthfulness there. + +But one queries, "Why was the warden determined that you should not see +the men coming out?" He could have had but one reason, the fear that +they would tell me the stories of their sufferings. The one ticketed for +N. Y., I learn, gives some spicy accounts. + + + + +54. _Prison report for '72._ This claims a better financial show than +that of the previous year. Thus says the warden, p. 4, "I am permitted +to record another year of financial success." Then the committee, p. 10, +"The financial affairs are in a highly prosperous condition. You will +find, by looking at the treasurer's report, that there has been a net +gain, to the State, of $5,501,03, after paying all outstanding bills, +which is a greater gain than the previous year, considering the less +number of convicts and the larger outlay for clothing, &c. When we +consider the large appropriations that have been required from year to +year to run the prison, it must be encouraging to the tax-payers of the +State to know that the prison has added the two past years, $10760,20 to +the revenue of the State, with no outstanding bills, and no complicated +matters to embarrass the institution." + +This, surely, is a glowing picture; one so greatly enjoyed by its +authors, that it would seem almost too bad to spoil it by letting in a +gleam from the light of truth. We see from the Report that our present +managers here follow closely in the footsteps of their immediate +predecessors as to their statement of financial facts, though intent on +outdoing them in appearances at least. Like them, they reckon only a +part of the expense in running the prison, leaving out the warden's +salary, and other large items, and thus pretending the gains to be what +they are not. They could equally as well have omitted the sums paid the +physician, deputy, guards and overseers, thereby making the figures +indicate a gain of over twenty thousand for the two years, instead of +over ten thousand. The principle of statement would have been the same +and equally truthful. It certainly appears as though they were straining +every nerve to secure the greatest personal and party popularity on the +dollar and cent question. Nor would we, by any means, censure them for +that, provided they proceed with a due regard to truthfulness, the +rights of the prisoner and the best interest of the State. But the +people can justly require them to give these a proper place in their +plannings and efforts. The pecuniary question is of high import and not +to be lost sight of for a moment, but should not be allowed to swallow +up every other interest with a miser's greed and with even a measure of +disregard for what is really true. + +In estimating the entire amount of expense to the community, this year, +in running the prison, of right we should reckon a somewhat large item +not above alluded to, the sum expended in caring for those made invalids +the past year by the prison management, and thus sent out to the public +charge. Of these there are probably six at least,--those two sent to the +Insane Asylum, and four others. Thus, deducting all the real +expenditures, but a small list of gains are left. + +To be able the better to judge comparatively and see the drift of things +in our prison management, let us select the more important items from +the Reports of the years '70, '71 and '72, forming them into a table, +taking the average number of the prisoners for each year, obtained by +adding the numbers at its beginning and end, and dividing by two. Under +the food and clothing items, let us insert what they pay in +Massachusetts State Prison per day for food, and per year for clothing, +to a prisoner or per capita: + + 1870. 1871. 1872. + +Average number, 123 1-2 104 1-2 85 1-2 +Expense for Overseers and Guards, $5,960 03 $6,314 91 $6,613 32 + " Physician, 100 00 250 38 282 00 + " Provisions, 8,581 32 5,416 41 3,283 00 + " " per capita, 69 48 51 83 38 39 + " " per day, per capita, 19 14 1-5 10 1-2 + " " per day in Mass. Prison, 18 18 6-10 18 7-10 + " Fuel and Lights, 1,195 43 954 41 682 13 + " Clothing, 1,963 94 1,447 86 1,472 24 + " " per capita, 15 90 13 85 17 21 + " " in Mass. Prison, 21 67 19 40 18 72 + " Library, 262 95 94 84 0 + " Ordinary Repairs, 1,937 64 1,057 08 1,029 50 +Earnings of Convicts, 25,338 22 22,619 70 19,134 45 + " " per capita, 209 22 216 41 223 79 + +This table tells its own story and is in perfect unison with all that +has been uttered on former pages. The guards and overseers, the same in +number, and with no additional labors, receive increased pay from year +to year. Nor has there been any going up in the scale of wages outside +to cause a demand for this. Nor were they more experienced and +intelligent, thereby claiming higher compensation. Many were mere boys, +some not overstocked with intelligence. They had one boy of seventeen +for overseer in the shop. + +The physician's pay has also received a yearly rise in the scale, though +with a large diminishing in numbers of prisoners and, as the Report +says, a remarkably healthy state among them. How can we reconcile this? +True, the first year he attended only when called, and subsequently +every morning. But why the difference between the second and third years +with the fewer men and alleged healthy state? This is what needs +explaining. + +But we find the food expense going the other way,--19, 14 1-5 and 10 1-2 +per day to a man. What a cutting off! Will it go on thus till the story +of Hierocles about the man's horse shall be verified in our prison? So, +also, of the lighting and fuel with no change of space to be +warmed,--$1,195 43, $954 41 and $682 13. No wonder there was such +suffering from cold that second winter, before pointed out. Then what of +the third? No change in the prices of the market can account for this +variance. It must have been sheer withholding the necessaries of life. +We see that the Charlestown food allowance per day, for those years +respectively, was,--18, 18 6-10 and 18 7-10, increasing a trifle. Nor +does any great extravagance appear in that first year with us, nineteen +cents, one cent lower than authors say should be, though one higher than +Massachusetts. + +The allowance to the library is also suggestive,--$262 95, $94 84 and 0. +True, during the first year the library was repaired, enlarged and newly +catalogued, but the second year the appropriation was about what is +annually demanded for keeping the books properly replenished and in +suitable order. It is as small a sum as should be thought of. That +cypher, therefore, for the third year, shows an unwarrantable neglect. +These figures are especially suggestive, too, on the educational and +moral points, perhaps a good index of them. And what a show! Down, down! +What a picture for New Hampshire! Grant that the chaplain preaches to +the men Sabbath mornings, meets them in the prayer-meetings, &c., to +what does it amount in the midst of such surroundings? True, it +gratifies them to assemble, hear the human voice, and sing. That is +about all the good that can be looked for under the circumstances. + +The labor figures, too, are expressive,--$209 22, $216 44 and $223 79, +what each earned per year; poorer fare and more work. We admit that this +rise may, in part, be credited to the fact that, from the former +warden's suggestion, our rulers had arranged for the doctor to visit the +prison daily and examine the cases desiring excuse from work, by real or +pretended sickness, with the anticipation of saving more or less labor, +which that warden supposed he had lost from being left himself to do +this excusing, and without medical advice, which measure commenced when +the new warden came in. But, besides this, enough remains unaccounted +for in that way, no doubt, to render it highly probable that too many of +those complaining of having been driven to work when sick, had just +cause for such complaints. + +Those figures on repairs are important,--$1,937 64, $1,057 08 and +$1,029 50. That first year made the last of those spent in that general +fitting up, enlarging and repairing as preparatory to running the +institution at more income, less expense, and, consequently, larger +gains than ever before, thus laying the foundation for its present +prosperity. Those sums for the second and third years would have been +mere trifles but for keeping the shop appliances in repair, and that of +the first very much less. Now that the contractor keeps these appliances +in order himself, this repair bill for a long while to come should be +very small. Hence, when we hear the laudations of the present apparent +financial prosperity of the prison over that of a few years ago, we are +not to infer that those former rulers were any the less shrewd, +far-seeing, or energetic in financial matters than those of later date, +but that the latter are only reaping from what the former sowed. + +The table shows us how the increased gains are secured; mostly by +withholding the necessaries of life from the men, and yet driving them +to more work. + +But we turn from examining this table more directly again to the Prison +Report of '72. It says,--"As complaint has been made that the prisoners +were not properly fed and clothed, or that the food was deficient in +quantity and quality, we say to you that we think no prisoners in this +country are so well fed and clothed as the convicts of the New Hampshire +State Prison." What shall we think concerning the judgment of those +writers? It seems that they have become conversant with the prison fare +in all the States of our country, and, after careful examination, have +deliberately formed the opinion that the fare in the N. H. State Prison, +at ten and one-half cents per day, is really better than that elsewhere +at eighteen cents. + +Then again, ibid: "No article of food has been furnished by us that was +not good, sweet and wholesome; and as good in quality as will average +upon the tables of the tax-payers of the State. The remarkably healthy +look of the convicts is plain proof that they are well cared for, have a +plenty to eat, and that which is good." It seems that the authors of +this part of the Report have not only traveled far and wide over our +country and surveyed each prison, but have also called on every +tax-payer of our State, scrutinized their tables carefully, and found +that their average living costs not over ten and one-half cents per day +to each individual. When found they time for all this? Or are we to +understand that they are purposely using the whitewash their +predecessors left? + +The chaplain is again, in this Report, brought forward thus, pp. 10 and +11,--"At the commencement of our labors as Prison Committee there was a +want of harmony between the former chaplain and the officers of the +prison, which seemed to us against the interests of the prison, and +ought, in some way, to be removed. We could see no way to obviate this +difficulty other than the removal of the warden or the chaplain. After +due consideration, with the best information we could get, we thought +best to recommend the removal of the chaplain and the appointment of Mr. +Smith to that office. By this change harmony was at once restored. Mr. +Smith has rendered faithful and effective labor, to the entire +satisfaction of the committee and officers of the prison. Mr. Smith's +prison experience, together with the deep interest he has for the +welfare of the prisoners, seems to indicate him to be the right man in +the right place." + +"Rather hard on the former chaplain," said one of our editors. But what +shall we believe? One of the subscribers to this article told him that +he was removed on purely political grounds, as previously narrated. Then +there was that corroborative assertion by the democratic neighbor that +Mr. Smith had received the conditional promise. Now this declaration is +published to the world. Where is the truth? Were they unwilling to put +it out squarely that they had made a political foot-ball of the prison? +Or would they rather sacrifice the character and reputation of an +innocent man, who had labored as best he could for the good of the +institution? They pretend to have acted in view of a difficulty between +the chaplain and warden, and "with the best information we could get, we +thought best to recommend the removal of the chaplain." Where did they +obtain that information? There was, of course, but one source, and, from +a year's experience, the writer understands something of its character, +that it would not be impossible for men regarding themselves rather +shrewd to leave, wholly misconceiving the real truth. But what shall we +say of this course of condemning a man unheard, and on ex parte +assertions? Is that the part of honorable dealing? But the whole subject +is left with the reader to pass judgment upon in view of the facts +already set before him. + + + + +55. _International Penitentiary Congress, London, July 3-13, 1872._ This +resulted from the move already spoken of at the gathering in Ohio in +'70. Dr. Wines, there selected to the important work of bringing about +the proposed assemblage, received due governmental qualifications by a +commission from our President according to a special act of Congress, +the Secretary of State also opening the way by communicating with the +various governments represented at Washington, respecting the great +subject. On this mission, the Dr. visited Europe in '71, received a +cordial welcome from the various governments, and found them generally +in readiness to enter heartily into the move. After due consultation, +London was settled upon as the place of meeting, a committee, to +provide for which and facilitate its general objects, was chosen in +London with the Right Hon. Sir Walter Crafton as Chairman and Edwin +Pears, Barrister at Law, Secretary. This committee is represented as +composed of all political parties, with Lord Carnarvon really at the +head, similar committees being formed in most of the other countries +moving in the enterprise. To prepare work for the congress and secure +its objects, a circular was addressed to the various States containing +thirty prominent questions on imprisoning and its connected points, for +answer. On assembling, this body found itself composed of delegates duly +commissioned from twenty-two different governments, Russia and Turkey +included, all the States of Europe represented but Portugal, delegates +present from India, Victoria and other British colonies, South America, +and eighteen of our United States, then representatives from various +penitentiaries, benevolent societies for giving aid to released +prisoners, magistracies, &c., &c., 298 in number, a gathering the like +of which, in some respects, had never been held. Here were judges, +professors of criminal law, prison managers, philanthropists, and +various gentlemen skilled in the working of criminal jurisprudence. + +Here the commissioned dignitaries from kings and emperors found +themselves met with delegates from voluntary associations and democratic +institutions. How could they, in justice to their dignity, submit to +this? But the matter was amicably adjusted, and all came upon a +democratic level and acted in the greatest harmony,--an important gain +to manhood. The meeting was held at a Hall of the Middle Temple; at the +opening, Earl Carnarvon presiding and making the inaugural address, +giving welcome to the foreign delegates and making numerous important +suggestions. At the next session Dr. Wines presided, and gave an address +full of information as to the purpose of calling this congress and the +objects to be gained,--a universal harmony in prison managing, which +managing should have certain broad principles underlying, permeating and +vivifying it. + +At a soiree given by the English committee to foreign visitors, the +Prince of Wales and suit attended, thus showing the sanction of the +English government to the congress. This sanction was also expressed by +the attendance at one session of the Home Secretary of State, Right Hon. +Austin H. Bruce, giving an official welcome to the gathering, and +expressing a hope of being materially profited by the deliberations. The +meeting, on the whole, was an important affair, of high interest from +beginning to end. Its transactions are published in a volume of 796 +pages, to be had of Rev. Dr. Wines, New York. Then one of the +commissioners from New Hampshire, Mr. Allen Folger, wrote out a synopsis +of the doings, which has been published in a pamphlet of 50 pages, by +the authority of our State, for distribution, showing the interest our +Governor and Council take in these matters. + +The questions before spoken of were taken up by each country and +elaborate answers given, papers were read upon them and thorough +discussion had. The order was not to take any votes but to bring in +facts of the various prison workings, to interchange views, criticise +and thus sift out the best, in which, evidently, great enlightening of +mind was obtained, and a great advancement made in the right direction. +On page 537 of Transactions we have the following reform sentiments: +"Man, in the state of penal servitude, is no longer a thing, but a moral +being, whose liberty human justice has not the right to confiscate +absolutely and irrevocably, but only within the limits required by the +protection and security of social order. The logical sequence of this +view is, that it is the duty of society to reform the criminal during +his temporary privation of liberty, since, in this way only can the +peril of his relapse be successfully combatted, and the public safety +effectually maintained. The reformation of imprisoned criminals is not, +therefore, in our day, a work of philanthropy, but an obligation of the +State." + +In one or two prisons they have been so successful in reform efforts, +that, having taken some of the very worst criminals, they have led them +to such order and good behavior, as to be able to dispense with locks +and bars, rendering the prison more like a great family, kindness being +the great controlling element. + +In the abridged report of the proceedings of the International Congress, +under the head of "Cumulative Imprisonment," we learn that the following +question was submitted, and several important suggestions followed its +presentation. + +QUESTION: Ought prisoners on reconviction to be subjected to more severe +disciplinary treatment than on the first sentence? + +It was opened by M. Peterson, of Bavaria, who maintained that cases +required treatment according to the degree of demerit shown on the +prisoner's trial, and therefore, that instead of laying down one +principle, the right course was to leave the judges to decide what +should be done in each case. + +M. Ploos Van Amstel, of Holland, and M. Stevens, of Belgium, advocated a +merciful treatment as likely to have more effect than severity. + +Mr. Aspinall, of Liverpool, read resolutions which the Liverpool +magistrates had passed, to the effect that it was desirable that +cumulative principles should be applied to the punishment of all crimes +and offences, and that the magistrates should be empowered to transfer +well conducting and deserving prisoners to homes for the remainder of +their sentences. Voluminous statistics showed that there were numerous +reconvictions up to seventy times, and that the conclusions arrived at, +by the magistrates, was that it would be better for the prisoners and +better for society if the cumulative principles were carried out. + +Dr. Guillaume, of Switzerland, mentioned his experiences in some of the +cantons of his country, which had led him to the conviction that it was +better to give the reconvicted such sentences as would enable the +prisoner to learn a trade, by which he could earn his living in the +labor market without being obliged to fall back upon the lines of crime, +than to give short and severe punishments, which, by including a +lessened diet, sent the criminal back into the world, not only +unimproved in morals, but deteriorated physically. + +It would seem, according to his views, that the design of imprisoning +is, to bring back to society those once injurious, but who are now +changed to good citizens. + +Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, of Massachusetts, advocated the merciful and +kindly treatment as being the way to make a permanent impression upon +the criminal classes. + +M. Robin, of France, stated that his experience led him to set his face +against all pains and penalties in prison, as against Christian +principles, and advocated the teaching of trades. All in all, strict +adherence to Christian principles should be at the bottom of the +treatment of criminals. + +Count de Foresta, of Italy, held that the question was rather one of law +than prison discipline. He urged that there was a line of prison +discipline beyond which it was impossible to go without turning the +discipline into cruelty. + +Another question touching "Prison Labor," was brought forward and +considered, as follows: + +QUESTION: "Should prison labor be merely penal, or should it be +industrial?" + +It was opened by the reading of a long and interesting paper by Mr. +Frederick Hill, brother of the late celebrated Recorder of Birmingham. +The substance of the paper was that labor, to be made useful and +productive, follows natural laws, which are the same in prison as out of +prison; that it is an advantage to the prisoner to fit him for +usefulness and to make more easy his reform; that it will help pay the +cost of his conviction and imprisonment; that upon release, he will be +better armed against relapse into crime, as well as much better prepared +to obtain an honest living than those whose labor has been merely penal; +that the pains and privations necessarily attendant on the process of +moral reformation are so great as to make it unnecessary, for the +maintenance of the principle of deterrence, to superadd artificial pains +and penalties. + +Colonel Colville, Governor of Colbath Fields Prison, one of the largest +London prisons, spoke very strongly against the tread-mill system of +punishment which is in nearly all the prisons of England, and almost +unanimously condemned by the prison officials. + +The general opinion of the Congress was in conformity to views expressed +by the speakers mentioned. + +Under the question touching the moral value of visitation of the +prisons by women, we find the following sensible views expressed: + +"While the character of the visiting women depends upon chance, they are +as likely to be indiscreet, and to interfere unwisely as otherwise. If +they were selected as men are, or ought to be, for their fitness, their +work would be done with good judgment and discretion. Then, again, +criminal men separated from their families and from all gentle +influences, need the ministry of good women for their reformation. The +motherly influence of pure, gentle women will sometimes control and +subdue the violent, when even blows would fail to do so." + +The whole force of the International Congress went in favor of the idea +of _reforming_ the prisoners. For this the body advocated stimulating +the prisoners' self-interest, thus: + +"In this way, the prisoner's destiny during his incarceration should be +placed, measurably, in his own hands; he must be put into circumstances +where he will be able, through his own exertions, to continually better +his condition. A regular self-interest must be brought into play. In the +prison, as in free society, there must be the stimulus of some personal +advantage accruing from the prisoner's efforts. Giving prisoners an +interest in their industry and good conduct tends to give them +beneficial thoughts and habits, and what no severity of punishment will +enforce a moderate personal interest will readily obtain." + +They also advocated using the moral force: + +"In criminal treatment, moral forces should be relied on with as little +admixture of physical force as may be; organized persuasion to the +utmost extent possible should be made to take the place of coercive +restraint, the object being to make upright and industrious _freemen_, +rather than orderly and obedient _prisoners_. Brute force may make good +prisoners, moral training alone will make good citizens. To the latter +of those ends the living soul must be won; to the former, only the inert +and obedient body. To compass the reformation of criminals, the military +type in prison management must be abandoned, and a discipline by moral +forces substituted in its place. The objects of military discipline and +prison discipline, being directly opposed to each other, can not be +pursued by the same road. The one is meant to train men to act together, +the other to prepare them to act separately. The one relies upon force, +which never yet created virtue; the other on motives, which are the sole +agency for attaining moral ends. The special object of the one is to +suppress individual character and reduce all to component parts of a +compact machine; that of the other is to develop and strengthen +individual character, and, by instilling right principles, to encourage +and enable it to act on these independently." + +They tell us again "that the self-respect of the prisoner should be +cultivated to the utmost and every effort be made to give back to him +his manhood." "There is no greater mistake in the whole compass of penal +discipline, than its studied imposition of degradation as a part of +punishment. Such imposition destroys every better impulse and +aspiration. It crushes the weak, irritates the strong and indisposes all +to submission and reform. It is trampling, where it ought to raise, and +is therefore as unchristian in principle as it is unwise in policy." + +Farther, "The system of prison discipline must gain the will of the +convict. He is to be amended, but this is impossible with his mind in a +state of hostility. No system can hope to succeed which does not secure +this harmony of wills, so that the prisoner shall choose for himself +what his officer chooses for him. But to this end the officer must +really choose the good of the prisoner, and the prisoner must remain in +his choice long enough for virtue to become a habit. This consent of +will is an essential condition of reformation, for a bad man can never +be made good against his will. Nowhere can reformation become the rule +instead of the exception, where this choice of the same things by prison +keepers and prison inmates has not been attained." + +They assert, too, that the officers should possess a hearty desire and +intention to accomplish the object of reform in the prison. Regarding +these officers they also say thus: + +"In order to the reformation of imprisoned criminals, there must also be +in the minds of prison officers a serious conviction that they are +capable of being reformed, since no man can heartily pursue an object at +war with his inward beliefs; no man can earnestly strive to accomplish +what in his heart he despairs of accomplishing. Doubt is the prelude of +failure; confidence a guaranty of success. Nothing so weakens moral +forces as unbelief; nothing imparts to them such vigor as faith. 'Be it +unto thee according to thy faith,' is the statement of a fundamental +principle of success in all human enterprises, especially when our work +lies within the realm of mind and morals." + +Finally, they assure us that "work, education and religion (including in +this latter moral instruction) are the three great forces to be employed +in the reformation of criminals." + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + +The two systems of prison management, previously alluded to, are now +before the reader so far as these pages have elucidated, the +_reformatory_ on the one hand, and the _punitive and money-making_ on +the other. And which do you prefer? Will your choice be for the honest +effort to raise up the fallen, to do our duty to the erring, to throw +what influences can be about these disturbers of society to lead them to +become upright citizens? Or, will it fall upon the crushing, cruel, +vindictive course, the process of making them more debased, sordid, +revengeful? Do you prefer manhood-producing with its benign effects, or +money-making attended with the blighting of the higher aspirations of +the soul? This subject has been taken up in the narrative form, that the +writer could the more easily, by incidents, and in the briefest way, +bring out the peculiarities of the two systems in their workings and the +animus impelling them. He has brought forward nothing in the line of +facts and incidents except what had come under his own observation, or +been so reported to him that he had no doubt of its truthfulness. Many +of the incidents in Part II. he would gladly have passed in silence, +regretting exceedingly the necessity of bringing them out. But a solemn +sense of duty seemed to impel him to this task. He has delayed any move +hoping the turn of events would excuse him from penning these truths for +the public eye. But his conscience and his God will condemn him, if +longer delayed. He has brought forward names with no unkind feeling, or +purpose to expose or wound, but to show the way things have moved. No +matter what course others may have taken towards him, he has endeavored +studiously to follow the exhortation he has so often given to the +prisoners in yielding all that into the hands of God, for his disposal. + +This matter is now before the people. Will you not study the questions +carefully and act? Will not ministers of religion and of law, merchants +and artisans, all those in the various industries of life, men and women +come to the help? True, the latter, however pure and exalted, is now +forbidden entrance to the chapel in labors of love for the fallen men. +Hence, that somewhat recent shock to the community in the stern refusal +of Elizabeth Comstock's request for permission to address the inmates on +their moral and religious interests. How long shall such things be in +our prison? How long shall the light of science, of morality and of pure +religion be virtually shut out from that abode? How long shall we work +so as to make bad men worse, hard hearts harder, the depraved more +iniquitous, the pestiferous more destructive to the safety and quietness +of society? Till the people shall stir effectively, make their voice +heard and their power felt. Why not change our system of imprisoning and +put it fully on that of reform? Why not adopt the course of dismissing +prisoners only on condition of good evidence of reform and on further +condition of being returned in case of relapse into crime? Why not +arrange for those who will not reform, as some will not, to serve in +prison for life, thus freeing society of their depradations? Then why +not use them humanely while keeping their time occupied in useful +employment, still permitting each to enjoy the means of mental, moral +and religious culture. Many, thus situated would, no doubt, live really +good, pious lives, who, from their moral weakness, could not resist the +temptations to crime which are met on every hand without. To such, the +prison should act as a kind, beneficent guardian. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors which were +present in the original edition have been corrected. + +In the Table of Contents, "B. and E's request" was changed to "B. and +E.'s request". + +In Part I, Chapter 1, a missing quotation mark was added after "managing +penal institutions". + +In Part II, Chapter 1, a missing quotation mark was added after +"correction of prison abuses". + +In Part II, Chapter 6, "laborers in she school" was changed to "laborers +in the school". + +In Part II, Chapter 11, "a line of sustantial agreement" was changed to +"a line of substantial agreement". + +In Part II, Chapter 19, "On said of the cracked wheat" was changed to +"One said of the cracked wheat". + +In the original text, two chapters were numbered 24. The second of these +has been renumbered 24 1-2 (which matches the numbering in the Table of +Contents). + +In Part II, Chapter 24 1-2, a missing quotation mark was added after "a +system of especial surveillance". + +In Part II, Chapter 26, "Had they endeed his sufferings" was changed to +"Had they ended his sufferings". + +In Part II, Chapter 27, "asked to state about the Silver case" was +changed to "asked to state about the Sylver case", and "the patient +really died of a heart difficult" was changed to "the patient really +died of a heart difficulty". + +In Part II, Chapter 35, a missing quotation mark was added after "take +anything extra", and a missing comma was added between "irritability" +and "angry feeling". + +In Part II, Chapter 36, a missing quotation mark was added after "it +seems that Pike is nominated". + +In Part II, Chapter 47, "they were no inclined to that" was changed to +"they were not inclined to that". + +In Part II, Chapter 51, a quotation mark preceding "One exclaimed" was +deleted. + +In Part II, Chapter 54, "Prison report for 72" was changed to "Prison +report for '72", and a missing quotation mark was added after "no +complicated matters to embarrass the institution". + +In Part II, Chapter 55, "the teaching of rades" was changed to "the +teaching of trades", a quotation mark following "without turning the +discipline into cruelty" was deleted, "should it beindustrial" was +changed to "should it be industrial", a quotation mark was added +following "industrial", a quotation mark was deleted following "views +expressed by the speakers mentioned", and a quotation mark was added +following "to act on these independently". + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its +Experiences, by Hosea Quinby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRISON CHAPLAINCY, EXPERIENCES *** + +***** This file should be named 29797.txt or 29797.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/7/9/29797/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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