the twin hells(两个地狱)-第17章
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religious experience。 It is novel to hear these Christian criminals telling
how they love Jesus。
Immediately after the religious services are over the prison school
begins。 Nearly one hundred of the convicts attend this school。 The
common branches； reading； writing； spelling； arithmetic； etc。； are taught。
This school is graded； and under the management of the chaplain； who is
an excellent instructor； is a great blessing to the prisoners。 Numbers have
fitted themselves here so that when they went out they were able to pass
examination and obtain certificates as teachers。
On entering the institution many of the prisoners who are unable to
read and write soon acquire these useful arts if they have any ambition for
self…improvement。 If there was room； and this school could be conducted
in the evening； as well as on Sunday afternoons； much more good could be
accomplished。 I would suggest that it would be a good act on the part of
the State to employ an officer who should devote all his time to teaching
and imparting instruction in the common branches； and let a room be fitted
up for evening school； so that all prisoners who might desire to improve
themselves could attend this place of instruction after the work of the day
was over。 Nothing could be done that would be more advantageous to the
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convict。 The teachers for the prison school are selected from among the
prisoners； some of them being very fine scholars。
After school is over the Sunday dinner is served。 The prisoners once
more march into the dining…room and take their places at the table。 The
Sunday dinner is the 〃crack〃 meal of the institution。 At this meal the
prisoners have as a luxury； beans； a small piece of cheese and some beet
pickles； in addition to their regular diet。 This meal is served at 2：30。
The prisoners are then returned to their cells； where they remain until
the following morning。 They spend their time in the cells which is not
taken up by sleeping； in reading。 The prison has a fine library of five
thousand volumes。 The State Legislature annually appropriates five
hundred dollars to be expended in purchasing books。 This collection
consists of histories； scientific works and books of fiction。 The greater part
of the criminals prefer the works of fiction。 Were it not for this privilege of
reading； the Sunday afternoons and winter evenings would seem very long
and dreary。
Several officers are on duty during the time the men are locked in their
cells on Sunday； and the cell houses are very quiet and orderly； there is no
talking； as officers are constantly walking backward and forward in front
of the cells。
This is the manner and style of spending the Sabbath in prison。 The
convicts who do the cooking for the officers and convicts； are compelled
to work on Sundays as any other day of the week。 It would be nothing
more than right to give these men credit for this extra work； and in this
manner reduce their sentences。 The law does not contemplate that
criminals in the penitentiary should work seven days in the week and
fifteen hours each day。 There are more than fifty men who are forced to
put in this extra time in hard labor。
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THE TWIN HELLS
CHAPTER VI
SCENES IN THE HOSPITAL
When a prisoner gets sick he reports to the prison physician in the
morning； before working hours。 As the men march out of their cells to go
to their breakfast； those who are sick and desire to see the doctor fall out
of the ranks and occupy seats in the cell house。 Soon the prison physician；
Dr。 Nealley； calls and examines them。 Many try to deceive the physician
and thus get into the hospital； simply to avoid work。 But the shirkers are
pretty well known； and have to be very sick and give unmistakable
symptoms of their illness before they can get excused。 It is very difficult to
deceive Dr。 Nealley。 He has been with the prisoners so long； nearly six
years； that he knows them and can tell without much effort when one of
them is sick or is not in condition to work。 At these morning examinations；
sometimes there are nearly one hundred who report as being sick。 Most of
them； instead of being excused； get a dose of medicine and are sent to
work。 When a prisoner takes sick during the day while at work； he is
excused by his officer； and permitted to go to the hospital to see the
physician。 Fully nine…tenths of the sickness of the prison is contracted in
the coal mines。 The principal physical disabilities are prison fever； colds；
pneumonia； lung diseases and rheumatism。 Very few contagious diseases
ever find their way into the prison； and those that do are quickly
discovered and checked by the prison physician。 When a convict is unable
to work he is sent to the hospital。 This department contains two wards； in
the first of which those remain who are not sick enough to be confined to
their beds； while the very sick are kept in the second ward。 Convicts；
detailed for that purpose； are the hospital nurses。 It is gratifying to know
that these convict nurses have a sympathy for their sick comrades truly
admirable。
Many of these sick men die。 It is sad to die in the State's Prison！ I
recollect one case that came under my own observation which was indeed
pathetic。 A man had been sentenced for five years； and had served out his
time save one week； when； taken suddenly ill； he was sent to the hospital
and died the day before his term would have expired。 This poor fellow
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piteously begged of the doctor to try and extend his life so that he could
die a free man； but all in vain！ On the day which would have brought
liberty he was borne through the large gate and buried in the prison
graveyard。 It is heartrending to hear those men dying in the hospital； call
for their mothers； wives or sisters！ The convict nurses are as kind and
sympathetic as possible； but in sickness and death there is no one that can
take the place of mother； wife or sister。
There was one man who died a few days before my term expired； for
whom I felt the greatest sympathy。 His name was Frank Rhodes。 He was
sent from Holton。 While in jail and awaiting trial at that place he was
converted。 Several Christian ladies had visited the jail and left with the
inmates a few Bibles and other religious literature。 At his trial Frank was
convicted of crime and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years。 When
he came to the State's prison he brought his religion with him。 For two
years this man performed his duties faithfully。 He soon gained the good
will of the officers。 He was a true Christian man； he showed it in his life
while in prison。 After awhile his religion got the better of him； he could
not control h
