the twin hells(两个地狱)-第41章
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emerge from this into the prison campus the space surrounded by the walls。
What wonderful scenes now are discovered！ Many of them； indeed； are
heartrending。
I will describe what I saw and make mention of what I heard。 There
are four large buildings of brick and stone； honeycombed with cellsthe
homes of the prisoners。 The cells； in ONE of these buildings； are large and
commodious； and contain four criminals。 In dimension they are nine feet
wide and thirteen feet long。 The remainder of the cells are small and
contain but one man in a cell。 The large cells are objectionable； for the
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reason that the men； being locked up together in such small rooms； get to
talking； and often quarrels and fights result。 A number of convicts have
been almost murdered in these larger cells； where there were more than
one occupant。 Again； if there be three in a cell who desire to have the
fourth one removed； they combine against him and render his existence
while in the cell unbearable。 They abuse him constantly。 If he reports them
to the officer the three stoutly deny all accusations； often bringing upon
the innocent one punishment which should have been meted out to the
three guilty ones。
It requires but little stretch of the imagination to enable one to see how
miserable a prisoner may be rendered in one of these cells when three
occupants of the same cell combine against him。 The large cells are a
source of great annoyance to prison officials； and are now； after trial；
universally condemned。 The small cells are about four feet wide； seven
feet long； and seven feet high。 The doors are very low； and the prisoner has
to stoop as he enters。 The low door gives to the cell a more gloomy
appearance than it would possess if the entrance was higher。 On going into
one of these cells one has the same feeling as takes hold of him when he
crawls into a low； dark hole in the ground。 The cells are constructed of
stone； with wooden floors。 The cells of the Kansas and other penitentiaries
are higher and better ventilated。 The furniture of the cell consists of an
iron rack； on which is placed a straw bed with sufficient covering to keep
the convict warm。 There are also a bucket； wash…basin and towel。 The
prisoner washes himself in the cell。 He also has a chair to sit on and a
Holy Bible to read。 This is about all the furniture to be found in the cells。
Occasionally a carpet covers the floor； but the prisoner furnishes this out
of his own means。 If he has no means he has no carpet。 I was much
surprised to learn that there was no way provided for the convicts to take a
plunge bath； and that many of them became very filthy because of their
not being compelled to bathe at stated times。 Other penitentiaries are
supplied with bath…houses； and once each week the inmates are required to
take a bath。 This certainly is conducive to good health。 The cell…houses are
lighted by electric lights； and each cell is provided with a lamp。 Thus the
prisoner has an opportunity of reading during the evenings； which is a
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great blessing； and should be highly appreciated。
The prison is supplied with a large library of choice books to which
the inmates have access。 They also are allowed to read daily newspapers；
if they have money with which to purchase them。 The managing officials
of the Kansas penitentiary are possessed of a very foolish notion in regard
to the reading of daily newspapers。 They will not under any circumstances
allow a prisoner to take his home paper； or have access to any political
daily。 They claim that it excites the prisoner and makes his imprisonment
more difficult to bear when he knows what is going on in the outside
world。 It seems that this custom smacks of barbarism； and the prison
directors of the Kansas prison should discard it at once。 Imagine the
condition of a prisoner who has been in confinement for ten years； having
no access to the daily or weekly newspapers。 He would be an ignoramus
of the worst type。 Our penal institutions should try and improve their
prisoners； instead of rendering them more ignorant and debased。 We are
glad to note that the Missouri penitentiary is in advance of the Kansas
prison in this respect。 If the prisoner can take a little pleasure in reading；
daily or weekly； what takes place at his own home； why not give him the
privilege； since it is evident that such a permission will not be detrimental
to prison discipline？ There are school books to be found in the prison
library； and the prisoners； if they desire； can get these books and study
them。 A great many do improve these opportunities； and a number have
made great advancement in their studies。 They are also permitted to have
writing materials in their cells； a privilege which is considered very
dangerous； and which but few similar institutions grant。 Many of the
convicts who could not read or write on entering the prison make
considerable progress in these studies。
The Missouri prison does not go far enough in matters of education。 It
should be provided with a school。 In this matter the Kansas and Iowa
penitentiaries are far in advance。 They have regular graded schools； and
many convicts have acquired an education sufficient to enable them to
teach when they went out again into the free world。 It is to be hoped when
the Legislature meets again the members will see to it that ample provision
is made for a first…class school at the prison； with a corps of good teachers。
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The State will lose nothing by this movement。
In the Iowa prison at Ft。 Madison the convicts are taught in the
evening； after the work of the day is over。 In the Kansas prison； instruction
is given Sunday afternoon。 These schools are accomplishing great good。
The chief object of imprisonment should be reformation。 Ignorance and
reformation do not affiliate。 Some will argue that if prisoners are educated
and treated so humanely they will have a desire to return to the prison； in
fact； make it their home。 Experience teaches us that； treat a human being
as a prince； and deprive him of his liberty； and the greatest burden of life is
placed upon him； and he is rendered a pitiable object of abject misery。
There is no punishment to which a human being can be subjected which it
is possible to endure； that is more to be dreaded than confinement。 Those
long； weary； lonely hours that the prisoner spends in his cell are laden with
the greatest of all continuous sorrows。 There is but little danger of
surfeiting him with kindness and advantages； so long as he is deprived of
his freedom。 If there is
