the twin hells(两个地狱)-第42章
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surfeiting him with kindness and advantages； so long as he is deprived of
his freedom。 If there is any hope for the reformation of the vicious and
depraved； no better place can be found to commence that reformation than
while he is an inmate of the prison。 While there； he is shut out from the
society of his wicked companions； he is not subjected to the same
temptations in prison as on the outside。 Save being deprived of his
freedom； he is placed in the most favorable position for reformation that it
is possible for one to occupy。 If he is not reformed here it is not likely he
ever will be。 It is to the highest interest of the State that these opportunities
should be improved。 Every effort should be put forth to make these men
better while they are in prison。 They are worth saving。 It must not be
forgotten that one of the essential features in a thorough reformation of a
man； is to drive away the mists of ignorance by which he is surrounded。
Other things being equal； he is the better prepared to wage successfully
life's warfare； who is educated。 He will be better able to resist the
temptations which he will meet when his days of bondage are over。 Yes；
by all means； let every prison have its school。 It is of the greatest
importance to the prisoner； likewise to the State。 As I was passing through
these cell…houses； reading the names of the convicts； placed above the cell
door； I came to one which contained four brothers。 Five brothers were
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convicted of robbery and sent to the prison； but a short time ago one of
them was pardoned； and the four now remain。 The liberated one was on a
visit to his brothers while I was at the prison。 Reader； is it not a sad
thought that these four young men； brothers； should spend ten of the best
years of their lives in a prison？ Surely the way of the transgressor is hard。
Young man； you who have as yet never been an inmate of a prison；
imagine； if possible； the loneliness experienced as one spends his days；
weeks； months and years behind these frowning prison walls； shut up the
greatest portion of the time in these small cells that I have described in this
chapter。 If you do not wish a life of this nature； shun the company of
wicked and vicious associates； and strive with all your power to resist the
tempter in whatever form he may approach you。 It is not force he employs
to drag you down to the plane of the convict； but he causes the sweet song
of the syren to ring in your ear； and in this manner allures you away from
the right； and gently leads you down the pathway that ends in a felon cell；
disgrace and death。
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CHAPTER XV
THE WORK OF THE CONVICT
It is a great blessing to the convict that he can have the privilege of
working。 When prisons were first started in this country it was thought
best to keep the prisoner in solitary confinement； have him visited daily by
a spiritual teacher； place the Bible and other good books in his hands； and
in this manner reform him； and send him out into the world a better man
than he was on entering the prison。 The； great penal institution of Auburn；
New York； was for a time conducted in this manner。 The plan； at first
thought to be a good one； had to be abandoned。 The criminal could not
endure solitary confinement。 HE MUST HAVE WORK。 Many of them
became insane； while still others died for want of the open air； out…door
exercise； and some diversion for the mind。
In all the penitentiaries of the country； at the present time； convicts are
required to perform some kind of useful labor。 That is one point of the
prison question that is； doubtless； forever settled。 All prison men agree that
the convict must perform some kind of work。 Labor to the prisoners means
health of body and mind。 Solitary confinement means the reverse。 But
what kind of labor the prisoner should perform； and what should be done
with the results of his labor； is one of the most difficult questions to
decide。
All the prisoners of the Missouri penitentiary are let out to contractors；
with the exception of those needed to do the work about the prison。 The
work consists chiefly of making saddle…trees and shoes。 Several large
three…story buildings are used in furnishing room for the convicts while at
labor。 Those contractors who have been at the prison for some time have
grown rich。 They get their men for forty…five cents a day； on an average。
They have their choice of prisoners as they come in。 Those convicts
designated scrubs； do the work for the State。 The contractors are charged
with controlling the prison。 If one of the officials； in the discharge of his
duty； happens to do anything displeasing to the contractors； they combine
against him and have him removed。 They are charged with using their
combined political influence； and even money； to carry their points。 We
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have been told by some of the leading men of the State that it was a
notorious fact that the penitentiary was controlled by a political ring； a set
of jobbers； and this ring was largely influenced by the contractors。 The
contract system is wrong； and should not have a place in any of the penal
institutions of the country。
The contractor assigns the task。 The prisoner must perform that task or
be punished。 If an avaricious contractor； in his desire to make money；
places too great a task upon the prisoner； who is there to take the prisoner's
part and shield him from abuse？ Fully nine…tenths of the punishments
inflicted is the result of the reports and complaints of the contractors。 See
how unjust and how hard this contract system is upon many of the
prisoners！ Two convicts enter the same day。 In outward appearance they
are strong； healthy men。 The same task is assigned them。 One of them
being adapted to that line of work； and skilled； performs his task with ease；
while the other； equally industrious； cannot get through with his。 He is
reported for shirking。 He states his inability to do the amount of work
assigned him。 The contractor or his foreman makes a different report。 The
assertions of the convict amount to but little； as against the statements of
the rich and influential contractor。 He is punished and returned to his work。
A second time he tries； again fails； and is reported as before。 This being
the second offense the prisoner is subjected to a more severe punishment。
This brutal treatment is continued until the officer； growing weary with
inflicting punishment upon the poor wretch； concludes he is unable to
perform the task assigned him。 If this contract system is to continue in
Missouri； there should be some one whose duty it is to see that the
