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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1921)
THE ALLIANCE HERALD, TUESDAY, FEliUUARY 1. 1021 rMRS. MTU I AN EY TELLS AliOUT HER LIFE IN PRISON (Continued from Tape 1) vnothing to her. They passed groups of carefree co-eds on the street corners virls no older nor younger than she. 'They were looking forward to Satur day night dates while she Every large building caught her eye. . "Was it "it?" Rut the taxi did not -top. They passed them all up. And presently there' were no more "big" buildings. Just houses. Then not even those. As the car crested the top of the Fourteenth street hill, he got her tfirst glimpse of "the place." It seemed like is was so lonesome way out in the country like that. There wouMn't be much to watch from the windows. But would they let her look out of 'the windows? The taxi drew up in front of the massive door. She caught her breath and her girl-woman heart contracted. iShe, who had experienced so much, was full of child curiosity to see it, the new home and its people. She who was no young in years had the woman embarrassment In facing those very people. "Everyone will look at me and say: "There goes that awful woman,'" ishe 'whispered. Styles Meant Nothing. Her French heel clung to the turf be tween the pavement and sidewalk, re luctant to let go, perhaps. It might be the last lime her foot would rest upon the heaven-spread earth carpet for over a quarter 0f a century. Those Tieels might never carry their mistress Ijeyond the walls again. One could .scarcely expect those stubby toes, and beaded straps to stay in style for thirty years. Style Would Evelyn be able to keep in ouch with the styles of the world vhile youth tingled her longings for .vood-looking clothes? If she had to stay in thirty years she would be Sifty and tottering when she came i'orth. Fifty why women were old and white-haired at fifty. The big door closed behind her. Closed! The word never meant so Tnuch before in all probability. Closed! That meant shut. She had become a .shut-in. She climbed a short flight of steps. Perhaps she did not notice that the Srst door on the left bore the simple inscription,- "Warden." Across the hall was a reception room. But right straight in front A big gaping doorway with great S?ray bars. Everyone seemed to be looking. A wan appeared magically on the spot. They told her it was Deputy Warden Harmon. And without more to do, they were mounting, mounting two long flights of green carpeted steps. They were broad stairs, not the crooked twisty ones of fiction. But maybe the twisty ones would come later. The matron met them at the head of the stairs Mrs. Frank Lockard. Evelyn had been told that she would treat hrr square. But many things already had not turned out as she had been told. She sized her up as the hud sized up Harmon and as she later did the warden. Mrs. Ixckard took the girl at once to the ward. As the great gray door swung open and showed the inner bars, Evelyn took a look about her new apartments. They were not a bit as she had ex pected. A long wide hall spread be fore her, but thei-e were no visible cells little windowless holes in the wall where one must stay eternally curled up. It wasn't half bad on first glimpse. Searched Her First. The matron took her at once to a room at the rear. Theie the was searched. Evelyn smiles when she looks back upon that. They must have thought her to be desperate when they did that. Searched her like she was nn ordinary Mrs. I.ockhard told her to go in and bathe. The water felt good after the dirty trip across the s-tate. One docs get so grimy traveling. They let her w?ar her own aprons with the warden's permission. She had a number of them. The state would find that it had a long time to clothe her at that. And it made the beginning seem easier. 'then came the filling out of the record the act that makes an in mate's private qualities, his identifica tion marks, property of the state. Ami while the room that was to house the girl from Alliance was being warmed, Mrs. Lockhard talked to Evelyn. None but the two know just what was said. Mrs. Lockard ex plained the rules of the ward, the discipline, the things that would be expected of the newcomer, her rela tionship to the other girls there. She found that she could write a letter once in two weeks, and that she could receive visitors on the second Thurs day of each month. That is, she could if she obeyed the rules. Room lo Herself. Evelvn has a room by herself. So have the three other women housed in the same quarters, one colored girl and two white girls. Evelyn learned that two were in from one to seven years, with one of them re-serving after a violation of a parole. The other is there for from one to twenty years on forgery. The parole matter does not concern Evelyn. The little brown book on rules that govern inmates of the Ne braska penitentiary says that those confined for treason, murder, rape, or kidnapping are not eligible to paroles. When the room gat warm, Evelyn had until the evening supper hour to tiiinV thosp thinsrs over. Her room was large, with three beds in it. At i present, it is not necessary that she share it with another. The colls are white. There is but one window and it is barred. But it has white curtains and that helps a lot. Not so bad as a cell. I Supper was brought up from the big 'Boys and Girls Ask Yourself These Questions And Then Answer Them What are you going to do when you grow up? Are you going to be your own boss or work for someone else? . Will you be independent and have your own home, or will you be one of the many who just scrape and manage to make both ends meet? It all depends on you. Nearly all of the great men of this country began to prepare for success when they were young like you. 1 , The first step is to save what you earn and are given. The folks at home will be glad to help you. . &i1SUtmJfo'i3 Then, when the time comes for you to go to college, or start out for yourself, you will be equipped for the fight. Every penny you save now puts you that much ahead of the boy or girl who does not save. Children's accounts are always welcome at this bank, no matter how small they may be. kitchens in a pail and carried by a "trusty." No fulls. Just plain meat, potatoes and cabbage. But there was plenty. the four of them sat down to one table. The white and colored eirls do not have to eat tonether. There are two dining rooms. But why not? No one cares. No One Cures. That is the funnv nart about iL No one seems to care about anything. If .1 i - -!. A- 1 "l ii uiPiT is a joo 10 io, anu one geis through with her share first, she lets the others work out their own salva-. tions. "We don't get paid for extras. So, what's the use." Sometimes the girls even stoop to 1 ! r tr i r rvnf rwt r v rt V "in liml ' II l f" 1 ). 'IIV l I It' l 1 1 I III I'lUI, One day Mrs. Fenton sent in a par ticularly nice tiblecloth to le laun dered. She did not care t. have this fine a piece go into the general prison laundry. Someone had it "in" for the girl who was assigned the task. She sprinkled some reu stun on me nnen ami u never came out. Another time, a b'g square was torn out of a niece of muslin iriven to a certain girl to "shrink." But even at that, Evelyn is wor ried for fear the time will come when clio im11 tirt laft Hnn tVirn nil nlnno " Thirty years is such a long time. . At nome now, someone was always running in for a chat. There were thirteen children in the ramny and eleven, six girls and five boys, still living. No Right (o a Mother. Of couse there is visitor's day. That comes but once a month. Evelyn's mother and a sister came down the January day. She. enjoyed them so much. ' And when the mother left at 3 o'clock, Evelyn stood at the window to watch until they had melted from sight. "Aw kid you ain't got no right to a mother, now' some one spit out. "1 lost mine." But that first night, she was not thinking so much of visitor's day, as the countless number of solitary days .. . . . . 1 I - 1" I that stretcneu oui aneuu iu nn. Evelyn asked Mrs. tcnton once now long she had lived there. "Eight years. ir;. ..-. - r Mw flint spems like a long time to stay in one place. I don't believe I could stand to " Eight years. That is only a little less than' a fourth of thirty years. "I am going to be as good as 1 can, i,-. .. i.nrr,lnl tn the matron, after a bit o"f figuring. "According to the good time law. I can reouce my actum umi- o i;t'o nvcr twpntv-one veai'S. 1 L W u i I - l ' v. -' " " .- can do that if I never disobey a rule. "Besides I don t see how heing mean ;. .; r tn crpt mp anvw hcrp. The warden looks like he could be good natured as long as I am good. But I figure out that he can be mean if I do something 1 hadn't ovrht to. You look like that too," naively. The Same Koutine. IpiI and assured jvi.ihi - her she would be happier if she was a good girl. The women pru oners give the day time hours to the state. They do the . i ii i a-!a...a:a. fine laundry wgik ior ne inHiiuumi 4 l-i ran i i mpa n week. The rest of the time they sew and do fancy work. Evelvn had never seweu ihmuic, iwi crocheted. She does now. She has made enough lace and insertion ior come sheets for one of the official s beds. And when the factory is run ning, the women make the cretonne linings for the lamps. Every day is alike. C.et up at seven. Clean the room, eat breakfast, sew or wash until noon. Dinner. Continue the morning work until five. Supper, and then the evenings are spent in making things for one's self. Bed at 9 o'clock sharp. . EveJvn s bed nour, ior uic incn ears at least has not hovered about the 9 p. m. hour. Nor have her eve nings been spent with a flitting needle. And when one is twenty-one The only excitement is the mice. They got to be pretty bad for a while. And then someone sent a cat up. The matron feared for a time, that a caf could not be kept on the third floor of a penitentiary. But tabby 1 ... m-v.- V,. u-anta nn seems to line u. ;v" "V airing, she crawfs through the bars ami out on an adjacent buildm to chase sparrows across the roof. JJhen she gets nungry, sue and chases mice. ' Evelyn envies the cat sometimes. Take in a Movie. tn a ...., 4Vi wnmpn are nermit- ted to accompany their matron to the mov e n the prison buhhim . ... v,.f.., thtr own Sunday wniie uiey ""' - school in their own quarters, they at tend the church services wu 1 .... .. (nnnv tn me. that whenever anyone talks out here its always to 'you men.'" Evelyn re marked at one time, "They never say anything to the women. I don't like is u.-rd to being noticed. But there is one thing she is thank ful for. Visitors are never al'owed to go through the women's ward. "People cannot come and stare at us like they do the men," she said. "Our quarter arc not arranged so that they could come through without being right with us. am glad for that." Thus goes the life of a woman whom the Nebraska courts have pronounced as guilty of violation of one of the state's statutes. There is plenty of substantial food, good beds, a chance to read if one does not lose the privi leges. The working hours are reason able. The officials are considerate. But what a prospect Thirty years of the same thinir. when one is twpntv-one. 7-2s-:.2, $1.0(1. I. illie May Anderson and husband to Edgar Hilton and H. H. Karsting, northwest quarter of section 13-25-49, $.1,200.00 II. Sheridan Keane and wife to K. I Bierce and G. M. Jenkins, east half of section 7, south half of section X, northwest quarter of section 8-27-o2, $.VS0.0O. II. Sheridan Keane and wife to The Purland Trust Co., east half of section 7, south half of section K-27-R2, $400. Otto Matz and wife to U. E. Knight, northeast quarter of section 2S-2C-47, ' $(i0 1.00. I Erne-t Radenbaugh and Mrs. Ada to T. K. (lilshannon, northeast qur (ter of section (i-25-47, $1,000.00. William H. Kiester and wife to Keith E. Tierce, southwest quarter o. section 1 1-27-4S, $2,400.00. ' Eugene C. Kendrick and wife to G. I M. Jenkins, lot I and 2, block 21, L'hrig' addition, $1,100.00. ' Fred C. Feck and wife to Keith L. Fierce, northeast quarter of section 25- 20-51, $2,240.00. REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Filed for record for week endintr February 11, 1921: Anton L'hrig, widower to Eugene C. Kendrick, lots 1 and 2, block 21, fli ng's addition, $.100.00. William M. Corey and wife to Si meon A. Powell and wife, lot 10, block 34. Hemingford, $2,000.00. Vadie Chandler, single, to Norman G. Leishman, southwest quarter of section 21-25-4S, $1.00. Sadie C. Bennett and husband to Robert F. Meece, west half of north east quarter, northwest quarter of the southeast quarter and northeast quar ter of the southwest quarter of section "I DIDN'T REALIZE how much good two weeks of rest in the south would do one at this season" said a m a n who had just re turned, after giving himself a physical and mental over hauling and toning up. Many folks think of The South (Texas, Florida, the Gulf Coast states) as "way off there." Rut that isn't the cause. A few hours and you're there. You'll enjoy every mile of the way if you take a Burlington planned tour. II. L. ORMSRY, Ticket Agent 50good cigarettes tor lUc trom one sack of GENUINE i nr n - - a 9 W lo)iyj is DURHAM m rnnArrn Air Cooled Spark Plugs AltE IN A CLASS DY THEMSELVES Has a heavy ventilated copper electrode tipped with iilver Two of the best conductors known to science. Carries a heavy ribbon spark. Does not feather off as It does on a small steel electrode. Produces a Hot Spark and a strong explosion which keeps plugs and cylinders free from soot and carbon, and more miles to the gallon of gas. 1 want a live agent In every town in Western Nebraska, or would consider county agents. For particulars address W. E. CUTTS Alliance, Nebraska. Distributor for Western Nebraska. Good Renter Wanted on Good 640 Acre Farm Ranch Mr. Renter, do you want a live, money-making proposi tion, where nil you need to start is the ability and the in clination to work conscientiously? Then we believe you have found it here. It is a 610-acre farm ranch, part in cultiva tion, will pay for breaking remainder, plenty of machinery with place, enough stock, plenty hay, and a fine chance to make you some good money. If you are looking for something exceptionally good, don't fail to inquire about this place. We can fix up a deal mutually good, if you have the ability and are willing to go. , For Full Particulars, Inquire at ft THE HERALD OFFICE Masonic Temple Illdg. Alliance, Nebraska r Ws OUR Bwv ) vS&r Children Give libur a Chance Of course you want your children to have a better chance than you had every good father does. You want your daughters to marry well and you want your sons to have enough capital and sufficient edu cation to begin their farming careers almost at the point you have reached after years of toil. Many a farmer has found in pure-breds the solution for the two outstanding problems how to keep the children contented with farm life, and how to start them out so that they are bound to achieve success. One Ohio farmer's plan is typical. When his eldest son was 12 years old he went to the bank and borrowed $350 io buy a registered bull and two registered heifers. In eight years this investment has grown into a pure-bred herd which has provided schooling for three children, a com fortable home for the family and a permanent, prosperous business for himself and the boys. " I didn't have to beg the youngsters to. stay on the farm," the father says, "they got to liking the cattle." Pure-breds do keep the children on the farm; they do make farming a profession worth following. Doubtless you started with scrubs maybe you haven't even yet overcome this handicap to success. Let your children start with pure breds they deserve it. And let them 6tart, too, with that great service weekly which has contributed so much to the cattle-raising industry The Country Gentleman. Just $1.00 buys 52 helpful issues. Use the coupon below today. NEBRASKA SHORTHORN BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION C. M. MCCARTHY, Secretary, York, Nebraska THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Philadelphia. Pa. I'm glad to tee you pushing our organization with good advertising. And here' my dollar for a subscription for one year, fifty-two issues. The two go well tocUicr, First National Bank (My Name). (My Address. ALLIANCE NEBRASKA (Town) . (Stated 4 CBSBSSZ3 llJJujEf' JAB f-wnr-i