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JANUARY 3, 19 OS
The Commoner.
13
aAc . . --
4 -sSltof to teoil or idf
A CHRISTMAS DAY SPENT WITH THE DETAINED
Nearly four hundred men, each
clad in a uniform suit of bluish-gray
material, and most of them with
faces unlighted with a look of cheer
as they filed slowly into the chapel.
This was the audience the archi
tect of this department talked to last
Christmas' morning. They sang with
fervor some of the familiar old "gos
pel hymns," and they were respon
sive to the chaplin's little speech of
introduction. The audience was com
posed of prisoners in the Nebraska
state prison at Lincoln.
Now if anyone imagines that be
cause these men are convicts that
they are not quick to see the point
of a joke, or unresponsive to a bit
of sentiment, that one is sadly mis
taken. Their willingness to be en
tertained is almost pathetic. Their
life is hard enough at best, and when
there is added to all the rest of it
the disposition some goodly disposed
people have to be forever visiting
them and talking morality in a sing
song tone of voice, then they are
eager to hear something or see some
thing different.
The Nebraska prison is a model of
its kind. The lock step has been
abolished, the stripes are seen no
more save upon refractory prisoners,
the shaven head is seldom seen, and
the discipline is more nearly mili
tary than menial. When Warden
Beemer makes his rounds the pris
oners salute him without cringing,
for he speaks pleasantly, though
sternly, and his trail about the prison
can usually be followed by the good
nature he leaves in his wake.
The prisoners .are encouraged to
make their cells as attractive as pos
sible. As a result most of the cells
have rugs, and practically all are
decorated with pictures, many of
them drawn by the occupants, many
cut from illustrated papers, and many
of them photographs.
All this may not be in line with
old-fashioned ideas about the treat
ment of criminals, but the results
have been beneficial to the prisoners
and to society. The Nebraska state
prison boasts of a remarkable record
in the line of mortuary statistics.
It has been three years and nine
months since a prisoner died within
the walls of the prison save one
instance, and that occurred a couple
of weeks ago. This particular ex
ception died at the hands of the law,
being executed for murder.
Of course all this is a departure
from the old way of treating con
victs. To encourage them to right
living, to care for their health, to
forbear reminding them every hour
of their degradation, to provide them
with some amusements and grant
them some relaxations this Is not
the way we used to treat criminals.
But there are very few habitual
criminals In the Nebraska prison
or any other prison comparatively
speaking. Many are therebecause of
one false step. Others are there by
force of circumstances over which
they had no control. Some are there
because of the sins of others. The
old system turned every convict loose
at the end of his term a determined
criminal. Every man's hand was
against him, and his against every
man. It's different now. The parole
system, the prison help associations,
and various other agencies have con
tributed to a better result. When a
man steps forth from the Nebraska
prison a free man, he has a chance
to be something other than a man
forced to criminal ways in order to
secure food and clothing.
The architect dt this department
told his audience a few stories, bov
oral of them political; read a few
of his own humble verses and gave
a few imitations. And when ho ex
pressed his gratitude for the many
evidences of his audience's approval
and wound up by saying he liked to
talk to an audience that couldn't got
away from him, the four hundred
convicts shouted with laughter. They
appreciated the good-natured joke at
their expense. When the architect
said ho was a democrat a lot of the
prisoners clapped their hands. Then
the architect said ho knew there
wore a lot of republicans in his
audience because the varying shades
of color gave an ocular proof of the
fact, and the one hundred 'negro
prisoners laughed and the white dem
ocrats shouted their appreciation. 0,
it was a bully audience to talk to.
They were eager to laugh, and were
willing to laugh at the slightest pro
vocation. It made a fellow feel good
to think that ho could give thirty
minutes of enjoyment to a big
bunch of men to whom Christmas
seemed but one long day in the midst
of many long days.
From 11 until 12:30 the men were
"at liberty" in the big prison yard.
They could do as they pleased walk,
talk, sing, play ball anything that
struck their fancy that was not con
trary to good morals and good dis
cipline. The colored prisoners gravi
tated together and sang. My, how
they could sing. The white prison
ers gathered in groups or talked In
pairs and trios, laying plans for the
future, recalling other and better
days, or exchanging greetings.
Warden Beemer, Mrs. Beeraer, Miss
Beemer, Mrs. Sheldon, wife of Ne
braska's governor, the writer and one
or two others mingled freely with the
men. Everybody seemed to be en
joying the day. There were no sullen
faces, no efforts to avoid observa
tion. The Christmas dinner was bounti
ful. Turkey was not on the bill of
fare, that being a Thanksgiving lux
ury. But roast pork, mashed pota
toes, sugar corn, gravy, boiled cab
bage, dressing with onions, bread,
butter, mince pie, oranges and coffee
all this was served In profusion,
and ready waiters passed to and fro
to give the hungry a second or even
a third helping. Many of the pris
oners took their oranges and pie to
their cells for an afternoon lunch.
During the afternoon the prisoners
had the freedom of the cell houses,
and they spent it in singing, story
telling, letter writing and reading.
The prison library Is a large one, and
It is well patronized by the prisoners.
A stalwart, bright-faced, clear
eyed young prisoner showed the party
through the well appointed stock
pens and barns. As the party was
leaving Mrs. Sheldon thanked the
young man and said:
"I wish you a merry Christmas,
sir."
"Thank you, Mrs. Sheldon," was
the reply. "I hope it will be my
last one here."
"And I, too, hope so," said Mrs.
Sheldon.
As we walked back to the main
building Mrs. Sheldon said to Warden
Beemer:
"That young man does not look
like a criminal."
' He isn't," said the warden. "Wo
havo very fow criminals in hero, com
paratively speaking. Wo havo many
umuriumues, many victims of cir
cumstances, and many who havo been
vicariously sacrificed. 0, this prison
problem will wo ovor solve it!"
And when one boara Wnrdon
Boomer one knows how heavy this
burden must lay upon his big, warm,
gQnerous heart, and how he must
worry and work to givo hlmsolf oven
a tithe of satisfaction nt tho thought
that ho is contributing in tim future
of the country and tho men In hin
uuurgo. n is a mignty responsibility
and the country owes a big debt to
men like Albert D. Boomer, warden
of tho Nebraska state prison, who
aro trying to rench tho solution of
tho prison problem.
88ig?i Grade Door
OXLV
80o
The architect enjoyed his Christ
mas day at tho Nebraska state prison.
He enjoyed it because ho thought ho
ndded to tho enjoyment of men who
have little enough of Joy; because
he saw visible evidences of advance
in prison reform; because ho saw a
chanco for those who will In futum
leave the grim prison behind thous
and because It gave him a stronger
faith in the upward and onward
trond of our Christian civilization.
This Year
Thero are wrongs to ho righted and
good to be done
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
Thero are battles to wage and some
fights to bo won
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
Thero are evils to banish and wrongs
to dethrone;
There are joys wo may scatter whore
grief sits alone;
There is light to be spread where tho
sun never shone.
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
There are trusts to bo "busted" by
stopping their graft
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
Thero are fetters to wold upon greed
and on craft
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
There are men to defeat hiding back
of tho scenes
And pulling tho wires that control
tho machines,
And It's up to us now to find ways
and means,
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
There are schemes to defeat if the
right shall prevail
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
And ours be the blame If our wrongs
we bewail
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
We'll have to strike out and keep
busy the while
We tackle the wrongs in a vigorous
style
Keep a stiff upper Up till it bends In
a smile
In Nineteen Hundred and Eight.
PVilHUiS
WKl'mil VI VJtml II
Wit .rJBft MA WKJZ w m
B.W.AkL, I
2-0 x 6-0, All Whlto Pino.
Roular Prloo. S2.oo
ir joajirofta7tHK frr Anon, wfo.
aont, tUrm Mh, tnoulrflntf, pr.tiih
brftcfceu,comm.r.tl tntiiwork, tot
rear own buUdlr.c. tTmiemHrnttor.
don'l but tlmfhr nt nny prlc or
an.!erarjrelrrnm?rjtin lyonm
th Oranrl Mlifwerk CUtag vUlJk
iS'juler'ii prlcoi. It inatai no diffir
uii.y wiicijjr u urn. ii jmitHtrmiia
-. - .- -. IM4 it -v. iui inr
parpoMt, do not tli nk of barm nniU
r9Ktfrir6tli7ifcifl. Our gtvvM jus
hlchi:rnJrtMil 4 wo.idr-rfollrfrw
lnJr!? Our)umtorlflntBlr-lrM
"? .v,,n P- ftn ''jrititIoi,
pat thrnuah a -letlflo dryln pro.
fxwi. Joint nro inado with Tieirf
hardwood dowel p n ;fnM with lm
ttortotlElnn. nrniu.l in..it,..i,. ..
pton pwrtr prtt. Thtr to bo
wmoapsri"io our work.
Door pancli uao a hwr raUoon Loth aide. Tlit
i?. 0l!...,0..Mn':pflfr,tJ.on ?"K?ib1 maehln of cur
57,1 -llJT?nV?i Knfon "V floor U rot tocnlbf r. ami
VI ."lc''0 tro adopted LmIioHmIi, I)uor4flu3
ManutaclomrV AiocUtlon of tho Vr.rihntti.
J ?&nU tf rctt plnnt in tho world- 1CMWJ
foot of floor pco itcur nervt- hurn en In mlnr
rlnrp JW n mr own tlmtrr Iah.I- tmrinllla and
lamtar yard. Wo curry a arRn nock nd cn thw
foraihlp prprarllr. Wo harn no tmillnjt torn-J
SHS-.TmI- .Uo,T if "Wt product. otuh.
dopr nnd Idlnda wlllna dlntrt fo tho container. Our
linn until )ou k t cur rutnl u If,, iimnd.ii wa4wrti
"'ii publlah.il. Jt'a Ytwi writo or It todur.
Addrcwi
GORDON, VAN TINE CO.
S34 Casi St. Davenport, fw
ORNAMENTAL FEME
UMKHIGNri,AM,KTK I
llUKUouiq ctifapt-r than
wood- more durable. HpetrUl
prlcra t rnnrrttr arwi emu
WTlK, UiHk'l buy n tenrr until
tou i;n otir Tim ealalogtie.
Kokotoo l'eiev IfnrblnnO ,
tla Jiorth M.( li.al.vut9, Jud.
NurncrJcfl Piy Cash Weekly
AMD VAHT MoK SALK4KCM EVtY-
Wiirne. But CowrArT, UrT Olttit.
Lakomt Hi tsr.ntzs-vtmt am 02-VrAK Urcoro.
STARK BRO'S, LOUISIANA, MO.
ftir"
PATENTS that PROTECT
H.5,&A.U,lACfcT,Waihllon,O.C. Ettab.lMt. i
Brain Leaks
Family jars hide no sweets.
Each day begins a new year.
Hunger Is a good sauce, but a poor
dessert.
The man who tries to drown sor
row merely floats it to the top.
We would all bo reformers if wo
did not have to begin it at home.
Just because there Is room at the
top Is no reason why you should step
on people In order to get there.
A year or two after a boy begins
to think he knows it all he really be
gins to learn a little something.
It would be interesting to have the
baby's opinion of papa's mother-in-law
joke.
The church member who thinks he
has done his full duty when he helps
pay the pastor's salary Is due for a
big disappointment.
The church that feeds tracts to
the starving will always play second
fiddle to the Salvation Army in the
matter of practical results.
Pfl T F H T C rJKCUHKII OIC I'KIJ
Frco report a to rntonUihlllty, Itluttrntrd OuJd
Hook, and J-lit of Invention Wnnlod, nt (tin. v
KVANH, W1MCKN8 ACQ., WanliinirUirt, IXC.
fe f H n ft A C &f nni1 (,0 I"'T month will luy
of IUiUU tLrMtdfln beautiful two-acre CftJI
fornln Vineyard, the Incnina from which will bo
BuMcicnt to niRko you IndoiK'iidml fur life. Hand
some pamphha and wtluMdo Information frcv.
Sacramento valley improverent Co., S . UjIi, Mo
FENGEW&
on-tlKht Bold to tlmuwr t klh
ViU. yitVtjYnitUi. CUlo(roe t reo.
COILCO CPRINO FENCE CO.,
Sox Z3t Vlncooolor, iMttomn
8m4 ui yvnt 44ttn
tli 3 WlJIlaAM
Lvw t nk. t iilif
th bcAlltjr wlr jixi I lr. rWnit u jvtir aMrcM o4 w witt
cip!ln 0 builoM lollr,iowuiUr wt famjnnUt a tUt prc&t
t.t f t tnr trrmrt Amv'a wntw. fcLuJaLelr murm. Wilt a.a
amu,mHu
c.fiiii vm.uvv .niijti.HNwiMi. wm m,vmnnv
ct tZfor rr.rr Amy' wntt. nbuAaicir mnx.
uoiiLHucricTiiaauco., luxiws
ieCKKTfbrtrlalI3
v week. In tliw
illiutrntod national j
weekly all tho 1 in nor ,
tant news of tho world I
tontnU'd rlitrly. fnlrJy.
and hrielly, for hwiy raulrri. Ifany upidnl tcolumi
of irrreit InU'TviiU It In ulncarc, reliable, entortairiJtifr
THK vapvrTor llw home. 1 year; takw place of
12 to f p-uxtji. Try It, 13 wk& for ISc. l'attflnder,
Walj., IK C.
(SEEDS thai GROW
L
fctqn&llty Garden, Ylmnrr w Yum
cecux, aiiajis, uiorrr. Dto I'OIaiocil
AlaohAV0faIlllnoofnriryBUicic lArara.
O ERICA H NUnnKEIEfl Aim Rnm
nOQSg. Box 77, BKATItlOK. Web,
'1
rou can hatch mor
IrtifrW vltt. t iii . i
F IbtM tTaatA ft wi til n n
lOfJlTBriCTV rKnratroB
m imim wiin nrrv mnnriruinri.
ftor on ftrti. Wm tt m
I VrOTQ It on tonr mm nlnP
jW. ce and 90 Bayi Tri!
I Don't pay two prlece. Send
i M. M. 40HHSOMt Clay Cfr. ttSkm
fia5?xj3KKMt
It 1 tho best policy holder's com
pany In the United States.
ASSETS f2,000,000
twenty years old. "Write
The Old Line Bankers Lift
Lincoln, Nebrnnka.
I
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