Part 6 (1/2)
3. _Cells cleared of trinket-making and tracts._ The former warden was accustomed to distribute tracts among the prisoners. He also, by the a.s.sent of the government over him, had allowed the men, who desired it, to employ their otherwise idle moments by making small trinkets, as hair chains, paper folders, tooth-picks and small fancy boxes in imitation of what was done in certain other prisons, thereby, as was supposed, securing greater contentment and better order among the men. The new warden condemned all this as a great violation of good prison order. The candles, also, were condemned, and everything of the kind, with all the writing material or waste paper found in the cells, was removed, the spoils carefully measured, and the number of bushels sent the rounds of the papers as an evidence of the former abuses in this prison and of his labors to correct them.
I asked if the prisoners did not need to have the waste paper, at least, remain. ”Oh,” said he, ”they will look out for that themselves.” I could not then see how, but subsequently learned, much to the cost of the State.
4. _Necessity for the chaplain's undertaking what he did._ This necessity arose, not simply from the demands of the inmates for educational and reformatory means, but also from considerations of good prison order. True, the warden had the vanity to think he could control the men in whatever way he might undertake. The show of his cane would be sufficient for any emergency. But there was human nature in the prison as well as out, and, from the circ.u.mstances, it would be strange if it did not show itself. By taking away the prisoners' educational privileges, and the various articles referred to, much idle time would be left. How would this be employed? These men would naturally feel angry at being deprived of what they had enjoyed so long, and prized.
This now unemployed time would give them ample opportunity for studying means of revenge, and some would no doubt turn their ac.u.men in that direction. If a prisoner had any smartness, he would feel, from the circ.u.mstances, almost impelled to give vent to mischief, and thereby make as much trouble as possible.
But, could I step in, and, by dint of effort, keep those minds agreeably occupied, I should do so much towards helping the warden to the desired subordination and order. No previous time in my prison experience seemed to demand so great efforts in that direction as now. Hence, duty appeared calling me to step forward, as I did.
5. _New phase at the prison, and the chaplain's efforts._ The first Sabbath morning came for chapel wors.h.i.+p under the new order, and a sadder appearing company I never met, their countenances being expressive of anxiety and gloom commingled. The singing dragged, the instrument standing voiceless, as the one who had usually made it speak, was of the s.e.x here proscribed, and the warden had not found another to take her place. It was hard preaching, for these once earnest hearers seemed to have hearts too full for hearing. But I endeavored to give words of hope, and to direct their minds to a heavenly Father who will ever carry his trusting children through the scenes they are called to pa.s.s. Of course I could make no allusion to present circ.u.mstances, or appear to recognize any change in the surroundings; but somehow I could not call the hearers ”criminals.” I pursued the usual course, addressing them as _men_, or _friends_, or perhaps _brothers_, for I was occasionally guilty of all that; but the word ”criminal” never hung on my lips when addressing the inmates on subjects of improvement. In my view, such a course would have been like attempting to light a fire by applying the match with one hand and das.h.i.+ng on water with the other.
At the close of our services, as the warden, in his peculiar way, was giving some of his orders, I could see the crimson flush on more than one cheek, indicative of the feelings stirred within, the character of which I could only conjecture. One of his a.s.sertions was, as I understood it, thus: ”I am warden here now. The days of bouquets and flowers are played out here,” and more in the same vein.
In the women's room the countenances were not so anxious. They rather liked this part of the change, for it would free them from the task of preparing, Sabbath mornings, to appear in public. Still, anxiety was not entirely wanting. Sabbath school was this day omitted, as the warden had not obtained his corps of teachers.
On going my rounds for private counsel to the men in their cells, I found, in most cases, gloom and discouragement, they having generally heard of the warden's disbelief in their reform. It was really wonderful to witness the change a few days had wrought in the moral aspect of the prison. A frost in June would not make a greater change on the face of nature. I could but ask myself, ”Why are things thus?” ”At what are our rulers aiming?”
I went to each with all the cheer I could, exhorting them not to indulge in these downcast feelings, but to look upward with hope, and gave them the a.s.surance that their educational privileges, as well as religious, would be continued, only with some change in their application, and pointed out in brief the manner, saying that each could advance in study as rapidly as in his power.
If any referred to their cell amus.e.m.e.nts being taken away, I met them with the remark,--”Don't trouble about that. You shall be furnished with all the books you can read and study, and I will hear your recitations.
In this way, your time can be pleasantly and profitably occupied, perhaps making you the gainers.” A few of these former trinket workers became more interested in their studies, but the most could not, by reason of their sight, thus being left to endure their privation as best they could.
When one would refer to his discouragement on account of the warden's disbelief in reform, I would meet him thus, ”You are to look only to yourself and your G.o.d in this matter. What a fellow mortal believes or disbelieves concerning you is of no account. You have the power to go on in the right and be a good man. I know you have, and others who are good and true, men upon whose views we can all rely, also know it. What matter if the warden does think as you suppose? It is only his opinion.
He wishes you to do well, and will be glad if you succeed in the right.
But, should you turn back, it will confirm his views that you can not reform. You will meet with harder things than this in life, yet must not think of yielding the struggle, let what will arise.”
These efforts tended materially to lift the cloud from the prisoners'
minds, and give them more hope. It really gladdened the hearts of many to learn that the privileges, which they had come to love so well and esteem so highly, were still to be theirs.
6. _S. school commences._ The next Sabbath the S. S. was resumed. Nearly the usual number were present. A few Christian gentlemen from the city were teachers, a sufficient number to guard each prisoner and see that nothing contraband pa.s.sed. These were good men, some having long been laborers in the school. On the whole, things appeared more encouraging than on the Sabbath previous. That frosty appearance had in a measure departed, though it was by no means wholly gone.
7. _The warden's views considered._ The idea that ”prisoners can not be reformed” is contrary to Scripture, history, and experience. The former gives the a.s.surance that the vilest, the chief of sinners, those whose sins are as scarlet or crimson, may be saved. Then history deals in facts where such have been radically reformed, and have become good men.
Some who were once in prison are now upright, industrious citizens.
Hence, the a.s.sertion shows lack of confidence in Scripture a.s.surances and historical knowledge.
But one asks, ”Do you think it possible to reform all, or a large proportion of prisoners?” We can a.s.sume it of those here as of the world in general. Whether out of or in prison, we are to sow the seed, and some will germinate. We must work, use all right appliances, and leave the event with G.o.d, not knowing ”which shall prosper, this or that.”
Again, the objection comes: ”Prisoners will be often hypocritical, profess goodness from sinister motives, pretending to have reformed for a time, and then become as bad as ever.”
Admit all this. But are not just such traits found in the world all about us? Where are there more wicked wretches than some outside the prison, who have ”put on the livery of heaven to serve the devil in?”