Memorials Of Prison Life (1856)

Front matter

Scibbatl) School £ibv

District No. 3.

MIDDLE BURY, VERMONT.

Preface

The following work, kind reader, was not premeditated, when I accepted the appointment of chaplain to the peni¬ tentiary of Ohio; but it came into my mind, at first, as a mere suggestion, and grew up into its present form by the force of circumstances, rather than from calculation. Hav¬ ing formed, many years ago, the habit of*journalizing the principal events of my life, I found myself at my old prac¬ tice soon after entering upon my duties in the prison: every thing in relation to the prisoners, to the officers, to the discipline of the institution, and to whatever stood connected with it, without any particular intention, was recorded; and, in this way, by the time I had been one year in my new position I had amassed matter enough, if printed as it was first written, for a large volume. These materials became, from time to time, and altogether accidentally, the topics of conversation among my personal friends; and several of them, among whom were Col. Dewey, Dr. Charles Elliott, and Hon. John M’Leau, either suggested or approved the idea of publishing a book. By these and similar influences, I was led to entertain the project so far as to carry my manuscript to Cincinnati, and take the advice of several of my friends residing there. Committing it, for a short time, to the inspection of my friend, Rev. Dr. Tefft, I received it again with that gentleman's warm approval of the project of publication, by which I was finally determined; and, almost immediately, the task of revision was undertaken, and constantly persevered in, till my materials assumed the form in which they now appear.

PREFACE.

In regard to the matter of the volume, I feel at liberty to say, that every word of it can be relied on as fact; ana I have endeavored, by the exercise of some care, to have as few errors of opinion as would be possible in such a work. It is possible, that, in the labor of transcribing, some things may have taken a shade not contemplated in the first draft; but everywhere, it has been my design to adhere strictly to the facts as I knew them, without coloring a single incident for eflect. The truth of it is, the facts themselves, which came to light during a protracted residence in one of our great penitentiaries, are sufficiently pungent and thrilling, without the help of fiction; and the nearer a writer can come to the realities actually around him, the more graphic, as well as instructive, will be his book. Such, at least, was my firm conviction in the preparation of these pages; and I have, consequently, endeavored to relate what 1 saw, and heard, and experienced, during my first year as chaplain of the Ohio state prison.

Respecting the manner of my unpretending production, I have nothing, of any consequence, to say; for my mind has been so much more intent on the substance than on the form of it, that I scarcely feel qualified to speak. In point of style, I have had no ambition to shine as a writer, my chief object being so to set forth my thoughts, as to be clearly and easily understood. Beyond this I have made no at tempts. Though some parts of the work may seem to have been written with some design toward dramatic interest, nothing was farther from my thoughts; for those pages, where this appearance will be most plausibly presented to the reader, fell as naturally into their present shape, as the most desultory conversation ever undertaken by a knot of “ talking men.” I felt at liberty, of course, to correct the grammatical and rhetorical blemishes of several of the prisoners’ letters, which are incorporated in my work; though some of them are given almost word for word as 1 ntEFACE.

received them from their respective authors—the propriety of which, all, I presume, will understand.

There is one part of ray labors, while in connection with the penitentiary, to which I look back with unusual interest. I refer to the co-operation of the officers, particularly the higher officers, in the work of spreading the spirit of evan¬ gelical religion among the prisoners. In many institutions of this character, there is a coldness manifested toward the chaplain, as if he were there only by courtesy, or conces¬ sion, and not to do a great and welcome duty to the bodies and souls of lost men. There is nothing of this feeling in the state prison of Ohio. There was not, at least, while I was there; and, having*given my testimony fully and ex¬ plicitly, in the body of this work, to the generous and Christian character of the warden, Col. Dewey, I must here add, that the deputy warden, Capt. Bradford, was equally kind, equally liberal, equally co-operative, and equally solicitous for my success in giving root and growth to religion upon the soil we cultivated. Never, perhaps, in any part of the world, was there a set of officers, having the management of a prison, who possessed and manifested more of the spirit of Christian philanthropy toward their degenerate but important charge, than the officers of this institution. Their reward is certain.

I must, also, here express my gratitude to another class of my co-laborers. When I first entered upon my duties, I made particular examination of the library, if I may call that a library, which consisted of so few and so unimportant books. My soul was pained. I resolved, in the name of humanity, that this great means of good should not remain thus. On expressing my feelings to the warden, and other officers, I found that they had had similar compunctions; and we thereupon started a subscription, before quitting the subject of conversation, for the purpose of adding to our library stock. To this measure the contractors, as well as

PREFACE.

the officers, contributed most generously. The citizens of Columbus nobly followed their example. I then felt en couraged to visit Cincinnati for the same object. The Cincinnatians fairly loaded me down with books. Subse¬ quently 1 got into my buggy, and rode from town to town, and from house to house, everywhere calling upon the people for such good works as they felt willing to give. Never was I turned away entirely empty from any man ’2 door. Never in my life have I seen a charity so cheerfully and bountifully supplied. It seemed to do the people good to give. And so it did. It always does us good; and the books thus collected have effected a complete revolution among the prisoners respecting their intellectual habits Before, the moment they were turned loose into their cells, they were idle, or employed in secret vices, or carried away with plans of escape. Now, as soon as they are free from manual toil, the greater part of them occupy their minds in the perusal of good books, which not only stimulates and rouses up their intellectual life, but thereby gives it the ascendency over their physical passions, by which their moral powers arc put into a state of freedom favorable tc the growth and elevation of the moral life. No man, who has not seen the revolution here referred to, will be able tc realize, precisely and fully, how great a one it is; but, from continued observation, I can emphatically say to every prison on the earth—“Give the prisoners books!”

In looking over the sheets, after they had come from press, I discovered a few errors which had escaped my observation till that time. This could be easily accounted for, were the errors of sufficient magnitude to require, 01 justify, the trouble; but, after a careful examination, 1 dc not find one of any consequence to the public. The fev slips of memory, to which I now refer, have only the per¬ sonal effect of reminding me, that I am gradually verging into the sear of age; and, with this thought upon m/ i’REFACK.

heart, I would here, in conclusion, beg the reader, not only to pardon all my deficiencies, but to be careful on his own account to make, for his latter years, and for the world to coine, a foundation that never can be moved. Let reader and writer both remember, that, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap/’

Eaton , January , IS50

Chapter I

Appeal to fathers and mothers, legislators and senators—Tlie penitentiary of a state—A momentous question—What is the end to be attained by imprisonment?—Three theories proposed—John Howard—The congregate system—The separate system—Each has its abettors—The author’s system.Page 15

Chapter II

A look through the prison—Misery and degradation—Striped clothes—The prison Sabbath school—The hospital—A melancholy incident—Mistaken parents—First Sabbath in the penitentiary— Sermon—Interesting spectacle—Talk with the warden—Visit to the female department—Four whites, three blacks—Tuesday—Pri¬ vate meditation—Wednesday—Second visit to the hospital—Deep depravity—Dark prospect—Another call on the female depart¬ ment—An affecting case—A history of wretchedness—Admonition to parents—Sermon in the outer hall—A weeping penitent—A day in the country—Secret prayer for the prisoners—Teaching them to read—Want of intellectual culture —Showering convicts—New lodgings — “ Confessions ” of a murderer — Pernicious publica¬ tions—Smith on Universalism—End of the first week. 21

Chapter III

Morning meditations—Conversation with a female convict—Pubtic service—Talk with a weeping youth—His descent to ruin— Sabbath-breaking and murder—A second youthful murderer—The hospital—Visit to the prisoners in their cells—Distribution of tracts—The poor orphan—Full-grown infidels—Bad books—A young Catholic learning to read—His thoughts on religion and prayer—Bad company—Disobedience to parents the beginning of evil—A reprobate—Conversation and prayer—A happy prisoner— A persecuted youth—A disputer—A reformed and, converted drunkard—Confession of a ruined lawyer—Meeting at Wesley chapel—Reinforcement from Cincinnati—Vicissitudes of the world—Personal illness—Visit from one of the guard—An anec¬ dote—Effect of diet—Another new-comer—Convict discharged— An affecting time.26

CONTENTS.

Chapter IV

Continued illness—Rev. Granville Moody—Nashville Christian Advocate—Slavery and its defenders—A sorrow-stricken sinner— Tiie olden times—Chaplains—Desire for a revival—A preacher fallen—The ladder to hell—An Osage Indian—A talk from him— Conversation with him—Unconquered and unconquerable—A child of the Emerald Isle—Kindness.Page 44

Chapter V

Bishop Hamline—Rev. Mr. Moody—The Gospel desired—A life commitment—A soundly-converted man—Two steps in the road to ruin—Visit to the hospital—A young man from New Eng¬ land—His narrative—Sabbath-breaking—Crime—Warning to the young—Conversion can occur in prison—A forger and a burglar- Pathetic interview—Conversation and counsel—Hoary hairs—Dia logue on religion—Melancholy reflections—Danger of procrastina¬ tion—Female department—Extreme obduracy—A fatalist—Another necessariau—Colloquy—Col. Dewey—Anniversary of the author’s ministerial life.* r H

Chapter VI

A beautiful morning—The Sabbath—An interesting service— Visit to my family—Call of an afflicted father and mother— Mournful reminiscences—Return to my labor—A new proposi¬ tion—Heaven on earth—An expert old sailor—Attempt at escape— The hospital—A elass meeting with the sick prisoners—The ora¬ tors of this world—Triumph of the Christian orator.f>4

Chapter VII

"Why will ye die?”—A good time—Inveterate obduracy of the female convicts—An incident—The suffering of the innocent—An aged bigamist—A digression—Settlement of the Scioto valley— Early times—Death of a prisoner—Talk with a son of pious parents—Strange revelations—Bad company—Sabbath desecration— Bar-keeping—Sound sense from a convict—Another case—A third man—Shouting—Glorious scene—A man ready to die—Salvation found—Confessions of an old criminal—Close of the week.70

Chapter VIII

The worst kind of infidelity—Visit from Rev. Mr. Wheeler, missionary to the Indians beyond the Mississippi—Gross act of injustice of the American government—The great well in the prison yard—Sermon—A refreshing season—General Taylor’s triumph over the Mexicans—A call at the blacksmith shop—A favorite son—Two points for reflection—Some statements for Church members—A phrenologist among the prisoners —Talk

CONTENTS.

I i with a hypochondriac—Experience of a new convert—The grind¬ stone-turner — Publishing pardons — Shouting of a youth — Letter from a mother to her son—From a son to his mother.Page 82

Chapter IX

Female department—Continued hardness—The chapel—Trip to Chillicothe—Colonel Dewey—A great mistake—A good library Wanted—Effect of solitary confinement—A glorious spectacle—A great croaker—Xote from a prisoner requesting instruction—Com¬ mitment of a doctor—An insane invalid—Story of a lunatic— ■ Specimen of wit—Another poor fellow—A third—Mournful narra tive—Complaints and compliments—A fourth case of insanity— Long imprisonments again—Pardons by the governor not good policy—An attempt at suicide—A lunatic discharged—Reform needed—Recruits for the Mexican war.99

Chapter X

The Sabbath—A look over the country—Two sermons—An ap peal—Bishop Morris and Professor Merrick—The progress of iniquity—Deism—An effort to reason—Atheism absurd—Fine¬ spun sophistry—Prompt confessions—A strong mind—The ward¬ en—Contributions for a library—Insanity and solitary confinement agaiu—Gloomy reflections—Two considerations—Xew fare—Mush and molasses—General gratitude—A word from Shakspeare—The omnipotence of love.Ill

Chapter XI

A useless practice dropped — Great attendance of visitors — Preachers of universal joy—Commitment for manslaughter—First hour in prison—A pass through the shops—Happy experience— An incident—Miserable law—Call at the tailors’ shop—Dialogue with a Catholic—An unfortunate young German—A man par¬ doned—A barbarous custom—The warden—An anecdote—A quo¬ tation from Dr. Upham—A veteran scoundrel—The young German converted—A prisoner leaving—Return of guard and convict from Cincinnati—Close of the week.121

Chapter XII

The penitentiary a quiet place—Movements of the warden— The female convicts—An interesting call—"Walk through the yard—Treat extraordinary—Great change—Prayer meeting—Lu¬ natic asylum—Its general arrangement—Visit to the shops—Inter¬ esting interview—Prisoner for life—His story—Lettef from hi? wife—Deathless love of woman—Colored convic\/-Revelatior. from a murderer—A Scotchman—Strange manoeuvring and de¬ ception—Caution and advice to him.13G

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIII

A breath of country air—Repinings—A sermon—“God Is love”—My birthday—An unfortunate youth—Bigamy—St. Si* raon and Fourier, and their co-laborers—An important fact— Restitution—Four conversions—A new feature—Prayers at the table—Conversion of a youth—The work of skepticism—Relig¬ ious experience—Words of admonition—Writing letters—Depart¬ ure of convicts—Suffering of the innocent—Juries.Page 146

Chapter XIV

Breakfast table—Sermon—Confidential talk—Marriage—Dia¬ logue on the subject—Fair logic—Two cases of discipline—Nu¬ merous visitors—A tour of collecting books—What do prisoners want?—Long commitments impolitic—An appeal to the public— Writing a sermon—Grievous complaint from a prisoner—Gross injustice of the sentencing court—Four years’ confinement for passing thirty cents counterfeit money—Letter to England—A soundly-converted and happy man—Retribution—Letter from a brother to his sister—Beastly feelings—Letter from a son to his mother—Another letter from a brother to his sister.156

Chapter XV

Three brothers—Transmission of character—Bedouin Arabs— Singular fact—A religiously-educated youth—Benefits of whiskymaking—An old colored man—His narrative—Horrid treatment— A slaveholder—Beauties of slavery—An insane man—Picture of happy rural life—The love of money—Speculation—Its sequel— The drunkard’s cup—From a brother in to a brother out of prison— Two commitments—Mail-robber—Forgery—Attempt at escape from prison—Frustration—Pardon—Letter from a woman in the Ohio penitentiary to her husband in the Indiana penitentiary.173

Chapter XVI

Sabbath stillness—Two sermons by Rev. Dr. Elliott—A time of power—Letter from a daughter to her mother—The beginning and the end of sin—Another case of disobedience to parents—Lettor from a youth to an old friend—Bad company—Admonition—An only son—Letter from a convict to a friend in the country—Visit to the hospital—A sin-sick soul—Dialogue—Religious experience— Departure of a convict youth—Parting gift—A happy man— Another discharged convict—An unparalleled case. 187

Chapter XVII

Morning prayer—Lecture to the women—Sermon from Romans vi, 22—An obstacle to the conversion of prisoners mentioned—

Conversion of legislators—Two commitments—Death of a prison¬ er—The hospital—A penitent seeker—Visit to one of the work sl 10 p s —Weaving shop—Commitment of a counterfeiter—An ex¬ hortation-—Escape of our cook—A. pardon—A villain from birth Counsel—Death scene and burial—Another prisoner’s term ex¬ pired—A suggestion.Page 200

Chapter XVIII

A colored man released—Funeral Sermon—A counterfeiter— Besetting sin—Kindness—Convict’s story—Dark depravity—Con¬ viction for sin—Two prisoners discharged—A natural liar—Phre¬ nology—Warning to youth—The warden sick—Anxiety for his recovery—The law of love—Letter from a son to his father—Letter from Kentucky—Lost watch returned—An illustration.210

Chapter XIX

The Sabbath—Numerous visitors—Ohio annual conference—Per¬ sonal illness—A. J. Hamilton—His early life—Business tact—Trip to Havana—Establishment of a circus—Strange courtship—Return to New York—Speculation—Great loss—Trip to Caraccas—Con¬ tract with the governor of Venezuela—Various schemes—Robbery of a store at Xenia—Detection—Trial—Confinement—Prison life— His death—Letter to the sheriff of Green county, and his counsel— Second letter to the sheriff.223

Chapter XX

Interesting interview—Adjournment of conference—Prison disci¬ pline—Causes of crime—Lax family government—Liquor-selling— Kendall’s description of Newgate prison, Granby, Conn.—Infernal treatment—Strange enactment—Mt. Pleasant prison, N. Y.—Sing Sing prison—The devil among the officers—A new era—Folly of official pardons—Obstacles in the way of reform—Long commit¬ ments—Officers of the prison—Proceeds of convict labor—Instruc¬ tion of convicts—Boys—Compensation for labor—Contractors gen¬ erally a hated and heartless set of men—Choice of a warden— Directors and inspectors — Relatives—Sabbath work—Remedy proposed..289

Chapter XXI

Conversion of a female prisoner—A termagant—A splendid sight—Disquiet of the convicts—Interception of a letter—Its full details—Folly of attempting to escape—Letters from liberated convicts—A spirited epistle—A second from A. C.—Letter from J. D.—Letter from J. A. B. S.—Letter from L. G.—Letter from J. M. G.—Letter from a converted man—A piece of poetry—Close of the week.321

CONTENTS.

Chapter XXII

Sermon—Counterfeiting—Recognition of a former convict—In quiring friends—Father Mitchell—The Sabbath school—Introduc¬ tion of Longking's Xotes—Death of a female convict—An acci dent—An opportunity for escape unimproved—The Sabbath—A sad story—Discharge of six prisoners—Two cases of interest—Re turn of a youth—Morning meditations—Quotation from Charles Wesley—Hopeless death of a prisoner—Xews from a prisoner in Mmta Fe—Two convicts in Columbus on a visit—Christmas—The Xe\v Year—More departures—Stealing a dollar—Sermon—Sched¬ ule from an officer of the prison—A rebellion—Recapture and re¬ turn of a deserter—Letter from a convict—Female depravity—The Sabbath—An old sinner—Liquor-selling—An intelligent prison¬ er—Mother and Son—Conclusion. Page 33"

MEMORIALS

OP

PRISON LIFE.

Chapter I

Appeal to lathers and mothers, legislators and senators—The penitentiary of a state—A momentous question—What is the end to he attained by imprisonment?—Three theories proposed—John Howard—The congregate system—The separate system—Each has its abettors—The author’s system.

Will the reader sit down with an aged man, who has seen nearly his threescore years and ten—who has lived to witness the rising and falling of many in this world—who has observed much and reflected, long on the causes of good and evil fortune in the affairs of mankind at large, and listen to a series of revelations which he has now to make of the miseries resulting inevitably from crime? Will the fathers and mothers of the land honor me with a patient hearing, while I lay before them the certain re¬ sults of bad example, of bad instructions, of bad house¬ hold government? Will the sons and daughters, now in the bloom of youth, and hope, and happiness, sit by the old man’s side, that they may hear of the latter end of those who despise the instruction of their earthly parents, and deliver themselves up to the counsels of the ungodly? Will the teachers of our country favor me with a listening ear, that the wisdom to be derived from other men’s painful experience may be coupled with their own, in building up the character and prospects of the rising generations? VVhll the legislators, the philosophers, the philanthropists of America, and of other countries, so far condescend as

MEMORIALS OF PIUS OX LIFE.

to hear words from the mouth of one so humble, which, if wrought over by their higher judgment, may effect something toward the elucidation of important questions, not only in reference to prison discipline, but particularly in relation to numerous social evils and the methods of removing them?

The penitentiary of a state is the centre to which all the rank iniquity of that state converges, or tends to con¬ verge. It is, therefore, the point at which to station one's self, when about to investigate the darker side of social life, in contrast with the brighter side. Within the walls of a prison are generally some of the worst and some of the best men found—the former as criminals bereft of their liberty, the latter as guardians and instructors, whose moral characters, it is supposed, have recommended them to pub¬ lic regard as persons to whom may be safely committed the final execution of the laws. The two extremes of society here often meet; and the student of human nature, of civ¬ ilization, of the laws, and manners, and customs of a peo¬ ple, will be able to trace from this focus consequences to their causes, punishments to their crimes, and crimes to their small beginnings in early life, not only clearly and satisfactorily, but in a way that shall open up the hidden laws of education, the secret influences of example, and the actual condition of society where these seeds of iniquity are sown, in a very direct and philosophical manner.

There is a single question, also, now extensively agitated throughout the civilized world, respecting the exact objects to be reached after in depriving criminals of their liberty, w’hich can be studied and answered best within the precincts of a prison. Upon this question there are now three theo¬ ries in vogue. One theory is, that all imprisonment is foi the sake of punishment; and the practical conclusion from it is, that the severer and more certain the punishment, the more sure it is to deter from crime. The second theory

MEMORIALS OF PRISON LIFE.

on the contrary, begins by asserting, that all punishment, properly understood, is for the improvement of the culprit, ana, consequently, all its rigors should be softened down by ihe spirit of unmixed love. The third and last theory takes a middle position between the other two, maintaining, that, as there are two parties in the case, so there are two sides to be looked at; that society is to be defended against the probable repetition of unpunished crimes; and that this is to be done in a way most likely, at the same time, to benefit the criminal but unfortunate victim of the law.

It is well known, that, until the days of the immortal John Howard, the first of the above theories was univer¬ sally in use. Convicts were supposed to have forfeited, not only their rights as citizens, but their rights as men. They were thrust into dungeons, where no light came—where no friend visited them—where they were soon so far forgotten that often the world could not tell whether they were alive or dead. Personages of the highest distinction, for faults almost venial in our day, would thus spend a lifetime, without a single exertion being made by the public to understand their case. This was unmixed punishment; and all society acquiesced in the practice, until Howard, by visiting and revealing the unseen and uneoneeived horrors

o o

of these dungeons, wrought a revolution, the influence of which is felt to the present day.

But, as is often the ease, that influence was at first only a violent reaction. The doctrine then sprang up, for the first time, that imprisonment must always be based on the principle of pure benevolence to the imprisoned; that pun¬ ishment, as such, whether for the benefit of society, or for any other purpose, is opposed to the genius of Christianity as it is expressed in the golden rule; and that the reforma¬ tion of the offender, by correcting his physical health and habits, by giving him useful intellectual culture, by forming a moral character for him on the basis of the Gospel, is

MEMORIALS OF PRISON LIFE.

the Alpha ami Omega of the authority of the law. Se\ eral experiments of prisons conducted on this foundation have been made in different countries, and always with the same results. Whereas, under the operation of the first theory, society was vigorously defended, but at the expense of all benevolence and humanity, under this second dis¬ pensation, the offender was exclusively cared for at the risk of upturning the very groundwork of society, and re¬ ducing all law and order to a mere nullity. The evils of this system were, happily, soon apparent. The poor father, whose exertions had not been sufficient to keep his children far above the risk of starvation, or whose neglect of their education had precipitated them into juvenile criminality, with all his pain, was really relieved at heart, when he saw one or more of his troublesome progeny condemned, for some early sin against the state, to pass several years in one of these Houses of Correction. They would there re¬ ceive attentions denied them at home. Their physical, and intellectual, and moral wants would all be attended to in this place of improvement. Punishment became at once such a blessing, that many offenses were committed by the poor expressly for the sake of it; society was thus paying a premium on crime, and encouraging the infraction of its own regulations; justice was made the scourge of the com* munitv, instead of being a terror to evil-doers; and immo¬ rality was continually increasing, and that at the very fountain-head of society—the rising generation—by the very efforts intended to repress it.

So soon as the public mind began to recover from ibis infatuation, not being able to go back again to the doctrine, of uninixed punishment, it gradually fell upon a middle ground, as being the one most probably correct. Works were written; experiments were made, in this country and in Europe; and the consequence was, that the mixed iheory, as it might be most properly denominated, was

MEMORIALS OF PRISON LIFE.

authoritatively established. In nearly all prisons, in most civilized lands, the culprit is now punished for his crimes, and society is so far defended against the repetition of such injuries; and, at the same time, the criminal himself is so treated, that his punishment will be most likely to have a salutary effect upon his character in after life.

It is true, there are yet two systems of prison discipline still in use; but both claim to have the two parties—the criminal and society—equally in view. The congregate system, going on the supposition, that habits of labor and moral character are the chief desiderata among this class of men, set them to work at those trades for which their physical and mental powers, together with the considera¬ tion of their former occupations, may more especially adapt them; religious instruction is also given them by men ap¬ pointed expressly for the purpose; and they are permitted to labor in large communities, where they can see' but not converse with each other, as the friends of this sys¬ tem imagine that social intercourse, of some kind and to some extent, is almost as necessary to man as food. The separate system, on the other hand, looking upon all in¬ tercourse between criminals as only evil in its tendency, by which one rogue becomes the instructor or accom¬ plice of another, secludes the convicts from each other but, to atone for this defect, it encourages the visits of good men to the cells of the prisoners; and the officers of these prisons make it a particular point of duty to visit the inmates very frequently themselves. The physical habits of the imprisoned are provided for by such trades as can be carried on by individual industry; a teacher is employed to lead them on in the study of useful branches of educa¬ tion ; while the Gospel is regularly taught them, not only by sermons on the Sabbath, but by the private efforts of the chaplain in his daily rounds.

Each of these two systems has its ardent friends; and

MEMORIALS OF PRISON LIFE.

each presents objections, urged often with great spirit against the other; but, in giving to the world my reflec¬ tions and observations, I have no cause to advocate but the cause of justice and humanity combined. I have no hobbies to ride; I have no ulterior end in view; but I sit down merely to record what I have seen and heard. Whin I shall endeavor to furnish materials for profound medita tion, to all the several classes mentioned on a previous page, the reader must not expect me to decide contro verted questions for him; but he must make all such prac¬ tical application of the facts here given for himself. My aim is to be an unprejudiced witness; and the public, in relation to every thing I may say, must be both the juiy and the judge.

CONVICTS RETIRING TO THEIR CELI.8.

MEMORIALS OF PRISON LIFE.

Chapter II

A look through the prison—-Misery and degradation—Striped clothes—The prison Sabbath school—The hospital—A raelancnoly incident—Mistaken parents—First Sabbath in the penitentiary— Sermon—Interesting spectacle— Talk with the warden—Visit to the female department—Four whites, three blacks—Tuesday—Pri¬ vate meditation—Wednesday—Second visit to the hospital—Deep Jepravity—Dark prospect—Another call on the female depart¬ ment—An affecting case—A history of wretchedness—Admonition to parents—Sermon in the outer hall—A weeping penitent—A day in the country—Secret prayer for the prisoners—Teaching them to read—Want of intellectual culture— Showering convicts—New lodgings — “ Confessions ” of a murderer — Pernicious publica¬ tions—Smith on Universalism—End of the first week.

On the second day of April, 1846, I commenced my la¬ bors as chaplain in the penitentiary of Ohio. In company with Rev. Granville Moody and Dr. Gard, I passed through every part of the spacious prison. The workshops, the cells, and eating halls, were among the first and principal objects of my attention.

Having never before been within the walls of this institu¬ tion, the sight of the degradation and misery, which here became apparent, greatly affected me. Often had I at¬ tempted to describe, in the public congregation, this latter end of vice ; but what I now beheld beggared all description. Here were all ranks and ages, from the man of high life to the meanest pickpocket, from the gray-haired man of eighty down to the boy of fourteen years. They were all dressed in striped clothing; all seemed depressed and broken down in spirits; all were silently at work, without the hope of remuneration, under the inspection of well-appointed watch¬ ers. A dark cloud of melancholy, betokening the anguish of their meditations, was settled on every countenance. “0, my God!” I inwardly exclaimed, “what a life, what a condition, for an immortal creature!”

On the following Sabbath (April 5) I visited the Sabbath

MEMORIALS OF PRISON LIFE.

school, where I found about fiftv in attendance. Being invited to open the exercises with prayer, I knelt down and found free access to the throne of God in behalf of my new and interesting charge. Going next to the hospital, I found many sick; and the gloom of this prison scene seemed here to gather unmixed blackness. Sickness, in itself an evil, was doubly so with those, who had but little care for either life or death; and from this moment I observed, that the virtue of the best of medical aid lost much of its power to heal, in men whose thoughts were so little prepared to buoy up the body when failing with disease.

Among the number here described, I saw the son of a former friend. He was the youngest of his father’s family, once a sprightly, promising, happy boy, the idol of fond pa¬ rents, who, to my certain knowledge, had indulged the highest hopes of one day seeing him the ornament of society, and, among his fellows, a star of the first magnitude. But, reader, I think I know the great fault of these parents. They were too indulgent to their children. They gave them too much their own way in every thing. They spared cor¬ rection and spoiled their child. 0, how pitiful w’as the sight of that once lovely boy, now a prisoner, now dressed in the hated prisoner’s garb, now caged with criminals of the blackest character! and the once quiet, cheerful, happy hearth, from which he came, thrown into disgrace, and wretchedness, and mourning! Let every parent, who reads these lines, remember the fate of this young man, and by what domestic mistake he came to this sad end! As I may allude to his case again, the reader will recognize him under the initial, P.