the twin hells(两个地狱)-第14节
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institutions。 Many of the inmates of this prison who have formerly served
terms in others of like character； have shown him the scars and marks of
brutal punishment。 One of these poor unfortunates showed me his back；
which is covered with great furrows in the flesh caused by the cat…o'…nine…
tails in the hands of a merciless official of the Missouri penitentiary。
Another prisoner carries thumbs out of joint and stiffened by the inhuman
practice of hanging up by the thumbs in vogue in a former place of
imprisonment； and still another carries about with him ugly wounds
inflicted by bloodhounds which overtook him when trying to escape from
a Southern prison。
The foregoing is a view of the punishments inflicted from a prisoner's
standpoint。 That the reader may arrive at just conclusions； I quote the
statements on the same subject made by the warden； Captain Smith； in his
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able biennial report of last year。 In doing so； I beg leave to state that the
convict who had ever been the object of the prison discipline； or who had
spent his ten days and nights in one of those dismal dungeons； subsisting
on bread and water； would readily say that the warden had treated the
subject in a manner 〃very mild。〃
〃The discipline has been carefully looked after； and as a general thing
prisoners yield to strict discipline quicker than most people think。 They
seem to see and realize the necessity of rules； and very seldom complain；
if they violate them； at the punishment that is sure to follow。 Our
punishments are of such a character that they do not degrade。 Kansas；
when she established her penitentiary； prohibited corporal punishment。
She is one of the few States that by law prohibits the use of the whip and
strap； taking the position that it is better to use kindness than to resort to
brutal measures。 I have often been told； and that； too； by old prison men；
that it was impossible to run a prison and have first…class discipline
without the whip。 Such is not my experience。 We have had within our
walls perhaps as desperate men as ever received a sentence。 We have
controlled them； and have maintained a discipline second to none in the
country； How did we accomplish this？ Our answer is； by being kind but
firm； treating a man； although he may be a prisoner； as a man。 If he
violates rules； lock him up。 Give him an opportunity to commune with
himself and his Maker； also give him to understand that he is the
executioner of his own sentence； and when he concludes that he can do
right； release him。 It matters not how vicious； how stubborn； or what kind
of a temper he may have； when left with no one to talk to； and an
opportunity to cool down； and with a knowledge that when he comes to
the conclusion that he will do better he can be released； he leaves the cell
feeling much different than the prisoner who leaves the whipping…post；
after having received any number of lashes that a brutal officer may desire
to inflict。 One goes to his work cheerful； and determined to behave himself；
the other dogged； revengeful； completely humiliated； and only lives in
hope that he may at some time take his revenge upon the person that
ordered or inflicted the punishment； and upon the State or country that
would； by its laws； tolerate such a brutal or slavish practice。〃
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CHAPTER V
SUNDAY IN THE PRISON
A prisoner is always thankful for the Sabbath。 He has been working
hard all week； and Sunday affords the opportunity of resting。 On the
Sabbath morning； the bell for rising rings at eight o'clock。 At its ringing
each person must rise and dress； he is not permitted to do so before it rings。
If he gets tired of remaining in his bunk so late as eight o'clock； and
should wish to get up and dress； it would do him no good； it would be a
violation of rules and result in punishment。 After the prisoner is up and
dressed； he washes and marches out in ranks to breakfast。 It is hash； hash；
hash； for Sunday breakfast； the same as any other day； except once a
month it is codfish hash instead of beef hash。 After breakfast； instead of
going from the dining…room to work； the prisoners are marched back into
their cells where they remain until time for chapel exercises。
There is a dining…room for the prisoners and another for the officers。
The room where the prisoners dine is a large hall capable of seating fully
twelve hundred men。 Each table is long enough to accommodate twenty
men； and resembles an ordinary school…desk。 There are no table…cloths or
napkins； nothing but a plain； clean board。 The table furniture consists of a
tin quart cup； a small pan of the same precious metal； which holds the hash；
an iron knife； fork and spoon。 No beautiful silverware adorns this table； on
the contrary； all the dining service is very plain and cheap。 The convicts
are marched into the dining…room in divisions； and seated at the table。
Here they remain in perfect silence； with their heads bowed。
No talking or gazing about the dining…room is permitted。 After all the
divisions are in and seated； the deputy Warden taps a small bell； and the
convicts begin the work of 〃concealing the hash。〃 Before the men enter
the dining…room the coffee； bread and hash are placed on the table for each
man。 The prisoners are given all the food they can eat。 It is not the
quantity； but the quality； that is objectionable。
If more bread is wanted； instead of calling out 〃Please pass the bread；〃
the convict holds up his hand； and the waiter comes along and puts a piece
of bread in it。 He gets but a pint of coffee； and if he wishes a second
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supply he holds up his cup and it is refilledbut with water instead of
coffee。 If he wishes more hash he holds aloft his meat dish； and an officer
hands him a large pan of hash； out of which he fills his dish。 Not a word is
spoken during the meal。 Ample time is given the convicts to get all the
food they desire； then the deputy warden； who occupies a raised seat at the
end of the dining…room； taps a small bell； and the men march out in
divisions； back to their cells on Sunday mornings； and to their work on
week days。
Breakfast over； and the men in their cells； the choir； which leads the
singing and furnishes the instrumental music for the occasion； is taken out；
and； under the watchful care of an officer； is conducted to the chapel
where they practice until time for the regular services。 The choir was
composed of convicts who could sing； regardless of the crimes for which
they were sent to prison。 I recollect at one time we had two horse…thieves；
two rapistsone with a sentence of forty yearsthree murderers； two hog…
thieves； and several others of equally villainous records； and； last of all；
the author！ But this choir will compare favorably with some of the high…
toned church choirs outside！ To return； think of such a choir singing：
〃Oh； how happy are they； Who their Saviour obey； And have
laid up their treasures above！〃
At eleven o'clock； the prison bell rings； and the men are marched in
ranks to the chapel。 When the first division or company reaches the room
where the services are to be held； the string band commences to play； and
as the divisions march in one after another they are greeted with music。
The instruments used are a piano； organ； violin； cornet and bass viol。 Very
fine music is rendered by the prison band。 All being seated； the chaplain；
the Rev。 Dr。 Crawford； a genuine Christian and
