the twin hells(两个地狱)-第3节
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looking at me； in a harsh； gruff voice he called out： 〃Stand up here。〃 At
first I did not arise。 At the second invitation； however； I stood up and was
measured。 My description was taken by the clerk。 In this office there is to
be found a description of all the criminals that ever entered the Kansas
penitentiary。 I was asked if I was a married man； how many children I had；
and how much property I possessed。 These questions were easily
answered。 After the deputy warden had discharged his duty he retired。 I
soon discovered that it was according to the rules of the prison for the
officers to talk in a harsh and abrupt manner to the prisoners。 This
accounted for the way in which I was greeted by the deputy warden； who
is the disciplinarian of the prison。 I may say； in passing； that all the harsh
manners of Mr。 Higgins are simply borrowed for the occasion。 Away from
the presence of prisoners； over whom he is to exert his influence； there is
not to be found a more pleasant and agreeable gentleman。 In came a
second official； and； in the same gruff manner； said to me； 〃Come along。〃 I
followed him out to the wash…house； where I took a bath。 A prisoner took
my measure for a suit of clothes。 After he had passed the tape…line around
me several times； he informed the officer that I was the same size of John
Robinson； who had been released from the penitentiary the day before。
〃Shall I give him John Robinson's clothes？〃 asked the convict。 In the same
gruff manner the officer said； 〃Yes； bring on Robinson's old clothes。〃 So I
was furnished with a second…hand suit！ The shoes were second…hand。 I am
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positive about this last statement； judging by the aroma。 After I had been
in the penitentiary some four months； I learned that John Robinson； whose
clothes I had secured； was a colored man。 Being arrayed in this suit of
stripes I was certainly 〃a thing of beauty。〃 The coat was a short blouse and
striped； the stripes； white and black； alternated with each other； and passed
around the body in a horizontal way。 The pantaloons were striped； the shirt
was striped； the cap was striped。 In fine； it seemed that everything about
that penitentiary was stripedeven to the cats！ Being dressed； I was next
handed an article that proved； on examination； to be intended for a
handkerchief。 It was covered with large blue letters〃Leavenworth Mills。
XXX Flour；〃 etc。 It was a quarter section of a flour sack！ Nine hundred
prisoners very soon empty a great many flour sacks。 After the flour has
been consumed the sack is cut up into quarter sections； washed； hemmed
and used for handkerchiefs。 No better handkerchief can be invented。 They
are stout； stiff and durable！ They will bear all manner of nasal assaults！
There is no danger of blowing them into atoms； and the officials are not
afraid to give them out to convicts sent there charged with the use of
dynamite！ One of them has been known to last a prisoner for five years。
After I had donned my suit and taken possession of my handkerchief； I
was ordered to fold my arms。 Prisoners marching in ranks； or going to and
fro about the prison enclosure； are required to have their arms in this
position。 The object is to prevent them from passing articles。 I was
marched to the building known as the south wing of the cell house。 In this
building； which is two hundred and fifty feet long； there are cells for the
accommodation of five hundred convicts。 The prisoners who occupy this
wing work in the shops located above ground； and within the prison
enclosure。
The officer in charge conducted me to cell number one。 Click went the
lock。 The door was pulled open； and in his usual style； he said； 〃Get in。〃 I
stepped in。 Slam went the door。 Click went the lock； and I was in a felon's
cell！ These rooms are about four feet wide； seven feet long； and seven feet
high。 In many of the cells two men are confined。 These rooms are entirely
too small for the accommodation of two prisoners。 A new cell house is
being built； which； when completed； will afford sufficient additional room
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so that each prisoner can have a cell。 In these small rooms there are two
bunks or beds when two convicts occupy the same cell。 The bed…rack is
made of iron or wood slats； and the bed…tick is filled with corn…husks； the
pillow is also filled with the latter material； and when packed down
becomes as hard as a board。 When the beds are not in use they are fastened
to the side of the wall with a small chain。 When down and in use they take
up nearly the entire space of the cell； so that it is impossible for the two
occupants to pass each other in walking to and fro。 The other furniture
consists of a small tin bucket； holding about two quarts of water； and a
wash…basin。 A short…handled broom is also found in one corner of the cell；
with which the convict brushes it out every morning。 The walls are of
stone； decorated with a small looking…glass and a towel。 Each cell contains
one chair and a Holy Bible。 There is no rich Brussels carpet on the floor；
although prisoners are allowed one if they furnish it themselves。 No costly
upholstered furniture adorns these safe retreats！ Nothing in that line is to
be discovered except one cane…bottomed chair for the accommodation of
two prisoners； so that when one sits on the chair the other stands； or
occupies a seat on the stone floor。 There is not room for two chairs； or the
State would furnish another chair。 These rooms are built of stone。 The door
is of one…half inch iron bars； crossing each other at right angles； leaving
small spaces about two by six inches； through these spaces come the air ；
light and heat for the health and comfort of the inmates。 When I entered
my cell on that eventful morning I found it occupied by a prisoner。 He was
also a new arrival； he had preceded me about an hour。 When I entered he
arose and gave me his chair； taking a seat on the floor in the opposite
corner。 After I had been locked in； before going away the officer said；
〃Now I don't want you fellows to get to talking； for that is not permitted in
this institution。 〃We sat in silence； surveying each other； in a few moments
my companion； seeing something in my personal appearance that caused
him to lose his self control； laughed。 That he might give full vent to his
laughing propensities； and not make too much noise； he drew from his
pocket his quarter section of a flour bag and put it into his mouth。 He soon
became as red in the face as a lobster。 I was curious； of course； to know
what it was that pleased him so much。 Rising from my chair； going to the
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door and looking through the openings I could see no officer near； so I
asked my companion； in a whisper； what it was that pleased him so。 It was
with difficulty and after several trials before he could succeed in telling
me what it was that caused him to be so convulsed。 I told him to take his
time； cool off gradually； as I had eighteen months； and could wait patiently。
At last； being able to control his feelings sufficiently to tell me； in the
midst of his outbursts of laughter； he said； 〃You look just like one of them
zebras in Barnum's Circus！〃 When my attention was called to the matter；
sure enough； I did look rather striped； and I； amused at his suggestion；
laughed also。 Soon an officer came gliding around in front of the cell；
when our laughing ceased。 My companion was a young fellow from
Doniphan County。 He got drunk and tried to rob an associate； still drunker；
of a twenty dollar gold piece。 He was arrested； tried and convicted of
robbery； receiving a sentence of one year。 Directly an officer came； took
him out of my cell and conducted him to another department。 All alone； I
sat in my little parlor for nearly an hour； thinking over the past。 My reverie
was at length bro
