the twin hells(两个地狱)-第36节
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convict； and bidding him 〃good bye；〃 I proceeded on my journey to the
prison。 As I walked along thinking of the poor ex…convict I had just passed；
my imagination pictured for him a rather gloomy future。 He is a cripple；
and has a large family to support； he must bear with him along life's
journey the heavy load of disgrace that whisky placed upon him。 An ex…
convict！ Who will give him work to do？ Who will lend him a helping hand
in his struggle to regain a foothold in the outside world？ After a few vain
efforts to regain what he has lost； will he not yield to despair； as thousands
have done before him； and； becoming a pitiless wreck； pass on down the
current of crime until he drifts over Time's last precipice and drops into the
arms of Death？ To the average ex…convict there is but little hope for
success in this life。
The painful history of a majority of them is； after they have fallen into
the meshes of a criminal life； they never have the moral power to extricate
themselves。 My musings are now at an end； for I have just reached the
entrance to the penitentiary〃A Missouri Hell。〃 A prison official on duty
at the entrance conducted me into the presence of the warden； Hon。 John L。
Morrison。 This genial gentleman is a resident of Howard County； where he
was born and spent the greater portion of his life。 He is sixty years of age；
and by occupation a farmer。 For four years he was sheriff of his county。 He
received his appointment as warden less than one year ago。 He is without
any prison experience。 The reason； no doubt； for his being appointed
warden of so great a penal institution is； that outside from his being a man
of unimpeachable integrity； he exerts no little political influence in that
portion of the State where he resides。 We have no cause for criticising the
governor's selection。 Perhaps he is one of the very best men that could
have been procured for the place。 At any rate； he is credited with starting
out well。 But it is not every honest； upright man that makes a good warden。
It requires a man with a special fitness to be a success in handling
prisoners and making a penal institution beneficial to all interested。 After
Warden Morrison has been given a fair trial； and it becomes evident that
he is a successful prison man； he should be retained many years in that
responsible position。 For the longer he is kept at the head of the institution
the more valuable will his services be to the State。 I remained several days；
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and through the kindness of the warden and other prison officials； saw
everything about the institution that was noteworthy。
The Missouri penitentiary is located in the southern suburbs of
Jefferson City。 Its entrance is from the north。 It covers an area of seventeen
acres。 This tract of ground is surrounded by a stone wall twenty feet high
and four feet thick。 The prison enclosure is rectangular in form。 At each of
the four corners； and at stated intervals； towers arise eight feet； which are
occupied by officers on duty。 Occupying this elevated position； these
officers can readily observe all that occurs within the prison walls； outside
the buildings。 At stated times the officers emerge from the towers and
walk along on top of the wall to see if anything unusual is taking place
about the prison。 Loose stones are piled on top of portions of the wall that
surrounds the prison； to prevent the convicts from securing a fastening for
ladder hooks； should they attempt to escape。 A portion of this wall was
erected fifty…four years ago； the prison having been established in 1836。
Could these towering stones speak； what scenes of misery and
wretchedness they might describe！ O； ye rocks； that make up this barrier
between freedom and the worst form of human slavery； as you have been
occupying your silent position for the past half hundred years； had your
ears been unstopped； what countless groans of despair would you have
heard？ Could your eyes have opened； when first you took your place in
that prison wall fifty years ago； how many indescribable scenes of anguish
would you have witnessed？ A heavy iron door swings upon its creaking
hinges。 Bolts fly back into their sockets。 I step into a revolving iron cage；
which； manipulated by a guard； turns half way round on its axis； and I
emerge from this into the prison campus the space surrounded by the walls。
What wonderful scenes now are discovered！ Many of them； indeed； are
heartrending。
I will describe what I saw and make mention of what I heard。 There
are four large buildings of brick and stone； honeycombed with cellsthe
homes of the prisoners。 The cells； in ONE of these buildings； are large and
commodious； and contain four criminals。 In dimension they are nine feet
wide and thirteen feet long。 The remainder of the cells are small and
contain but one man in a cell。 The large cells are objectionable； for the
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reason that the men； being locked up together in such small rooms； get to
talking； and often quarrels and fights result。 A number of convicts have
been almost murdered in these larger cells； where there were more than
one occupant。 Again； if there be three in a cell who desire to have the
fourth one removed； they combine against him and render his existence
while in the cell unbearable。 They abuse him constantly。 If he reports them
to the officer the three stoutly deny all accusations； often bringing upon
the innocent one punishment which should have been meted out to the
three guilty ones。
It requires but little stretch of the imagination to enable one to see how
miserable a prisoner may be rendered in one of these cells when three
occupants of the same cell combine against him。 The large cells are a
source of great annoyance to prison officials； and are now； after trial；
universally condemned。 The small cells are about four feet wide； seven
feet long； and seven feet high。 The doors are very low； and the prisoner has
to stoop as he enters。 The low door gives to the cell a more gloomy
appearance than it would possess if the entrance was higher。 On going into
one of these cells one has the same feeling as takes hold of him when he
crawls into a low； dark hole in the ground。 The cells are constructed of
stone； with wooden floors。 The cells of the Kansas and other penitentiaries
are higher and better ventilated。 The furniture of the cell consists of an
iron rack； on which is placed a straw bed with sufficient covering to keep
the convict warm。 There are also a bucket； wash…basin and towel。 The
prisoner washes himself in the cell。 He also has a chair to sit on and a
Holy Bible to read。 This is about all the furniture to be found in the cells。
Occasionally a carpet covers the floor； but the prisoner furnishes this out
of his own means。 If he has no means he has no carpet。 I was much
surprised to learn that there was no way provided for the convicts to take a
plunge bath； and that many of them became very filthy because of their
not being compelled to bathe at stated times。 Other penitentiaries are
supplied with bath…houses； and once each week the inmates are required to
take a bath。 This certainly is conducive to good health。 The cell…houses are
lighted by electric lights； and each cell is provided with a lamp。 Thus the
prisoner has an opportunity of reading during the evenings； which is a
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great blessing； and should be highly appreciated。
The prison is supplied with a large library of choice books to which
the inmates have access。 They also are allowed to rea
