the twin hells(两个地狱)-第12章
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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 God…fearing man； rises；
and in his happy style reads some beautiful hymn which is familiar to the
congregation。 The choir leads and the entire congregation sings。 Such
singing！ The convicts have only one opportunity a week to try their voices
in a musical way； and when that opportunity comes around it is improved。
Nearly one thousand voices unite in singing those beautiful gospel hymns！
A prayer is offered； more singing； then the chaplain； or some visiting
minister who may be present； preaches a short discourse。 There is a large
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field for usefulness； and for doing good； in the penitentiary。 The harvest is
truly great。 Chaplain Crawford comprehends the situation； and is putting
forth strenuous efforts to save these men who have drifted thus far down
the currents of sin。 His labors are abundantly blessed of God。 Many men
go out of that institution a great deal better than when they first entered。
Were it not for the cruel treatment the prisoners suffer in the coal mines of
that institution many more of them would be reformed。 This treatment
tends to harden the criminal。 The chaplain has many evils to counteract；
yet he contends nobly for the right； and some of these men are being
redeemed from a sinful life。 After the sermon； the choir and the string
band furnish more soul…stirring music； which enlivens the spirits of the
prisoners； and then the chapel exercises are over。 The prisoners are now
returned to their cells。 Occasionally the convicts are permitted to remain
after the chapel exercises proper are over and have a social meeting。 The
chaplain remains with them。 These men sing； pray and give in their
religious experience。 It is novel to hear these Christian criminals telling
how they love Jesus。
Immediately after the religious services are over the prison school
begins。 Nearly one hundred of the convicts attend this school。 The
common branches； reading； writing； spelling； arithmetic； etc。； are taught。
This school is graded； and under the management of the chaplain； who is
an excellent instructor； is a great blessing to the prisoners。 Numbers have
fitted themselves here so that when they went out they were able to pass
examination and obtain certificates as teachers。
On entering the institution many of the prisoners who are unable to
read and write soon acquire these useful arts if they have any ambition for
self…improvement。 If there was room； and this school could be conducted
in the evening； as well as on Sunday afternoons； much more good could be
accomplished。 I would suggest that it would be a good act on the part of
the State to employ an officer who should devote all his time to teaching
and imparting instruction in the common branches； and let a room be fitted
up for evening school； so that all prisoners who might desire to improve
themselves could attend this place of instruction after the work of the day
was over。 Nothing could be done that would be more advantageous to the
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convict。 The teachers for the prison school are selected from among the
prisoners； some of them being very fine scholars。
After school is over the Sunday dinner is served。 The prisoners once
more march into the dining…room and take their places at the table。 The
Sunday dinner is the 〃crack〃 meal of the institution。 At this meal the
prisoners have as a luxury； beans； a small piece of cheese and some beet
pickles； in addition to their regular diet。 This meal is served at 2：30。
The prisoners are then returned to their cells； where they remain until
the following morning。 They spend their time in the cells which is not
taken up by sleeping； in reading。 The prison has a fine library of five
thousand volumes。 The State Legislature annually appropriates five
hundred dollars to be expended in purchasing books。 This collection
consists of histories； scientific works and books of fiction。 The greater part
of the criminals prefer the works of fiction。 Were it not for this privilege of
reading； the Sunday afternoons and winter evenings would seem very long
and dreary。
Several officers are on duty during the time the men are locked in their
cells on Sunday； and the cell houses are very quiet and orderly； there is no
talking； as officers are constantly walking backward and forward in front
of the cells。
This is the manner and style of spending the Sabbath in prison。 The
convicts who do the cooking for the officers and convicts； are compelled
to work on Sundays as any other day of the week。 It would be nothing
more than right to give these men credit for this extra work； and in this
manner reduce their sentences。 The law does not contemplate that
criminals in the penitentiary should work seven days in the week and
fifteen hours each day。 There are more than fifty men who are forced to
put in this extra time in hard labor。
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CHAPTER VI
SCENES IN THE HOSPITAL
When a prisoner gets sick he reports to
