the twin hells(两个地狱)-第34章
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being sent for five or ten years。 Whether he goes for one or five years； for
all the future he is set down as an ex…convict。 People do not stop to inquire
as to the length of his sentence。 The main question is： Was he in the
penitentiary？ If so； he wears the mark of Cainthe stamp of disgrace。 Not
so； if he simply has been in jail。 There are a great many young men； while
surrounded by bad company； yield to temptation and commit crime。 A
dose of jail service will do them as much good as a year in the penitentiary。
After they get out they do not feel the disgrace so keenly； and there is
some hope for their reformation。 Send them to the penitentiary and it will
be a miracle if they ever amount to anything in the future。 If a jail sentence
of a year does not reform a young criminal； or a man of older years； who
has committed his first offense； then give a term in the penitentiary for
five years for the second offense。 It is too true that a sentence to the
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penitentiary for a first term is the irretrievable ruin of the young offender。
This becomes an obstacle which； during all the future； he cannot surmount。
This plan being adopted let everything be done to reform the youthful
offender while in jail。 It is much easier to carry forward the work of
reformation in a jail or reformatory than in a penitentiary。
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CHAPTER XVII
THE MISSOURI PRISONERS（Continued）
During the years 1887 and 1888； 1；523 prisoners were received into
the Missouri penitentiary。 Of this number 1；082 were white males； 398
colored males； 17 white females； and 26 colored females。 These figures
show that the women of Missouri are a great deal better than the men； or
they do not get their share of justice。
TABLE SHOWING THE AGES OF CONVICTS RECEIVED
DURING THE YEARS 1887 AND 1888。
From 16 to 20。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。320 〃 20 to 25。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。441
〃 25 to 30。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。344 〃 30 to 35。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。143 〃 35
to 40。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。113 〃 40 to 45。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 70 〃 45 to
50。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 34 〃 50 to 55。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 31 〃 55 to
60。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 15 〃 60 to 65。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 5 〃 65 to
70。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 4 〃 70 and upward。。。。。。。。。。。。 5
Total 。。。。。。。。。。 1；523
There is nothing that should interest the good people of Missouri more
than the foregoing table。 These appalling figures I copied from the prison
records。 Of the 1；523 criminals received during the past two years； more
than one…fifth of them were mere children。 Would it not be better to give
these boys a term in the county jails； or in some reformatory； instead of
sending them to a penitentiary？ Coming in contact with hardened and
vicious criminals； what hope is there for getting these boys into the paths
of honesty and uprightness？ Then there follows the large number of 441；
representing the youthful age from twenty to twenty…five years。 These are
the years most prolific of criminals。 Who can say these boys are vicious
and hardened criminals？ Then follow the young men of from twenty…five
to thirty。 Three hundred and fourty…four of this age find a home in felon
cells。 Are these boys and young men not worth saving？ What can be done
to snatch them from a career of crime； and to save them from becoming
miserable wrecks？ Father； if one of these boys was a son of yours； you
would think seriously over this important question。
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Something should be done to save this large army of youth who are
annually finding their way into felon cells。
Is the penitentiary the proper place to send those youthful offenders？ If
so； then they should not come in contact with the older and hardened
criminals。 One of the most essential things to be done in a prison is the
classification of the inmates。 This is not done in the Missouri penitentiary。
Here the mere youth often cells with a hardened old criminal of the worst
description。 I would rather a child of mine would be boxed up with a
rattlesnake。 In this institution there are nearly 2；000 criminals huddled up
togetheran indiscriminate mass。 The officials are not to blame for this。
They realize the terrible condition of things at the prison。 They have not
sufficient room for the classification and proper arrangement of the
inmates。 They know； perhaps better than anyone else； that the prison is not
what it should be。 Warden Marmaduke says； in his last report to the prison
directors； 〃This prison is now too much crowded and it becomes a serious
question at once； as to what disposition will be made of them in the future。
If this prison is to accommodate them； another cell building should be
built at once。 If another prison is to be the solution； it should be
commenced。 If a reconstruction of our criminal laws； looking to the
reduction of crime； it should be done now。 And in any event； and whatever
may be done； certainly our management of prisons should be so modified
or changed that the practical； not the sentimental system of reform； should
be adopted。 I believe that our present system is making criminals instead
of reforming them； and I believe that it is practicable to so classify； treat；
feed； work and uniform these people； as to make better men instead of
worse men out of them。 I have profound respect for the good purposes of
the benevolently disposed men and women； and they are numerous； who
are devoting themselves to the effort of reforming criminals。 Yet their
efforts must be supplemented by a practical building up and the
development of the better instincts of the man； which cannot be done
under our present system。 The surroundings are against it。 We are
constantly developing and stimulating the very worst instincts。 I believe it
practicable to institute methods for this reform； at once creditable to the
State。〃 Who can doubt our statements on this subject when we quote such
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high authority as the above。 The last warden of this great institution comes
out and officially announces that awful fact that our present system of
prison treatment is constantly developing and stimulating the very worst
instincts。 Constantly making men worse； and when a young man enters the
prison he is morally tainted； when he goes out he is completely saturated；
with moral pollution。 After such statements from so high an authority will
the great State of Missouri； so well…known the world over for her
numerous acts of benevolence； continue to have an institution within her
borders for the complete demoralization and ruin of multitudes of her
young men。 Should a youth of Missouri； surrounded by influences and
temptations which he could not resist； once fall from a position of honor
and integrity； although it is his first violation of the law； he will be taken
into custody of the State； hurled into a pit； where for a time he will inhale
the fetid breath of wickedness； then； later on； to be released and sent out
into the free world a moral leper。
The State should not provide this machine for the moral destruction of
her unfortunate youth。 If this be the real and true condition of affairs； what
can be done to change them？ I would suggest the erection； at once； of a
reformatory。 Classify the prisoners。 Let those who are in for the first
offense be separated from those who are professional and debased
criminals。 Give these youthful offenders the benefit of schools； connected
with the reformatory。 Let them have moral instruction； and many of these
young men will be reclaimed； However well a criminal is treated； when
behind prison walls； however good the advantages granted him； all this
will avail but little； if some provision is not made to aid him when he
leaves the prison。 Many prisoners； at the time of their discharge； may be；
in heart； as pure as angels； and resolve to lead good lives； yet they are
convicts； and carry out with them the shame and disgrace of such a life。
They must live even if they are disgraced。 They must have work。 Who will
employ a convict？ Should a man； just from the prison； come to you and
frankly inform you that he was recently discharged from a felon's cell； that
he had been convicted of horse…stealing； for instance； and wanted
employment with you on the farm； how many of you； my readers； would
give him work？ You would be afraid of him。 You would decline his
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services； and who could blame you？ But the convict must live； and it is
easily seen； how； that after applying to several for work and being refused
each time on account of his past trouble； he would； after a time； become
discouraged and return to a life of a criminal。 Hunger drives him to deeds
of desperation； and more especially is this the case if he have a wife or
helpless children depending upon him。 On his discharge from the prison
the State presents him； with a shoddy suit of clothes （very cheap）； buys
him a ticket for the town from which he came； and then lets him shift for
himself。 Disgraced； penniless； friendless； helpless； how is it possible for
anyone of them ever to secure another foothold in life。
Something should be don
