hod of ventilation. Two of the small
panes of glass are removed from the window, and a little frame is placed
inside, consisting of wood at the sides and fluted glass in the front.
Flush with the window-sill at the bottom, it inclines inward at an angle
of twenty degrees, so that there is room at the top for a six-inch flap,
which works on hinges, and is elevated or lowered by a chain. This is an
improvement on the old system, because the fresh air comes in straight,
and you can regulate the inflow. But in both cases the fresh air has to
_ascend_, and unless there is a wind blowing you get very little of it
on a hot summer day. The ventilation depending entirely on temperature,
without being assisted by a draught, if the outside temperature, as is
often the case in the summer, happens to be higher than that of your
cell, your atmosphere is stagnant, and you live in a tank of foul air.
This defect might be partially remedied by leaving the cell doors open
when the prisoners are out at exercise or chapel, and, as it were,
refilling the tank. But keys are a fetish in prison, and the officials
think it quite as necessary to lock up an empty cell as an occupied one.

The cell floor, I have said, was blackleaded and polished. A small fibre
brush was supplied for sweeping up the dust, and a tight roll of black
cloth for polishing. I used both these at first, but I soon dispensed
with the latter. Having a slight cold, I found my expectoration black,
a circumstance that slightly alarmed me until I reflected that my lungs
were in excellent order, and that the discoloration must be due to some
extrinsic cause. This I discovered to be the blacklead from the floor.
It wears off under your tread, and as there is no draught to carry the
dust away, it floats in the air and is inhaled. The only remedy was to
avoid the blacklead altogether. When, therefore, the bucket containing
a quantity in solution was next brought round, I declined to have any.
"But you must," said the officer. "Well, I object," I answered, "and I
certainly shall not put it on. If you like to do it yourself of course
I cannot prevent you." He did not like to do it himself and disappeared,
saying he would come again directly, which he forgot to do. Several days
afterwards the Deputy-Governor came on a tour of inspection. Noticing
that my floor was neither black nor polished, he attempted a mild
reproof. I repeated my objection. "Well, you know," he replied, "you
must k