e conspicuously in any of the learned professions,
business circles, or common industries of life had they bent their minds
in the right direction. Certain visitors at the prison and State House,
in time of the legislative session, were wicked enough to say that they
found the likelier appearing company at the former place. Other inmates
partook more of the low cunning, the artful, leading them to accomplish
their ends by more adroit means, while a small number seemed bordering
on insanity, two on idiocy.

In dealing with these, as a whole, while at large, no doubt the police
had found their own shrewdness, at times, keenly taxed, and been made to
feel that they were called to grapple with mind worthy of a better
cause.

5. _The warden._ He was found to be a man of generous impulses, an
earnest Christian worker, with a heart full of kindness, professing to
act for the prisoners' highest good. He would furnish them with enough
of suitable food, good clothing and bedding, all needed care in
sickness, with the requisite means for mental, moral and religious
improvement, fully believing in the practicability of labor to reform
the wayward and elevate the fallen, that reform is the primary purpose
of the institution. As one great means to this, he seemed to feel it
needful that the inmates be kept under strict, wholesome discipline,
and required at all times, when able, to perform their tasks fully and
faithfully.

He was accustomed to hold correspondence with other prison officers of
like faith with himself on prison management, and profited by any
feasible hints thus gained. His motto was, "Keep the prisoners on good
fare, provide them all needed means for reform and make all the money
practicable from the prison as subordinate to these."

6. _Educational means found in operation._ By the combined effort of the
warden and my predecessor, what we may term a secular school had been
established in the chapel, to be held evenings, in sessions of one hour
each, as often as a guard could be spared from other prison duties. This
was voluntary on the part of these gentlemen, and was intended to be
open for all the male prisoners of good behavior to attend, and take
such of the common branches as each should need.

The legislature had so far recognized the move as to vote the chaplain
an increase of salary in consideration of his labors as teacher in the
school. But here it stopped, and that short of its full duty.