It ought
to have gone further, and made the thing a fixed fact, obligatory upon
all prison officers, as really as our common school system outside is
upon town officers. Why not? The State has taken the convicts under her
care as wards, moved them from their vicious surroundings, and put them
where, with a little additional painstaking on her part, many of these
may be led to the daily habit of devoting their otherwise idle or
squandered moments to storing up valuable ideas for future use, a long
step towards their true reform.

As leading in the same direction, these gentlemen had adopted the custom
of having occasional lectures in the chapel for the men by outside
speakers, also readings by a lady elocutionist, and meetings for
instruction and drill in singing.

7. _Influence left by the former chaplain._ This influence was of a
highly salutary character among the prisoners. A number would feelingly
refer to his efforts for their best being, and from which they had been
constantly striving to profit. Some professed to have experienced a
change of heart under his ministration, and were still living in the
exercise of daily Bible reading and prayer, being obedient prisoners,
duly attentive to all the prison rules, and in good repute among the
officers of the institution. They continued thus till leaving prison,
and had not fallen from their integrity when last heard from. Eternity
alone can unfold the amount of good secured to those once degraded men
by these efforts.

8. _Prison order._ While intent on reform measures, we were not for a
moment to lose sight of the strictest order. The warden would have the
rounds for this carefully observed, that no risk should be run with
regard to the safe keeping of the prisoners and their due observance of
the rules. Hence, the chaplain was not allowed to hold his school in the
chapel for instructing the men, or have any gathering of prisoners there
without a guard. Then, previous to their admittance, we were required to
be certain that the south door to the chapel was securely fastened, and
the key, for safe keeping, passed through an opening to the guard-room.
And when the exercises were ended, and the men secured in their cells,
on a given signal, the keeper of the key would open for our release.

This order was not to be deviated from under any circumstances. From
this fact, had the prisoners, at any time, risen in rebellion,
overpowered the guard and chaplain,