plish more than one quarter of their
ordinary work. His heart would really ache for the fellows.

It should be recollected that everything in the shop, but tending them,
is done by machines, each operation having a machine for performing it,
the business of the prisoners being to pass the articles to and from the
respective workers. Hence, the amount of work turned out did not, of
course diminish in proportion with the failing strength of the workmen,
as must have been the case in the old method of hand planing, sawing,
&c.

I subsequently learned that food would be carried into the shop for the
suffering men, but I know not to what extent. At first mentioning, I
thought that it could not have been done, and expressed the doubt, but
my informer explained how, showing a perfectly feasible way.

The effect of the new system was plainly visible, too, on the health of
the men. This, of course, could not be avoided. A man, who was very
healthy, and vigorous to work when it commenced, ran through the winter
into early spring when he began signally to fail, said he could not eat
the rations any longer, and went without food of any amount, still
constantly performing his task, till his system entirely broke down, and
he was taken to the hospital for a drugging course, the doctor remarking
to me that he had "failed with no apparent cause." I think the want of
food was sufficient cause. Had he received proper care and suitable
aliment, he would, doubtless, have been spared this sickness. I was
informed that, when he was near death's door, he was pardoned, to die
with his friends.

Another, who had fallen a victim to prison treatment and was in the last
stages of consumption, said to me, "Had they used me as well when I was
in health and able to work as they now do, I should not have been here
at this time." Calling the next day, I learned that he had received
pardon and been carried home, that he might die there. His stay, I
learned, was very short.

How many of these pardons were granted in view of death, I never knew.
They were gratifying to friends most certainly, but would make the
prison mortality appear smaller than it really was. For, surely, if a
man sickened in prison and received pardon as above, his demise should
of right be set down as among the prison deaths.

A man came out in the spring, having been a prisoner one year; was well
and robust when entering, but the ordeal of the winter brought on a
rheumatic di