of those opposed to all prison reform and
improvement, who think it an outrage to the State to treat a prisoner
better than a brute. He says one complained of him thus: "You give the
prisoners too good fare, and make things too comfortable for them, on
account of which they will wish to return. Whereas, the prison is a
place for punishment, requiring you to keep the inmates on poorer food,
and food so prepared that it shall be a punishment to eat it, and make
everything around them a source of discomfort, that, after leaving, they
may thereby be deterred from crime through dread of being returned."

From all considerations, the warden resolved to resign at the close of
the year, yet, while remaining, to continue the usual prison rations and
efforts at reform. His wife also heartily joined in his efforts, having
from the first done much towards the excellent fare of the prisoners,
and seeing that the sick were properly cared for. Hence, on one
occasion, finding a man gradually wasting away with consumption, the
skin wearing from his emaciated limbs by the hard prison couch, she
sent in her own feather bed, that he might pass the remainder of his
days in what comfort he could.

But what shall we think of the assertion that "the food should be so
prepared that it shall be a punishment to the men to eat it?" Can it be
possible, that one in New Hampshire, at this late day, uttered a
sentiment like that? So the warden most positively asserts. To say
nothing of its inhumanity, common worldly policy would repudiate such an
idea. Of food thus prepared one at first would eat as little as possible
to live, his powers for labor therefore depart, his appetite gradually
fails, and he goes down to death.

All who use horses or oxen, except the worst of men, would scout such a
practice. They say, "To have teams work well, feed well." So it must be
with men, whether in prison or elsewhere. Power for muscular labor can
be furnished only by generous food.

Then the fear that good prison fare would induce the prisoners to return
purposely on recommitments, must have been expressed without due
consideration, or being taught by prison facts. Statistics show that,
where the prison is the most cruelly managed and the inmates are kept on
the poorest fare, the greatest number return on second or third
sentences. Then as to our own prison, the very year this complaint was
made, more pardons were granted, I think, than had ever been before in