t not, however, be too hasty in
condemning prison officials for harsh treatment of those under their
charge. They have some of the most desperate men on the face of the
earth to deal with, and at times it becomes a necessity to use harsh
measures. Notwithstanding this is all true, there are but very few human
beings but what have white spots in their otherwise darkened souls, and
often a word of kindness does more than a cruel blow from a merciless
officer.

The excellent discipline of this institution is due, in the main, to
Captain Bradbury, the deputy warden. He is beyond doubt, one of the
best, and most experienced prison men in the United States. He has been
connected with the Missouri prison for thirty-three years. The warden
looks after the finances of the institution, and it belongs to Captain
Bradbury to hold in subjection the two thousand criminals that are
crowded together in that small prison enclosure. This celebrated deputy
warden is a Virginian by birth. He is sixty-two years of age. He served
in the Mexican war, and now draws a pension from the Government, because
of his services there. If a prisoner conducts himself properly, Captain
Bradbury will treat him as humanely as he can under the circumstances.
If he becomes willful and unruly, the Captain no doubt will take great
pleasure in giving the offender "a good paddling," to use his own
forcible expression. This official is a strong advocate of corporal
punishment. He claims that a "little loosening up of the hide" of an
obstreperous prisoner does the said prisoner a vast amount of good.
Among the convicts the deputy warden is austere. He is never seen
sauntering about the prison enclosure with his long arms entwined about
any of "the boys in stripes." He claims, that too great a familiarity
breeds contempt. This seeming harshness when in the presence of
the prisoners is only borrowed for the occasion, for, away from the
convicts, there is not a more social gentleman in the State of Missouri.
Great credit is due to Captain Bradbury for his excellent management
of this institution, under such unfavorable circumstances. Could he be
persuaded to quit the use of the whipping post, and use other measures
less barbarous, I think the same discipline could be secured, as now
exists. The officers here do not seem to be so exacting as in many other
prisons. In the Kansas penitentiary, when prisoners are in ranks going
to and from their meals, their cells, or wor