The idea of the construction of the buildings was good. There were four wings, each converging4 into a common center. From this center the guard could see all that took place in the several wings. In the center were the desks of the “P. K.” and the center keeper. The P. K., so called by the men, had general supervision5 of the entire prison. In his hands was placed the discipline of the entire institution. His was the authority to order all punishment, responsible only to the warden6.
At the time when I entered there were[Pg 50] none of the reforms now so common in most of the penal7 institutions of the country: stripes, the lockup, the clipped head, the “contract system” were in general vogue8. There were no privileges to speak of. The prisoner was allowed to write but one letter a month. No newspapers were permitted to enter the institution. Pencils and writing paper were absolutely prohibited on pain of severe punishment. It was like a prison, one could imagine, that came up from the Dark Ages untouched by modern thought or usage.
The cells were of brick covered with the whitewash9 of many years. In this whitewash much vermin had nesting places, and it was a continual battle between the prisoner and the vermin from the time the former first entered the cell. The cells were about five by seven; the furniture was meager10, consisting of an iron cot, a corn-husk mattress11 and pillow, a table that folded against the wall, and a small wooden stool. For covering, the prisoner was given a blanket. There were no electric lights or toilet conveniences.
[Pg 51]Looking back over my experiences, I can say that the food was on about the average served in similar institutions—sometimes fair, occasionally good, and at other times very bad. It is an impossible task to please all the men in such an institution, an absurd endeavor even to try to please them. Convicts, as a rule, are chronic12 kickers. Serve them with ham and eggs for any reasonable time, mutterings of discontent would soon follow. Some officials seem to know this, and change the diet of the prisoner frequently. The same food served continuously soon becomes monotonous13. Men lose their appetite, discontent poisons their nature, melancholy14 results, and trouble follows. If a change of food is made at intervals15 of the year, a better discipline is procured16. That, at least, is my experience. If the prisoner is satisfied with his food, a better and more wholesome17 state of mind results, and, naturally, a better discipline follows.
The punishment as inflicted18 at this institution was never brutal19. During my stay of over ten months I heard of no cuffings-up,[Pg 52] of no water cure, of no severe whippings, and of no manhandlings by the guards. Nevertheless, I found there the best discipline of any like institution I was ever in. As a general rule, the guards were of a little higher caste than the average.
In all such places political or personal pull amounts to a great deal. In this respect I found this institution no exception. This pull enables one to get the “cinch” positions. If one is well known and favorably thought of, it is an easy matter to reach the hospital or to “beat” the contract. Favoritism so practiced is the bane of all such institutions. It engenders20 the belief in the convict that it isn’t the fact of his crime that counts, but its enormity. He sees the bank-wrecker, convicted of misappropriating the life savings21 of the poor, come to the prison with a paltry22 sentence of a few years. Though the sum stolen reaches into the thousands, the sentence is only a third or a fourth of his for a much smaller crime. He sees the big thief enjoying the run of the institution, with no contract work, or work in some[Pg 53] clerical position. The partiality breeds discontent and generates the poison of society hatred23 in the being of the minor24 criminal. The little crook25 tries to become a big crook, and in this manner the ranks of the underworld are further recruited.
The contract system in vogue at the institution was vicious to the extreme. It was the cause of most of the discontent found there. It was the source of all the numerous petty disturbances26. Although I know of no prisoner being severely27 punished for noncompletion of task assigned, I do know of punishment inflicted elsewhere. Most wardens28 say, if you ask them, that they expect but one half to one fourth of an outside man’s output or ability. This assertion isn’t worth the time taken to read it. I have found universally true in all prisons where the contract system is in force that the prisoner is expected and compelled to do the equal of an outside man’s output, and in some cases more than that. I shall dwell more at length on this phase of the question in my later chapters.
[Pg 54]On entering the institution, after bathing, having my hair clipped, and donning the red-and-white striped suit, I was sent to the receiving wing. Here the convicts are locked up until assigned to work. Each morning I was called to the door of my cell and stood for a close inspection29 of my physical capacity. My hands were examined for strength and pliability30. I was made to bend my knees without touching31 hands to the floor. My mouth was inspected and heart tested. I was an animal being offered for sale to the highest bidder32. My weight was asked and age investigated. Everyone seemed satisfied with my physical condition, but they failed to hire me because of my defective33 eyesight. Old-timers advised me to “beat the contract,” to simulate a condition of the eyes, worse than they really were. I took the advice for what it was worth and played it to the limit. None of the contractors34 would have me. The doctor examined me thoroughly35, and found me possessed36 of a bad case of myopia.
I was assigned to State work and did odd[Pg 55] jobs about the institution. I soon tired of this, however, and made application to be sent out on contract. I was assigned to the shoe contract, and began my work there by sewing buttons on women’s shoes.
All my life I have been restless. The thought of staying at one position for any considerable time was enough in itself to make me long for a change. I played my sight against the position and won out. I was given work at polishing the bottoms of shoes. This suited me to a T. It was one of the cinch jobs of the contract, and I was mighty37 lucky to get it. It was my sight that got it, not I.
For an hour each day I could exercise in the yard, a privilege denied to those who worked. I stayed at this work until I left the institution, some six months later. When I did leave I knew about as much of the shoe business as I did when I started, and that was nothing at all. So much for the argument that the contract system is conducive38 to trade-learning.
The day finally came for my discharge.[Pg 56] I was dressed in a suit of shoddy material worth about five dollars. I was given the magnificent sum of four dollars and left to shift for myself. This brings to light another reason why so many men return to the underworld. They have been incarcerated39 for a long number of years. Friends and home are all gone. The money given them is soon used. There is no one to whom they can turn, so they return to the places where the criminals meet. It’s not natural that they should starve, and they have too much pride to beg. They see an opportunity to get some easy money and they take the chance; the chance more than often proves a fall. Another step is thus taken in the making of the habitual40 criminal.
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1
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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3
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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4
converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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Vogue
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| n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的 | |
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9
whitewash
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| v.粉刷，掩饰；n.石灰水，粉刷，掩饰 | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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12
chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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13
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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15
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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16
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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18
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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engenders
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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23
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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wardens
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| n.看守人( warden的名词复数 )；管理员；监察员；监察官 | |
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29
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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30
pliability
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| n.柔韧性；可弯性 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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32
bidder
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| n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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contractors
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| n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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conducive
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| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
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39
incarcerated
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| 钳闭的 | |
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40
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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