Show LIFE AT THE PENITENTIAHY Bishop rothcriiiirhaiii Gives His Experience Vitli the Gang Bishop AVillhini Fotheringham of Beaver Bea-ver sentenced to the Pen for three months for unlawful cohabitation writes up a three weeks experience from behind the bars as follows We extract from a letter to the Beaver Utonian The only objects we can see from our present residence are the sky and sombre walls of our prison I In some respects as on shipboard the ringing of a bell is the preparatory announcement I an-nouncement for some rules of order to be observed For instance two notes from tho bell morning noon or evening is the time indicated for the guards tohavetheir meals Three soundsis the sign for the prisoners repast One bell indicates to listen someone some-one may be wanted at the gate the mail to jo distributed and three bells to retire to the bunk house etc At 7 p m as announced an-nounced we respectfully fall into line when the guards open the iron doors and we march gaily into our odoriferous apartments for the night after which the guard shuts the iron doors upon us and securely fastens it with three strong bars of iron secured with locks In this connection I must state the inmates are jolly set of fellows when taking into consideration the long period many of them have to serve Notwithstanding Notwithstand-ing as soon as they enter the bunk room being among the party a fiddler and two banjoists who are well up to their profession profes-sion they have a hoe down for two hours singing dancing card playing etc During this time the room is filled with tobacco smoke Not being a user of the weed in J any shape it is somewhat offensive to me nevertheless under the circumstances it serves as an excellent disinfectant The sides and one end of the room are occupied with three tiers of bunks which gives little space for dancing however they manage to dance one cotillion It is somewhat amusing to see men hobbled with from 20 to 25 pounds of heavy chain around their ankles confining their steps to 18 or 20 inches dance and waltz These hobbled individuals are also adepts at the base ball and their alacrity would make some unfettered un-fettered men ashamed of themselves At 9 that the hour pm the guard announces has arrived retire Immediately the noise I I and confusion are hushed till G a m when the prison door is opened and we are glad to I emerge into the open air At meal time we march two abreast into the dining hall to our particular places at I the table where our allowance is previously I placed upon a plate by the waiters who take turns from the ranks of the inmates of the pen We are not permitted to have the use I of knives or forks hence we get back tofirst principles by using our lingers The men confined here occupy themselves in various ways A few that are viewed by the warden as trusties are generally I I called out to do chores outside of the walls others if so disposed can occupy their time 1 profitably to themselves in making superb I horse hair bridle lines and headstalls also i unique riding whips and braiding beautifully l I beauti-fully out of horse hair guards for watches i and lockets etc They also occupy their I 1 time in reading writing studying and play I inn divers games Very likely when 1 return re-turn I may have a diploma as being an adept i at one game at least Occasionally they form themselves into a concert as well as a t I minstrel performance The officers of the r penitentiary are eleven hi number including I the matron Mr Dow a very affable gen j tleman is the warden his wife Mrs Dow is ii I the matron of tho institution The other j officers act in the capacity of guards |