... 10
21 ... 2
22 ... 1
25 ... 13
30 ... 2
35 ... 1
38 ... 2
48 ... 1
50 ... 2
99 ... 4
Life ... 4
----
Total 1523

I have here inserted the foregoing table to show the reader about how
the sentences are. It will be observed that of the one thousand five
hundred and twenty-three prisoners admitted during the past two years,
seven hundred and forty-five of them, or nearly one-half, have but a
two-years' sentence. This shows that the crimes committed were not very
"horrible in their nature," or the sentences imposed would have been
more severe. This is probably the first offense for these offenders. By
good conduct in the prison one-fourth of their time will be deducted.
This will give them but eighteen months of actual service. What can they
accomplish in so short a time? The contractors care but little for them,
since their time will expire before they can master a trade and be of
any service. Had these youthful offenders been given a term in a county
jail or reformatory, would not justice been satisfied, and there would
have been more hope for the prisoner as to the future. HE WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN A PENITENTIARY CONVICT. I hope soon to see the day when the great
State of Missouri will have a reformatory institution which will receive
the wayward youth of that great commonwealth, and, after keeping and
training them for a time, will send them out into the world stronger and
better men than when first received. So far as reformation is concerned,
the Missouri penitentiary is a dismal failure.

CHAPTER XVIII. PRISON DISCIPLINE

The Missouri penitentiary ranks among the leading penal institutions
of the country in matter of discipline. The rules and regulations are
placed in the hands of the prisoner as soon as he enters. If an inmate
obeys these rules and regulations he will be let alone, and will go
through his term of service without being punished. If he becomes unruly
and disobedient he will be punished, and that, too, very severely.

Each prisoner is allowed one pound of tobacco a month for chewing and
smoking purposes. In this prison the inmate is permitted to smoke in
his cell. This is the only institution with which I am acquainted that
permits smoking. The prisoners seem to enjoy their smoke very much,
and I do not