trary, beats in sympathy with
all genuine sorrow, with all honest endeavor for righteousness.

Thrilling with this revelation of the true meaning of my own mission,
lifted out of apathy and discouragement, I make my speech; but, alas, the
words come haltingly and reflect but little of the warmth and exhilaration
in my heart.

When the Chaplain spoke to me about saying a few words to you this
morning--words of farewell, because here for a time at least we must
separate--I did not realize that it was going to be so hard. Probably
I am the only man, in all the years since this prison was built, to
leave these walls with regret.

It is not necessary to give every word of my utterly inadequate address. I
was in no physical or mental condition to speak; my audience was almost
too moved to hear. From a mere reading of the words that fell from my lips
no one would understand the situation. But the prisoners understood; they
listened with emotions which few can appreciate to my words of greeting
and farewell and my prophecy of the new day soon to dawn for them.

First I spoke of the value of my experience to the Commission on Prison
Reform as well as to me personally, for I knew that they had seen the
doubts expressed in many of the newspapers as to the usefulness of my
"experiment." I thanked the officers for their cooperation, and the
prisoners for the way they had received me.

I must confess that I was unprepared for the way in which you men
have carried out your part of the bargain. I consider that the
restraint, courtesy, and loyalty to me and to my experiment have
been very wonderful, and never shall I forget it. There has not been
a word or look from beginning to end that I would have had otherwise.
You have received me exactly as I asked you to--as one of yourselves.

I believed that a wide popular interest had been aroused, which could not
help working for good.

In fact, with the aid of our friends the newspapers, we have had
considerable advertising this last week, you and I. The personal part
of this advertising I do not like--it would be pleasant if I could
know that I should never again see my name in the newspapers--but
doubtless it all works out for good in the long run. Certainly in
this case I believe that more people have been thinking about the
Prison System in New York State within the last week than any week