ARTICLE XCVII. Journey to Cape Cod. BY THE EDITOR. We have made a short tour to this ancient part of our country. Stopping in Sandwich, we found a few friends to our cause. Here resides Rev. Alvin Abbott, so wittily referred to in the foreign notice of our book, found in our last number. In Brewster, we have many friends. Here resides now Rev. Otis Bacon. We spoke three several times on Prison Reform here. Here we missed the venerable ELIJAH COBB, lately deceased, whose death is universally lamented. He was a friend to all. He had represented that town in both branches of our Legislature, and was a firm friend to Reform in every branch of morals. With a highly cultivated mind and cheerful disposition, he always made a deep impression. His labors in building up the religious society with which he was connected, must always be appreciated. We felt his loss most deeply in visiting the mansion where we had spent so many pleasant hours. Peace to his memory. With the friends who were left we enjoyed the interview exceedingly. Chatham.-Here we also found some firm friends. Here, again, however, we missed some familiar friends, especially Capt. JOSEPH YOUNG and Capt. SALATHIEL NICKERSON. We delivered one Lecture, and obtained some subscribers. We have some good friends here. In consequence of some urgent solicitations to hear more on our general subject, we hope to make another visit next year. The facilities for travelling are very good now on this route. Of the Old Colony Rail Road, we cannot speak too highly. If a gentlemanly President, polite conductors, and a faithful Superintendent can make a journey delightful, then must the road prosper. We must speak in the highest terms of the whole route to Sandwich. The company could not have made a better selection than to make choice of J. W. W. Page, of New Bedford for President. His kind attentions will add much to the prosperity of the road. The road, however, must not stop in Sandwich. It must be extended, at least, to Brewster. The friends of internal improvement should conclude at once to carry this road through. It would be good stock. Then what delightful summer residences might be found on the cape. Brewster, for instance, Why, some of our capitalists would be glad to purchase some of those beautiful sites there. We believe the day is near at hand when this work will be accomplished. We returned home improved in health, and encouraged in our good work. Heaven grant its richest blessings to descend on our friends who kindly ministered to our wants. The aid received will be found on another page. Be slow to promise, and quick to perform. Better do it than wish it done. Better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt. Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania. (See Engraving.) THE annual increase of the number of convicts, and the insufficiency of prisons in Philadelphia, induced the Legislature, in 1821, to authorize the construction of another, in which the separate confinement of every convict, day and night, could be accomplished. This prison is represented by the foregoing engraving. It is situated on one of the most airy, elevated and healthy sites in the vicinity of Philadelphia. The corner-stone of the front building was laid on the 22d of May, 1823. Large sums have been expended for the purpose of giving an unusual degree of solidity and durability to the immense structure, which is the most extensive building in the United States. The ground occupied by it contains about ten acres. The front of this building is composed of large blocks of hewn and squared granite; the walls are twelve feet thick at the base, and diminish to the top, where they are two feet and nine inches in thickness. A wall of thirty feet in height above the interior platform encloses an area six hundred and forty feet square; at each angle of the wall is a tower for the purpose of overlooking the establishment; three other towers are situated near the gate of the entrance. The facade or principal front, is six hundred and seventy feet in length, and reposes on a terrace, which, from the inequalities of the ground, varies from three to nine feet in height, the basement or belting course, which is ten feet high, is scarped, and extends uniformly the whole length. The centre building is two hundred feet in length, and consists of two projecting massive square towers, fifty feet high, crowned by projecting embattled parapets, supported by pointed arches, resting on brackets. The pointed munnioned windows in these towers contribute in a high degree to their picturesque effect. The curtain between the towers is forty-one feet high, and is finished with a parapet and embrasures. The pointed windows in it are very lofty and narrow. The great gateway in the centre is a very conspicuous feature; it is twenty-seven feet high and fifteen wide, and is filled by massive wrought irou portcullis, and double oaken gates, studded with projecting iron rivets; the whole weighing several tons; nevertheless they can be opened with the greatest facility. On each side of this entrance are enormous solid buttresses, dimishing in offsets, and terminating in pinnacles. A lofty octangular tower, eighty feet high, containing an alarm bell and clock, surmounts this entrance. On each side of this main building, which contains the apartments of the wardens, keepers, domestics, &c., are screen wing walls, which appear to constitute a portion of the main edifice; they are pierced with small, blank pointed windows, and are surmounted by a parapet; at their extremities are high octangular towers, terminating in parapets, pierced by embrasures. The number of cells in this prison is only two hundred and sixty-six¡ but it may be increased to eight hundred and eighteen without resorting to the addition of second stories. An ingenious contrivance in each cell prevents the possibility of conversation, preserves the purity of the atmosphere of the cells, and dispenses with the otherwise unavoidable 262 Ambition. [Feb. necessity of leaving the apartment, except when the regulations permit; flues conduct heated air from large stoves to the cells.~ Mr. John Haviland was the architect. The above particulars we have gathered from the American Magazine. The Inspectors believe that "the Pennsylvania or separate system is pre-eminently a successful experiment in preventing crime." Two very important improvements have been introduced into this Penitentiary, viz: conveniences for warm bathing, and more systematic instruction in common learning. The mode adopted to secure the first is attended with but little expense: "The daily escape-steam from the steam engine is passed into a tank containing about eighty hogsheads of water, which thereby is maintained at a temperature of about 90 degrees; ten separate cells, each having a bath, receive the prisoners that are brought separately by their overseers, and are allowed fifteen minutes for bathing; soap, fresh water, and a dry towel being furnished each. By this means 40 can be bathed per hour without any infringement of the separate system,-an officer walking in front of the grated doors of the bathing cells effectually preventing any possibility of communication." And in respect to instruction in letters, the Warden says: "I now can confidently report, that no prisoner of common capacity, who has one year or more to pass in this prison, need go out without acquiring the knowledge of reading and writing. It may be supposed by those unacquainted with the working of the system of separate confinement, that this can only be effected by appropriating time that ought to be devoted by the convict to labor for his support; this is not the case. The industrious prisoner devotes all his energy to accomplish his allotted work so as to relieve his mind by study, and having nothing to distract his attention, makes the most rapid progress. I have frequently witnessed with pleasure the pride and exultation a convict has evinced on handing out his first letter, written to his parents or relations, as a proof of having attained that art in prison. Forty-seven prisoners, that were totally or almost uneducated. are now making improvement.' (ORIGINAL) Ambition. BY MRS. H. 3. LEWIS. UPWARD, onward to the goal, Hail the bright and rising star! See, its beams illume thy brow Next thy aim will be the sun! 'Tis a thorny path ye tread, But like all upon the earth, Where the thorns are thickly spread, Check ambition e'er it mounts O'er each holier desire ; Draw from Charity's sweet founts Draughts to quench the wasting fire! WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, son of Dr. Peter Bryant, of Cuminington, Mass., was born in that place, Nov. 8, 1794. He evinced an inclination toward poetic composition at the very early age of ten years, and at fourteen he published a volume of Poems entitled "The Embargo, or Sketches of the Times," which attracted so much attention as to call for a second edition the following year. He passed a few years at William & Mary's College, but becoming impatient of delay, obtained a dismissal, and studied law. He became one of the editors of the U. S. Review and Literary Gazette, and subsequently Editor and Proprietor of the New York Evening Post. Mr. Bryant has travelled much in this country and Europe, in connection with his business, and as a recreation from his arduous profession. As a poet, he is entitled to rank with the most eminent among us for originality, and finished, chaste execution. He does not offend us by abruptness and inequality. He presents us with here and there a bold image, but the tenor of his poetry is even and sustained. He does not aim with an over-daring attempt at those lofty and bewildering flights 264 Time of Sentences. [Feb. which too often fill the poet's pages with cloudy and confused representations. His delineations are clear and distinct, and without any indications of an endeavor to be startling and brilliant by strange metaphors, or unlicensed boldness of phraseology. His writings are marked by correct sentiment and propriety of diction. WILLIAM Ꭲ Ꭼ Ꮮ Ꮮ . A SONNET. Chains may subdue the feeble spirit, but thee, That creed is written on the untrampled snow. And to thy brief captivity was brought A vision of thy Switzerland unbound. The bitter cup they mingled, strengthened thee NOTE-For the foregoing article, and engraving, we are indebted to the gentlemanly e litor of The Model A neric in Courier. Mr. Bryant is a firm and influential friend of the Abolition of the Gallows. ED. THERE is one feature in the Prison Reform, I consider vastly important, yet of which but little if anything has been said. It is a repeal for short sentences, which I believe will add far more towards the reformation of the prisoner and thereby much to the public weal. In a short sentence lies all the disgrace, (which is the first instinct to reform) and when it is thus keenly felt, the heart can accomplish most, while long periods, loose this shame, the heart becomes hardened and senseless by the long torture to which the mind has been subject. A short imprisonment would awake the transgressor to a sense of this disgrace and soon out would strive to recover his lost reputation. Some may urge that crime will be on the increase if such should be, the fear being lessened by abridgement of Punishment, but I claim not, no more than that murder will increase if Capital Punishment is abolished, and for this I urge the same, that the Penalty is of little weight as dread to those who have the disposition for crime, detection not being anticipated, therefore of what particular avail the penalty? In my opinion this is a reform much needed and should be strenuously urged. Will you not Brother Spear assist us? At another time I shall dwell more upon this topic, and hope others will aid. What says "Amica?" |