A member of our Pennsylvania Prison Society, returning from the land
of the midnight sun, reports his visit to the principal prison at
Akerstuis, Christiania, Norway. When he made known that he was a member
of the oldest Prison Society in the world he was shown the utmost
attention by Director Peter Soelberg. He describes it as the congregate
system, and being shown over the entire plant, the sleeping-cells,
dining-room, baths, culinary departments, &c., describes it as
exceedingly clean and neat with a purity of atmosphere. The chapel is
very large and all the prisoners are required to attend service twice
on Sundays and also on other days.
The workshops are many, and the trades pursued are carpentry,
cabinet-work, blacksmithing, wheelwright, harness, boots and shoes,
tinsmith, making all kinds of household utensils, and weaving by hand.
If a prisoner has no trade, he is taught one before he goes out; their
object is to turn out men reformed and able to make their own living.
The prisoner receives part of the profits he made while in prison,
to help him on his release, which is then paid to him. All the goods
manufactured in prison are sold at a store outside, at a little less
price, and the people go there to purchase, yet there is a fair profit
made. The prisoners have outdoor exercise every day, they have a
schoolmaster besides a moral instructor, and they are treated as erring
brothers, called by their first name; the Director was horrified at the
thought of our calling a man by a number, when the object was to reform
him and make him appreciate his position as a citizen or subject of his
country. Women prisoners were very few.
[Illustration: REV. R. HEBER BARNES,