"I have nearly finished, but I should not do justice to my subject did I
omit to advert to the beggarly catch-penny system on which the whole
concern is conducted. The convicts raise pork and vegetables in plenty,
but they must not eat thereof; these things must be sent to market to
balance the debit side of the prison ledger. The prisoners must catch
cold and suffer in the hospital, and the wool and stone shops, because
it would cost something to erect comfortable buildings. They must not
learn to read and write, lest a cent's worth of their precious time
should be lost to the city. They may die and go to hell, and be damned,
for a resident physician and chaplain are expensive articles. They may
be dirty; baths would cost money, and so would books. I believe the
very Bibles and almanacks are the donation of the Bible and Temperance
societies. Every thing is managed with an eye to money-making--the
comfort or reformation, or salvation, of the prisoners are minor
considerations. Whose fault is this?
"The fault, most frugal public, is your own. You like justice, but you
do not like to pay for it. You like to see a clean, orderly, well
conducted prison, and, as far as your parsimony will permit, such is the
house of correction. With all its faults, it is still a valuable
institution. It holds all, it harms few, and reforms some. It looks
well, for the most has been made of matters. If you would have it
perfect you must untie your purse-strings, and you will lose nothing by
it in the end."