Dumas is of all authors the favorite at Sing Sing, and 1,413
volumes of his work were read by convicts in the course of
the year. This shows good literary taste. Other authors, as
represented by the number of their books read, ranked as
follows: Charles Reade, 720; Collins, 649; Corelli, 596; Doyle,
584; Dickens, 567; Haggard, 481; Crawford, 415, and Henty, 402.
After fiction came biography, of which 1,227 volumes were read;
history followed with 953 volumes; religion with 792, and poetry
with 205. Of books in foreign languages, German led with 1,686
volumes, Hebrew was next with 1,259; Italian third, with 1,067,
and French last, with 545.
What intelligence and vitality is enclosed in the walls of
prisons! But it is, at least, something of a comfort to realize
that men’s lives no longer drag out in the silence and neglect
that once attended punishment. Now the influences of the outside
world reach them, conveying still some sense of fellowship, for
many, of coming opportunity. (Text.)--_The Reader Magazine._
(2513)
=Prisoner, A, and His Liberty=--See DEAD THO ALIVE.