I had been in the prison but a few days when Ellen, one of my "sweeps,"
crept softly round to me, and whispered in my ear,--
"You must be careful what you say! Mrs. Hardhack has just been in on the
other side to listen. She creeps round like a cat, and you never know
when she's coming, and there's no knowing what she'll tell, and she'll
surely get you into trouble."
"Don't give yourself any uneasiness, she can't get me into trouble."
"Don't tell what I say; but she do pick a fuss with all the Matrons that
come here, and she tells on 'em, and reports 'em, and makes the Master
mad with 'em. And I jest see her creeping round in there now."
"You know that I am not obliged to stay here as you are, Ellen. If I am
made unhappy, I can leave at any time."
"I know you can; but I don't want you to be unhappy. I want you to stay,
and so do the rest of the women."
"Thank you, Ellen. I am glad you want me to stay, because I think you
will do your work well and try to please me by obeying all of the
rules."
"I'm sure I'll do anything in the world to please ye."
I thought I would see if Ellen's information were correct, so I stepped
lightly around the corner to which she pointed. I was just in season to
see the back of Mrs. Hardhack's garments disappearing through the door.
I was indifferent to such espionage personally. I could easily correct
any false impression which might be made of my conduct, as I had done in
the representation which had been made of my reading the Rules; but it
is extremely unpleasant to look upon such a character, as had been
developed, in one who must be an associate. The meanness and treachery
that were written upon it would stand out before me, whenever I saw her,
in spite of any good qualities that she might possess.
That woman had been in the institution a great many years, and had
become thoroughly imbued with the spirit of its rulers. If she went
round into the other departments to listen, I inferred that it must be
with the approval of the Master.
If she carried him information acquired in that way, it must be
acceptable, or she would not continue it.
It is difficult to understand why such management need be pursued in
this country. If the Master found a subordinate practicing against him,
he could dismiss her arbitrarily; but in so doing he would only dismiss
her out into the world to tell her own tale, he would argue. He could
make his own representation of the case to the Board of Directors, and
screen his own doings; but the Board are not the directors of public
opinion.
A just, upright, and open management would secure the coöperation of
subordinates who are fit to hold a position in such an institution. That
such a course was not pursued, was because the disposition of the head
Manager led him in another direction, and the disposition of the
subordinate, Mrs. Hardhack, made her a fit agent to carry out his
peculiar views of the proper way to govern the institution.
She did not stop at that, but tried many little experiments of her own
suggestion. Her long residence and knowledge of the place enabled her to
practice them very much to the annoyance of the other Matrons, and to
the distress of the prisoners.
The women were her equals in detecting her ways, if they had not the
power to practice her stratagems.
They watched her till she was fairly across the yard that morning; then,
they gathered around me, and began to tell me of her "tricks," as they
called them.
"She's the artfulest huzzy that ever lived," said Ellen. "She'll tell
the women when they leave the shop not to speak a word till they get out
of it, nor in the yard; but when they get into the prison they may talk
as much as they are a mind to. Don't ye see, that's to make you trouble.
You'll have to scold 'em, and get 'em locked up; and then, they'll hate
you, and plague you all they can."
"Don't be anxious, Ellen! After I have been here awhile the women will
understand me, and they won't be any more willing to plague me than you
are."
"That's true! but it will take longer because you don't see 'em so much
as you do us. And don't ye see, she'll tell 'em anything. She always
be's stirring up a fuss somewhere. The women all hates her."
"Never mind saying anything more, Ellen. I think I can manage her."
"Don't let her know I've said anything! She'd surely pick up something
to get me locked up for."
"'Twas she that got me ten days in solitary, and the gag," said O'Brien.
"I'd like to make her bones ache as mine ached then! If ever I catch her
out-outside I'll"--
"Anne O'Brien, stop!"
"Well, ma'am, if she had treated you as she has me you would hate her.
I'd strike her down in a minute if I could get the chance. And she will
get struck down in the shop sometime and killed. She never goes outside,
and she dares not, so many of the women hate her, and are on the watch
for her."
That was the effect produced by solitary confinement, without
mitigation, as I heard it talked universally among the prisoners. Does
it conduce to reformation?
At the time this occurred, I thought the prisoners had exaggerated in
their statements about Mrs. Hardhack; but in a few days they were
confirmed by her own conduct.
I was suspicious that the truth had been told me with regard to her
putting the prisoners up to make a noise when they came in prison, by
the appearance of a few of them.
I thought I might arouse her pity for them, and induce her to stop her
machinations in that way.
I remarked to her, as we were standing together one evening after the
women had been particularly noisy in coming in from the shop,--
"I am afraid I shall be obliged to have some of the women put in
solitary if they continue to be so troublesome when they come in to
supper."
"Afraid!" she echoed scornfully, "I like to get them locked up."