Discharged Prisoners.
It has sometimes been stated that for some visitors, the prisoner loses his charm when released from confinement. He may be decidedly interesting behind the bars, or perhaps he may be simply an object of curiosity, or a psychological specimen to be studied, like some abnormal freak of nature. Within the wall the visitor may show warmth, interest, cordiality, sympathy, a certain degree of familiarity, but on the outside the atmosphere is below zero. This is a species of charlatanism for which we have no sympathy. It is an exceedingly important part of our mission to set the discharged man on his feet, and to establish his goings. If ever any man needed sympathy and material aid, it is when the man released from confinement again becomes a member of the community. Not all the men and women who are released seem to require special help, but those who are in need are very greatly dependent upon human kindness till they have regained some sense of confidence and have again become self-supporting. If aid and good cheer are not forthcoming at this crucial time of testing, there is imminent danger of a relapse into former bad habits. We believe that all of our visitors realize the importance of maintaining our interest and kindly feeling for the prisoner at the time of his release.