Of the five principal prisons of Paris during the Reign of Terror, the most hopeless of all the horrible places on earth was the Conciergerie, whence few escaped, except to ride in the fateful tumbril which conducted them to the guillotine. All the other prisons fed this one. As many as 80 prisoners a day were sent to the scaffold, and the feeling of terror outside the prisons was almost equal to the dungeon. No one knew when his turn would come. Men’s faces were calm, but hearts filled with fear. Detectives and spies bore false witness everywhere, even the garçon who served you with a petit verre might be an agent of the Republic, whose report might send you to the Conciergerie in the evening, and on the morrow to the guillotine. The fatal roll call was read out daily. Men rushed to hear if their names were included in the list of victims. If not they breathed more freely, at least they had another day to live. But now how changed! look at the——
MODEL FRENCH PRISON.
A SANITARIUM, RETREAT, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHERE CRIMINALS ARE HANDLED WITH KID GLOVES.
The new prison at Fresnes, eight miles from Paris, is the largest in the world. Takes the place of three old prisons, is situated in a healthy district, and covers with its main buildings, flower-gardens, and villa residences of officials, over half a square mile.
The prison is not built on the star plan, but consists of five rectangular blocks, one of which is the infirmary. The plan is the cellular, and the number of cells 1,824. Also accommodation provided on the association system for 400 privileged prisoners; total criminal capacity is 2,224. As a sanitarium for the criminal Fresnes is unique. As his or her present home, it boasts the proud record of being only half full, for crime or at least punishment by imprisonment for crime is diminishing in France. The system at Fresnes is interesting; the authorities believe in fresh air and sunshine, those foes of the microbe, and friends of health. Hence the prison is a model sanitarium. Otherwise the criminal is gently educated; he works at some trade, and can purchase from the proceeds of his work, extra food and personal requirements, with the exception of tobacco. When the prisoners go to worship, which is not compulsory, or to school which is, they wear hoods to prevent mutual recognition on release. In some of the workshops this rule does not obtain. The reason for this apparent inconsistency is not clear.
Even the officials receive instruction on such subjects as the prevention of crime and prison discipline, and as a result of this the excellent idea of the whole prison is admirably carried out. A final feature of Fresnes is the severe simplicity of its architecture.
SIBERIAN BANISHMENT.
The official messenger of the Czar of Russia at St. Petersburg, Oct. 1, 1900, published the Imperial ukase providing for the abolition of banishment at Siberia. The Czar commissioned the Minister of Justice to draw a law for abolishing such banishment. This was sanctioned by the Council of the Empire, and has been signed by the Czar, thus the law is now gazetted.
NORWAY PRISON.
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.