JABEZ BALFOUR IN PARKHURST PRISON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1905, Page 13

JABEZ BALFOUR IN PARKHURST PRISON.

Few prisoners in Parkhnrst can boast J a better henith record than Jabez Bal-j four, nnd few have tronbied Uip doctors less, a "Dally Npws" correspondent has ( iatcrvie-nrcrt '-OTre of Mir.?e wbo ar° hi a j position to ?pook" of Ba(four's prison experiences. •'Dowj ho ever coraplain?" •"Xα, he is a mnri»l prisoner—:ißy of tht» officers will tel lyou that—and bo pv.ph finds time to be in the welfare of his fellow priseaer?." "Do yon thiuk bo ] kn.iws what is going on in tho oiitside j world?" "Yes. far morn than yon wcnld! iEmgiuP. You should taese *9taT' or clafis - men. they to each otlicr for an hcrar after a Sunday's service. wh«>a they can sefcet their companions. They <io t3ii;—jnst u> to the doxon, as the pirrast! .^ivs.' : As is well known. .Tnbez Bjilfour sings j treble in the prison choir, who arc a'l in convict garb, just like the other men. When tUc 300 .->r itioro join In titcy almost raise the roof. A well known Uynan and cue of ehildb.cod'* days is sonsetimes seng. Tae effect is most irapressi-e. yrot a few show signs of emotion. Hymns siicii as "Lead. Kindly Light," or "I Was a Wanderiug Sheep." suns: nndor such conciitions swrqnire a new aJ uig?rh"T. On Sunday afternoon Jabez Baifoar met a prisoner, a highly inteHigent fellow, -who was terribly afraid that Uia reason wonid give way under the strain of prison life. Jabi*z iit or.cp offered to teach him French., j ami iiiaa onserly consented to learn. ETcry opportnntty that presented itself wns taten advantage of. aud Uis poor fellow aaoi: made rapid projrrpf=K under thr t.- ,,- ---1 ition of his friend in n<»"d. He regarded I Jabez :ts his saviour, anil his ! waa toaehinj; to witness. ■, i Befnrr- th>.' crasii caaw. and wheiij i the couutny was rtngiti?: with the story of; • the luiberaror fraads. .!3bP3 co.;iid n..LJ ; sleep. Alter he entrred tue prison this was ■ I change-d. but r,tterwani-s Eroßblr- arose, ' i and the fear of menrtal derailjsmeai hanirt- I j yd him Ltfce a spettre. TUea a happy tisoajrht i struct him. fie woald learn Spanish. No I stxfacr tod the been taken than b<? 1 i.ouHneni.-ed to put it into practice. Ue j i can now both read and speak the langn- I ' a?e He regards thi3 branch of study I I aji havius saved him from mental cotiapsc. \ '■ He is described as a prodigioas reader. | I He will read books as dry as dasc surra ;ls ; j few. if any. other prisoners care to ULte. ! Hlspe t subjects are theology and history. The history ot the Roman Catholic Charch ' has encased hia tU.ausb.tf.ul aueation. ■•Hoe Uis appearance changed vary ! muciir - "Weil. yes. in som<=" I : j coasider he is not unlike the ifumorxai I pidewiei—short and podgy, with WauC. I face and bald pste. Tha reseinblaoce Is absurd. All the sume, an dcotrwithstaadins j ! the mJsfcartcaes which have befallen him. , I you insnncJively feel ttHR he is cot an j cvrdiaaiT J»£eon.er- 2C«e t&st the tine, of I his departure is within mcasareahlf dia-j taacej -tae lia» "oeceme laore agitates, aad 44e» not sleep q«*«* &> well He is atenK i