Short Rations in Gaol.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 228, 24 March 1874, Page 7

Short Rations in Gaol.

I A writer in "£tie 'linneclin coiitnbuteTS'orite tfOter¥nthe'"#aol of~tha*' city, has the followirtKlftftayiArider the headingi ''Rows about Short. Rations":—" Nothing" g| more cqnunon;thanrf»r.,,spr|sqners,, to coniplain of their provisions,—hot 'biiiy on the question of quality, but' : also of quantity. The old hands are such adepts at weighing thcs'|r ; f,ood,..by posing it on their hands* that if it is ah ounce-short they will'at* Once\'(!ih| plain, to ;the -govefno.r. Should .it, turn m\§that the food is really short weight, which is Sometimes the case, the required- amount 4s( alddedy and the, prisoner goes away, content. There are some curious stories told oh" this subject, but none more so than the which came within the experience ,of our informant: —Rows about rations*'are of- frequent occur'rencej' of: course,'and they are j enjoyed as a relief, jfcq the,mono tony of conj vict life. If a serious riot'can be got up, so j much thef^better^-if-noty theii'tfmodte in*di*g-' I nation meeting can beheld. There is old I Jerry, who-hasr-so accustomed to j convict rations that his hands are'as'capable of .weighing them as aHy' Government pair of whatever, tie finds that he has been I and getting on his legs, ? he addresses his 'com.i.paaioßs on the subject!' Subß'a speech has | been .reported f to me as follows,:—' Gentle-1 | .men, —This here"'dinner: ain't, weight j'' arid ¥o' I ain't the first time T'vo been short. Now, I ] don t wish always; to get our superiors here jhpto trouble—(A, Yoice ; "!Th s ey../lin't..our j superiors.; they .are our servants; paid"by tlie ! j Government to take «m ns")—rbut such jis their J duty'tliat I'sliall feel bound to bring i |the' ifiiatter afore. s the flonSe of Gomnionsv i(lTear, liea¥,;| Tlie nation pays for Miv vic-I-tuals; 'itii'd it'wonld'b'e ungrateful ori ouf part t-not to U'o'k after it.' XGheers . " Old Ehjg,'' jlasd for ever !") ; J,leantiiM«,. as''t said afore' v jthis-dinner ain't weight, and I shall go.aiM ! cx\\. their polite attentioij, to'-it.' . Amid juiies [of 'Jf.s no use,' the old rooue betaiies'hiiui self to an «mcer, and presently returns with the mistake corrected. ' You see, gentlemen,' ; lieexclaims, again liaranguiug his companions, j,' I have Islicfeeeded in making our servants do j their duty. But, as for you, you'll put Up i with anything—the honour of old England ain't safe in your hands. Ifowever, Sorry to drink your health in water only, but here's to you all the same. May we never want a right-screw [good warder] in prison, nor the needful out of, it.' (Cheers, followed by. 'Britons never shall be slaves.')"