EDUCATED PRISONERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1091, 27 April 1883, Page 3

EDUCATED PRISONERS.

The educational movement (observes the St, James's Gazette of February 21st) seems to be lankily improving the class of personsent to gaol. The chaplain of Peutonville prison, in his report tor the past year, just printed, again refers to the incr* asing number of educated prisoners in that establishment. The proportion of men wholly uninstructed is, he says, now very small while as many as 50 per cent, are found to be sufficiently well educated to be left to improve themselvss without help from the schoolmasters. Indeed, it sterns probable that in the course of a very few years there will bo little if any necessity for providing for the schooling of prisoners. Prisoners of “superior education ” are, the chaplain fears, an increasing element of our convict population. Cases of embezzlement aud other sorts of dishonesty by persons holding situations of trust appear to come before the prison authorities more frequently than of old ; and are, in the chaplain’s opinion, for the most part to bo accounted for by the one cause of betting alone. The most frequent examples of such men coming under notice in the prison are furnished by young men in offices and places of business. “ If,” adds the chaplain, “ those who are being led into this most ruinous and demoralising habit couldjonly visit the unhappy occupants of the Cells at Pentonville prison, and hear their cry of mental distress, aud read the letters from mothers and sisters and young wives, telling of broken hearts and blasted prospects and homes that are homes no longer, they would surely pause and consider the terrible risk they were incurring.” The chaplain suggests that perhaps a more kindly interest in their servants on the part of employers, leading to a better acquaint** ance with their habits of life, might be conducive to the advantage of both. On the other hand, it must be remembered that employers often bet with as much gusto as their clerks, and, indeed, conduct their whole business on betting principles. Perhaps if a few went to Pentonville with their clerks, and bad the benefit of the chaplain’s advice, business would soon be placed on a leis speculative footing than that on which it stands.