In a Russian Prison.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 135, 13 May 1885, Page 3

In a Russian Prison.

In the cells of the upper and middle tit»w are put the best con ducted criminals. All the cells are of the same size — ten feet long, seven feet broad, and twelve feet high. The doors have each two openings — one large enough for the daily lood and diiuk to be put in through and the other of smaller size, to serve as a spy-hole for the gaolers. The doors are also each fastened with two padlocks — the. key of. one being in the gaoler's custody, while that of the other remains in charge of the commandant of the fortress. The dish from which the prisoner eats is pushed j through grooves cut in a plate of iron which projects from the interior of i the Joor, at a height of about four feet from the floor. The dish, therefore, CHtiuot be removed by the urisoner who must take his food standing against the door — and this v »ith a spoon which is attached to the plate Tin* drinking water is put into a sort ofiii^ hinged to tho door. When tin; prisoner wishes to drink ho must get down on his knees and turn this vessel upon its hina;e.s or pivots. Food is supplied «t eleveu o'clock in the morning and six in the evening, and ordinarily consists of oatmeal gruel and a quarter of a. kilogramme of meal. Besides these, there in u daily allowance of a kilogramme of rye bread. • The prisoners bed consists of a plaiik t 6ft by 3 it, with a straw mattrass, a sheet .'s'q . sti*ong and coar.se tbut it is impossible to tear it, and a crirp.i'ing of felt — all of which articles are taken away during the day. The dress consists of a gn«y woollen jacket q^ito short and tight-h'tdm;, «hort pantaloons of the saui« colour, and long felt I toots. Foi women Itho jacket is supplied, and ai gmv skirt adder!. Tho prisoii'Tft must up at six o'clock and go tombed at eight. It has been ascertaiiif-d, by means oi the .secret observations which are exultantly taken through the peep-holes, that as a general rule, tint prisoners spend their long hours from their riding uuti! their breakfast in pacing to and iro in their cells ; after this they are wont to remain quiet for an hour or so only to give way next to an excess of desolate despair whic^i their pitiable situation may well in- j spire. I