THE PRISON OF SAN MARINO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 206, 16 March 1877, Page 17

THE PRISON OF SAN MARINO.

At the last dinner given by Mbrehal MacMahon, says ' L'Europe Diplomatique/ the Due de Bruc, the Charge d' Affaires of San Marino, the little Catholic Republic which has breasted the storms of a thousand years, after explaining to the Marshal the institutions and manners of the little state told the following anecdote : A tourist last year having climbed up to San Marino and visited the cathedral, the library, the museum, and the admirable model hospital founded in 1865, felt a desire to see the prison too. Following the indications given him, he soon came to an ancient-looking edifice, with one of those forbidding and trebly-locked gates which can belong only to a prison. He rang long and loud, but no answer came save the echoes repercuted from the hollow, empty cells. He was turning to go, when a man, who had evidently been engaged in agricultural pursuits, came running across the field towards him, and asked him politely if be wished to visit the prison "I do," replied the tourist; "are you the jailer?" "No, signor " was the answer ; " the jailer died six months ago and no successor has yet been appointed ; but I can show you the prison in all its details." So saying, he overturned a large stone and picked up a huge key which had been hid under it. " Well, but," insisted the tourist, "how about the prisoners?" "lam the prisoners," was the reply, and the tourist, struck by the singularity of the plural, followed his guide, who turned out indeed to be the only prisoner of the republic. He explained his truancy by explaining that he found his cell very dull in such fine weather, and relieved his feelings of ennui by cultivating the prison lands and gardens, which would otherwise run to seed. Then again he was necessarily obliged to go into the town for his victuals, and that was why the authorities left him the key of the prison. His conscience evidently reproached him with not being a consistent prisoner, but the tourist's approval of his conduct must have comforted him.