The Gary American

Prisons and Prisoners
By CLIFFORD C. MITCHELL

A WELL WISHER REPLIES

Some weeks ago I wrote in this column about the lady who invited me to call upon her and who then proceeded to lecture to me and made me promise to take a more active interest in religious affairs.

In another column I subsequently wrote about how a Bible firm wrote and sent me one of their new Analytical Bibles. The lady in question after reading about the cooperation from the Bible house, writes again, and I shall quote from her letter:

"I want to thank you for your kind remarks concerning our interview on religious affairs in 'Confessions and a Promise.' At the time I talked with you, I was trying to sow some good seed, and hoping it would not fall among rocks and be choked, or on barren ground. After reading in this week's column about the new analytical Bible, I have reason to rejoice and be exceedingly glad for spiritual understanding, knowing that I have sown seed in good soil, therefore it will bring forth rich fruit. I shall be glad Bibles."

Not only has the lady sown a seed that has proved profitable, to me personally but indirectly, she has also helped a great many of our colored publications, for the John A. Dickson Publishing company, 500 South Jefferson street, Chicago, have intimated a willingness to run their display advertising in the colored publications, who write to them, on the same basis as that run in the white publications. Incidentally I am asking the Dickson company to supply me with some of their literature which I will forward to the lady interested in my welfare.

A prisoner, a lifer, and an exceedingly talented artist, in the state prison at Jackson, Michigan, has drawn the very best illustration of our president--Franklin Delano Roosevelt--that I have yet seen, and a printing of this drawing, made from an extra fine linoleum cut is now gracing a conspicuous position in my studio and commanding favorable remarks from all observers. I do not know how many of these drawings are available but perhaps readers can secure one by writing to the editor of "The Spectator," Michigan State Prison, Jackson, Michigan.

During the past week, since the escape of the desperado, John Dillinger and his colored companion, Herbert Youngblood, more people have asked this columnist questions about prisons and prisoners than during the entire previous 8 months that I have been in Chicago.

The readers who have been following my articles on "Prison Observations" that have been appearing in Abbott's Weekly and Illustrated News for the past ten weeks, will now find them in the Chicago Defender, since the latter publication has combined the features of Abbott's Weekly, with the Defender.