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The prisoner arrives at the penitentiary and meets the warden and the deputy warden. As the days go by these gentlemen learn of his character and habits, of his strong and his weak points, of his capacity of self control, and they make their reports to the board accordingly. When nine months pass by he is given an application blank to fill out. In this he sets forth the history of his life, the details of the crime, the causes leading to it and names of responsible parties for references. This blank then goes to the board of pardons and parole. The board consists of three splendid gentlemen, Hon. John O. Yeiser, of Omaha, Hon. Edward G. Maggi of Lincoln, and Doctor J. S. Butler of Superior. Hon. J. A. Piper of Lincoln is the secretary of the board. If Governor Aldrich had searched the world over he could not have found four better men, nor four men better adapted for this work than these four. They have taken a deep interest in the welfare of the inmates

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and have done a world of good, not only for them but for society at large. As I have worked together with them I have come to love and admire them for their many sterling qualities and for their earnest and conscientious work. It is with much regret that I learn of Doctor Butler not being reappointed by Governor Morehead, but being a republican he must make room for a democrat. His successor is Doctor Talcott, of Crofton. This gentleman looks good to me, and for the boys' sake, I hope that he will turn out to be as just as his predecessor. I also learn, just as this book goes to press that Mr. Piper is to retire soon to go into business for himself. This is indeed much to be regretted, for Mr. Piper took great interest in his work and was well adapted for it. The officers and inmates all like Mr. Piper for he is possessed of the sunniest disposition, and sees everything from the bright side. Fortunately for the state as well as for the boys in gray, Mr. Yeiser and Mr. Maggi hold

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office for several years, and it will take a republican governor to remove them. Mr. Yeiser may, however, become a candidate for the nomination for governor, and if nominated, the business men, as well as the laboring men, who love him for his good work, will land him in the governor's chair.

When a prisoner has been in the penitentiary for ten months, he is given a hearing before the board. From the warden and his deputy comes a report of the prisoner's behavior; from the prosecuting attorney and the judge comes another report as to the crime and all that they know of the prisoner; from the parole application comes the story as told by the prisoner himself, and from his references comes more information as to his past. The board is now prepared to deal with him and he is called to the prison library where the board meets once a month. It matters not to the board nor to the prisoner whether he is rich or poor, influential or unknown, he is treated according to the

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merits of his case. If after cross-questioning him and the answers are not satisfactory, or if some more information is needed, his case is continued to another meeting of the board; but if everything is satisfactory he is granted a parole. In no case does the board use undue haste but exercises much deliberation. If a parole is granted, a set of parole papers is drawn up which the prisoner signs. He agrees to remain away from saloons, pool halls, places of ill repute, to shun bad company and to go to church. He agrees to report to the board once a month as to how many days work he has done, how much earned and how much expended and how expended, what periodicals he has read, what articles impressed him the most, and what church he has attended. He must have an employer who signs an agreement to see that he does not keep bad company, or in other words agrees to be like an elder brother to him. Often when the boys are strangers in the state and without any friends, they