CHAPTER XIV 



THE PASTOBALIST AND THE CONVICT 



If the courtezan is the ghastUest female figure that 

 human society has to show, the felon is perhaps its 

 most repulsive male figure. Sequestered from his 

 family, his old associates, the active community of his 

 fellows, and sometimes even his companions in crime, 

 banded only with that awful brotherhood that stretches 

 back to the first murderer, with the brand of Cain on 

 his forehead, shut within bare, narrow, dark cell, heavy 

 doors securely locked upon him to the clank of ponderous 

 keys, still heavier high gates and high walls closing him 

 in, blest only with that light which brought cold cheer 

 to Persephone when she entered Hades, fed on meagre 

 fare, clad in prison garb, sometimes chained to gangs, 

 and always working with others as in a band of slaves, 

 seen never by those of his own kindred, or only through 

 gratings, lying under the condemnation of his fellow- 

 men, his freedom to move from place to place severely 

 restricted, warders looking at him sternly and treating 

 him brutally, he toils through enforced ungenial labours 

 that will not end for years and, under the old regime, 

 may never end ! 



It must have appeared at first an aggravation of his 

 fate when the convicted felon was sentenced to be 

 transported to a distant country. It is hard for all to 

 wrench themselves from a happy home and go out to 

 a land where they will meet with friends or relatives, 

 will enjoy comfort or luxury, may re-establish or regain 

 health, and may find a career, with profit and dia- 



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