Mr. Meade, warden of the state prison at Auburn, N. Y., says: “Till the nature of criminals undergoes a complete change, nay, till the nature of man is much altered, there will be times when punishment must be inflicted on prisoners. Much as we have gained on using the modern reformed treatment, and much as we may justly expect to gain in the future, the fact remains that there are times in the prison life of men when the results of their former passions crop out irresistibly, making them for a time not accessible to friendly reproof. At such times, for the effect it has on others, but quite as much for its effect on its misdemeanant, it is necessary to forcibly bring him to recognition of his obligations and his duty. But to my mind forcible restraining, or to employ the common term, punishing a convict, does not require the use of the paddle or other instruments of torture; furthermore, in my judgment, such process should be condemned in the strongest terms. For they tend to imbitter not only the man punished but all prisoners against the officers of the prison, the rules of the prison, and law itself. One instance of the use of the paddle would do more to destroy the desired friendly relation between officers and men than many months of considerate treatment could restore. No! Experience has proved to me that when it is imperative that an inmate be punished, the screened cell or dungeon without discretion furnishes an effective mode. Such cells should be kept dry and well ventilated, but wholly devoid of furnishings. Confining men thus and supplying them with a very limited amount of food and water has, in the great majority of cases which have come under my observation, speedily brought the desired result of making a man see the advisibility of abiding by the regulations of the institution.” There are also other ways, however, of vividly impressing the minds of those who are disorderly, or who insist on not observing the prison rules. Most prisons have what is called “short time;” that is, for good behavior their sentence is shortened so many days each month, and in some prisons a certain percentage of the worth of their labor is placed to their credit for good behavior. One of the effective ways of bringing them to time when they become stubborn and rebellious, refusing to obey the rules, is to withhold the commutation, or short time, and also deduct so much of the compensation money that has been placed to their credit. This is generally much more effective and pleads to the reason and common sense of the prisoner more than some forcible persuasion by way of corporal punishment. For certain offences some are black-listed to be punished in various ways. One is, during working hours or while others are resting or at services on Sunday, the disobedient convict is to march for a few hours around the prison square and carry a heavy piece of railroad iron, weighing from fifty to one hundred pounds. [Illustration: The Black List.]