unlimited could also be purchased, a privilege often peremptorily forbidden elsewhere in many prisons, as are indeed all such toothsome additions as those just enumerated. But La Santé passed away, absorbed into the new and extensive establishment at Fresnes on the outskirts of Paris, designed to remodel the entire penal system of the French government. La Santé was a long step forward in penology; and Fresnes, the next and a still longer step, has now to be described. CHAPTER IX TWO MODEL REFORMATORIES Long survival of two ancient prisons, St. Pélagie and Saint Lazare--Both now doomed--The former used for debtors and political prisoners--Saint Lazare principal prison for the female criminal--A detestable place--Originally a convent--Warders are nuns--Piety of inmates--Prayer before trial--Devout inscriptions--Convict marriages with brides from Saint Lazare--Female criminality in proportion to male--Crimes of passion and greed most numerous--Stealing in shops and large stores--The better side of the female in custody--Maternal affection--Universal love of children within the walls--The two Roquettes--Alpha and Omega of crime--Juveniles in La Petite Roquette--Reformed régime--Separate cells replace associated rooms--First agricultural colony--Juvenile depravity largely due to La Petite Roquette. Among the prisons of Paris two long survived which were really a standing disgrace to France. These were St. Pélagie and Saint Lazare. They were types of a bygone age. Both were ancient edifices, centuries old, planted in the very heart of crowded localities. They were radically vicious in construction and very backward in the system of discipline in force. In both, continuous association and unrestrained intercourse were permitted among prisoners, so that contamination and deterioration were the inevitable results. St. Pélagie received only males--those sentenced correctionally to terms of thirteen months and less, and with them were incarcerated offenders against the adulteration laws, fraudulent bankrupts for small sums, and traders who used short weights. All were herded together indiscriminately, the only exception being made in favor of journalists sentenced for contravention of press laws, all of whom came to it, where they were subjected to a special and entirely different régime from the ordinary prisoners. St. Pélagie stood in a quiet and retired part of Paris behind the Hôpital de la Pitié and the labyrinth of the Jardin des Plantes. It was essentially a prison on the associated plan and found no favor in the sight of French prison administrators who are warm adherents of the principle of cellular separation.