As a practical consideration, also, it would relieve the Governor and council from work which now absorbs much of their time and energy. A competent parole board would specialize in the study of convicts and their needs and thus add to knowledge that is needed in our modern life and the duty to make it better by every means within our reach. * * * * * _The Virginia Penitentiary._--According to the annual report of the State penitentiary board to the governor, the big prison not only made expenses last year, but earned a net profit of $20,412.31. Its operating expenses were $115,098.88 and its receipts $135,511.10. Of the total earnings $130,573 came from the hiring of the men on the contract system in the penitentiary shops. Defending itself from the charge of overworking the prisoners for the benefit of the contract holders, the board calls attention to the fact that the 800 prisoners released during the year ending September 31, were paid the sum of $10,575.85, which represents their earnings during imprisonment. The board emphasizes the fact that the prisoners do not work more than an average of nine hours a day. The amount of the prisoners’ fund on hand on October 1, was $16,22.44, notwithstanding that $10,575.85 had been paid to discharged prisoners and $14,902.79 spent by the prisoners during the year on delicacies. There were in the penitentiary on October 1, 1913, 728 prisoners, 300 at the State farm and 1,057 in the twenty-nine road camps, making a total of 2,118. On the same day of 1912, there were in the penitentiary 1,158 prisoners confined, 286 at the State farm and 691 in nineteen road camps, a total of 2,131. The daily average of prisoners confined in the penitentiary for the fiscal year ending September 31, 1913, was 1,012, as against 1,213 for the preceding year. A total of 785 new prisoners were received during the year. By expiration of term, 487 prisoners were discharged, two were granted absolute pardons, fifty-six were granted conditional pardons, 169 were paroled, 31 died, 54 escaped from the road camps and nine were sent to insane asylums. Of the 728 prisoners not fitted for work in the road camps, 139 are white men, 499 colored men, five white women and eighty-five colored women. Of the 785 prisoners received during the year 362 could read and write and 423 were illiterate; 373 were abstainers, 278 moderate drinkers and 134 intemperate; 277 were married, 489 single and two divorced.--(Roanoke News). * * * * * _A Holiday at Auburn._--An unusual event took place in Auburn prison, when 1,400 convicts, observing Lincoln’s birthday, marched from cells to chapel and mess hall in charge of convict captains, elected by the inmates several weeks before, as their representatives in the mutual welfare league. The convict officers relieved the regular officers of their usual duties and maintained splendid discipline.