Even the officials receive instruction on such subjects as the prevention of crime and prison discipline, and as a result of this the excellent idea of the whole prison is admirably carried out. A final feature of Fresnes is the severe simplicity of its architecture. SIBERIAN BANISHMENT. The official messenger of the Czar of Russia at St. Petersburg, Oct. 1, 1900, published the Imperial ukase providing for the abolition of banishment at Siberia. The Czar commissioned the Minister of Justice to draw a law for abolishing such banishment. This was sanctioned by the Council of the Empire, and has been signed by the Czar, thus the law is now gazetted. NORWAY PRISON. A member of our Pennsylvania Prison Society, returning from the land of the midnight sun, reports his visit to the principal prison at Akerstuis, Christiania, Norway. When he made known that he was a member of the oldest Prison Society in the world he was shown the utmost attention by Director Peter Soelberg. He describes it as the congregate system, and being shown over the entire plant, the sleeping-cells, dining-room, baths, culinary departments, &c., describes it as exceedingly clean and neat with a purity of atmosphere. The chapel is very large and all the prisoners are required to attend service twice on Sundays and also on other days. The workshops are many, and the trades pursued are carpentry, cabinet-work, blacksmithing, wheelwright, harness, boots and shoes, tinsmith, making all kinds of household utensils, and weaving by hand. If a prisoner has no trade, he is taught one before he goes out; their object is to turn out men reformed and able to make their own living. The prisoner receives part of the profits he made while in prison, to help him on his release, which is then paid to him. All the goods manufactured in prison are sold at a store outside, at a little less price, and the people go there to purchase, yet there is a fair profit made. The prisoners have outdoor exercise every day, they have a schoolmaster besides a moral instructor, and they are treated as erring brothers, called by their first name; the Director was horrified at the thought of our calling a man by a number, when the object was to reform him and make him appreciate his position as a citizen or subject of his country. Women prisoners were very few. [Illustration: REV. R. HEBER BARNES, Chairman Finance Committee and the Editorial Board.] THE NATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS. CLEVELAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER 22-26, 1900. The meetings were held in the hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association, except on Sunday. There were 201 delegates present. Ohio had 40, and Pennsylvania next, with 25. The official delegates present from this Society were Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds, John J. Lytle, and Rev. R. Heber Barnes.