“This great innovation in prison practice was made possible by a state law authorizing all sheriffs to set their prisoners at work either inside or outside the jails. In Montpelier, where this prison stands, the inveterate prejudice against prisoners has been swept away. “As late as two or three years ago, when the men did not return promptly to the jail at the time appointed the sheriff would become nervous and go out to walk the streets looking for them. That is all past now, not only because of the unsuspected traits of human nature that experience has unfolded but because of the marvellous practical success of the system. During the four years, out of 800 prisoners treated upon the new plan only two attempted to escape, both of whom were recaptured and sentenced to long terms in the house of correction for betraying the trust reposed in them. With such a record as this the sheriff no longer feels perturbed if his entire corps of prisoners is scattered in every direction during the day, and he is perfectly assured that at night they will reappear at the jail. “During the whole period their labor earned above $6,000, of which a total exceeding $2,600 was kept by themselves. As a rule the men have carefully saved their money, limiting permitted purchases for themselves to send it home to those dependent on them.” * * * * * _Intemperance and Imprisonment Causes of Poverty._--Just at the time when a board of inebriety has been appointed in New York, the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, one of the largest and oldest relief societies of this country, announces the results of a statistical study, commented upon thus in the New York World: “Only two families in every hundred of the 1,573 which have been in the care of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor this summer were brought to poverty through intemperance. The percentage goes against preconceived notions and is indeed surprisingly small. It should disturb that prosperous complacency which sees in poverty only or mainly the penalty of wanton misdeed. The association’s report for 1909 showed that intemperance, imprisonment, desertion, ‘shiftlessness and inefficiency,’ all told, accounted for not 12 per cent of those brought to want. “The figures for that year showed that 65 per cent of the poverty was due to two causes--sickness and unemployment. This summer the two causes account for 68 per cent of the poverty noted, and 43 per cent, or nearly half, was due to sickness alone. Here are causes of misery which society can abate or largely remove and the economic evils of which it can provide against through some form of insurance.” * * * * * _Prison Labor in District of Columbia._--The establishment of an industrial plant in connection with the new district workhouse and reformatory is being considered by the commissioners.